Saturday 26th June - Sunday 25rd July 2010
Le Tour de France à la Voile 2010
A four weeks regatta in France
Tour de France à la Voile 2007
Every year, in the month of July, the Tour de France à la Voile (TFV) unfolds around the French and European
shores from the Channel, into the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay and on along the Mediterranean. A variety of
courses are sailed, with offshore, coastal and inshore windward/leeward races, making it a regatta recognised
throughout the world as a model for this type of competition. Since its inception in 1978, over 20,000 sailors
have taken part. It is a great advertisement for offshore racing and is recognised, by the French Yachting
The Tour de France à la Voile boasts both known famous sailors in quest of new adventure and talented young crew members. Described as long, stressful and tiring, the taking of this trophy is a struggle to the end with 37 races, 27 inshore and 10 offshore.
The TFV is run in 12 to 14 stages and each stage starts and ends at a carefully selected stopover town, giving
an opportunity at each stopover for a party open to the world. The TFV village is set up over a large area in the
centre of the town and creates a rendezvous point for the public, both local residents and holiday makers for the
promotion of sponsors’ products and brands. The teams are also the subject of major promotions. Some 20 to
40,000 members of the public visit the TFV Village in each of the 12 or so stopover towns.
Each stopover lasts two days, with an extra day at the start and finish towns, and the games and displays by
night and day are a feature of the event. The sailing courses are laid close to the shore, allowing the public
to enjoy the fantastic spectacle of boats racing on the water.
Past races have stopped off at various locations on our coast but this year, the route seems to be missing out the PO completely! However, keen sailors will be able to follow it via the live link on their website
