Transat Jacques Vabre - The First Five Days

The infamous double-handed transatlantic race is always a crowd puller and the line-up provides the first clue. Whether it be the monster Ultime trimarans, or the rapidly evolving and fiercely competitive Class 40s, the IMOCA 60s or the Oceanfifty tris, this is the sharp end of the shorthanded grand prix world. When people talk of the cutting edge of offshore racing, this is it. The course is also fascinating and takes the fleet from Le Havre to the finish in Martinique, but via different waypoints depending on the class. The Ultimes have the longest course at 7,500miles while the Class 40s have the shortest at 4,600miles. But whatever the route to the Caribbean finish, the forecasts for tricky weather made it clear that this year's TJV would be every bit as challenging as the reputation it has gained. Here's what happened over the first five days.