Dual mission

The longest and most demanding double-handed transatlantic race, the Transat Jacques Vabre, drew an impressive 79 boats across four fleets, each packed with top sailors of the offshore racing world - many of whom are looking towards the next edition of The Ocean Race.

With a bumper entry of 23, unusual in a post-Vendée Globe year, the IMOCA 60 class was grabbing the spotlight, with a strong French contingent including 2019 TJV winner Charlie Dalin - this time with Paul Meilhat - on board Apiva fresh from double victories in the Fastnet and Defi Azimut. Strong performances were likely from LinkedOut and Charal, among others, while there were high hopes for Brit Sam Davies sailing Initiatives Coeur with French co-skipper Nicolas Lunven.

But perhaps the highest expectations lay with the newest boat in the fleet, sailed by USA's Charlie Enright and France's Pascal Bidégory. Rolled out of the build shed at CDK Technologies in August of this year, 11th Hour Racing Team’s Mālama is the first IMOCA 60 built specifically for a crew of up to five sailors while also capable of being sailed solo, as the boat of choice for both The Ocean Race