The first edition of the Solidaire du Chocolat kept its promise, and much more. Not only was the race a popular success, it was also a success with the participants, partners and organizers. Associating solidarity with the values conveyed in competitive sailing worked. « La Routa Solidaria del Chocolate », gimme more ! It has already been decided to run a second edition from the Région des Pays de la Loire to the Yucatan. Make a note in your diary, Friday 11th December will be a chocolaty day at the Paris Boat Show...

A tough challenge

As a sailing challenge, the first run of what is the longest transatlantic yacht race with its 5 000 miles (9 260 km) is exclusively reserved for Class 40s. Raced from France over to Mexico, the standard required was extremely high. Horrendous conditions, kicking off with six low pressure systems, the first edition has already raised the event alongside other great ocean yacht races, for professional and amateurs alike. Race winners are the young crew of Initiatives-Novedia, two talented yachtsmen for whom the future looks bright indeed. Tanguy de Lamotte and Adrien Hardy sailed a fluid and inspirational race, winning with panache ahead of the two fleet favourites. Astern, the bitter 2 000 mile duel fought between Telecom Italia (Giovanni Soldini & Pietro D’Ali) and Cheminées Poujoulat (Buno Jourdren & Bernard Stamm) shall go down in yacht racing history.

A competition with an alternative flavour, marked by magical finishes in the land of the Maya.

Starting off Nantes / Saint Nazaire to finish off Progreso, the Solidaire du Chocolat, a genuine popular success, has been spontaneous, sincere and quite different from what has gone before. Each of the Maya welcomes in Progreso was nothing short of magical.

« Much more than a host harbour town welcome, a people celebrated each of the competitors’ arrivals ! »explained  Damien Grimont to the 48 skippers of the Class 40. At his side, Victor Maldonado did say that there were a few surprises in store. Something of an understatement. Each boat, from the first to the last, were all welcomed ashore as heroes in the Yucatan. Maya ceremonies for the first boats, dances, traditional music, popular festivities and fanfare for all.  All were celebrated with the same enthusiasm, warmth and generosity. The souvenir of Progreso and its inhabitants will remain in the minds of the sailors who were greeted by gentle smiling faces after a month at sea.

Progreso is the main port of the state of Yucatan with a population of 45 000, most of whom are fishermen. Life is simple and pleasant. Not only the local population, but also the local authorities, the town and the state of the Yucatan were all committed to hosting the « Ruta Solidaria del Chocolate » in the best way possible. Truly beyond expectation.  

From the reconstruction of the jetty for the occasion, to the Solidaire du Chocolat race village open to the Progreso population, nothing was left to chance in the efforts undertaken in order for the first transatlantic yacht race from France to the Yucatan to be a genuine opportunity for France and Mexico to meet.

Solidarity and cooperation at all levels between France and Mexico

On the solidarity front, the 24 associations and charities involved, crossed the ocean from Saint Nazaire symbolically. Each one, financed to the tune of 25 000 euros, is now involved in making solid projects in the social, environmental or solidarity fields. The finish of the race was the ideal occasion to hand over the 25 000 euros collected from the public on the race villages in Nantes and Saint Nazaire in favour of the six Mexican associations. In Progreso, they were brought into the limelight ; Yves Gillet, chairman of the Route du Chocolat association presented the donation. The eco-tourism network in Yucatan which brings together eleven cooperatives is among the associations which are being helped, such as Yaax-Be, a women’s cooperative which is protective of the environment or four other projects which are involved in social tourism: Chuburna-carbonas, la ria, rutas al progreso, Ejido san crisanto, El corchito…

The race is a first step in what it is an ambitious and hopefully long collaboration between two regions. A delegation of 43 people from the Pays de la Loire also travelled to the Yucatan from 18th to 21st November to set up the decentralised cooperation agreement signed by Mrs Yvonne Ortega Pachego, governor of the state of Yucatan and Mr Jacques Auxiette, Chairman of the Conseil Régional des Pays de la Loire. This unprecedented agreement creates very strong links concerning a wide range of domains including eco-tourism, environment, education, food, new information technology. 

See Class 40 images:

Last Updated ( Monday, 23 November 2009 )