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Thursday 25th June - Thursday 23rd July 2009
Le Tour de France à la Voile 2009
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
Federation (Federation Francaise de Voile) as the principle component of the French Offshore Championship.If you are around the PO in July, why not pop along to Saint-Cyprien or Port Barcares to cheer the arrival of one of the great national and international events in sailing. 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, (dates below) 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.
More info and precise detail: www.tourvoile.frThe Race
1. Dunkerque
Saturday 27th June - 21h
Start of the offshore race (93 miles)
2. Dieppe
Sunday 28th - Tuesday 30th June
(180 nautical miles)
3. Saint-Cast - Côtes d’armor
Wednesday 1st - Friday 3rd July
(30 nautical miles)
4. Saint-Quay - Côtes d’Armor
Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th July
(240 nautical miles)
5. La Trinité-sur-Mer
Tuesday 7th - Wednesday 8th July
(70 nautical miles)
6. Talmont-Saint-Hilaire Port-Bourgenay in the Vendée
Thursday 9th - Friday 10th July
(70 nautical miles)
7. Royan
Saturday 11th - Sunday 12th July
Monday 13th July - LAND TRANSIT
7. Saint-Cyprien
Tuesday 14th - Thursday 16th July
(13 nautical miles)
9. Port Barcarès
Friday 17th - Saturday 18th July
(122 nautical miles)
Marseille
Sunday 19th - Monday 20th July
(40 nautical miles)
La Seyne-sur-Mer
Tuesday 21st - Thursday 22nd July
FINISH and prize giving
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