The latest race news from the race
© Jean-Marie Liot/Alea
The Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre: taking to sea, taking action for Earth
In 2007, for its 8th edition, the Route du Café “set course for sustainable development” by becoming the first sailing event of this size to limit its environmental footprint and offset its residual carbon emissions.
In 2019, the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandy Le Havre signed the Charter of eco-responsible commitments for major sporting events and has responded to the call of “Ocean as Common” to recognise that the oceans are for the common good of humanity.
The oceans amaze us and make us dream, but they are under threat. Threatened because they are saturated with waste, plastics, polluted water and carbon dioxide. Yet they are our future and it is our responsibility to protect them.
What greater cause can there be for one of the most important races in the sailing calendar than to defend the oceans, and to take real action to help engage the public in their protection?
It is therefore natural that the organisers of the Route du Café, as well as the sailors who cross the oceans, are actively engaged in raising public awareness and putting in place definite actions.
Nearly 40 projects
Recognised since 2009 by ADEME (the French environment and energy management agency) as an example of an eco-friendly event, the Route du Café has continuously taken action to inform and educate the public.
The sustainable development programme of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandy Le Havre includes nearly 40 projects on societal, educational and environmental issues. Among them:
- the elimination of single-use plastics in all places managed by the organisation
- the sorting of 100% of the waste from the village
- no flyers in the village
- the involvement of volunteers, young Havrais and the integration of back-to-work projects
- highlighting soft mobility,
- public awareness activities
Strong commitments
- Signature of the Charter of eco-responsible commitments
The organisers of the Route du Café have signed the Charter of 15 eco-responsible commitments of sporting event organisations, launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Sports, in partnership with the NGO, WWF France.
This signature is confirmation of the efforts over the last few years to make our event a sustainable, inclusive and virtuous sport.
Created on January 12, 2017, the Charter of 15 eco-responsible commitments for event organisers confirms that environmental responsibility is now at the heart of the requirements for the organisers of major international sporting events in France. Responsible procurement, recycling waste management, control of water and energy consumption, sustainable transport, preservation of biodiversity, as well as accessibility and the promotion of gender equality in positions of responsibility are the priority areas of commitments of the charter. The Charter has been recognised by the UN Climate Change Secretariat as an effective tool for local actions for the environment.
- The “Ocean as Common” appeal
The Transat Jacques Vabre Normandy Le Havre has joined the “Ocean as Common”, to consider all marine areas, coastal and offshore, as for the common good of humanity.
In order to share this commitment with the wider public, there are engaging activities around the race village in Le Havre, such as:
- the creation of a collaborative fresco to raise awareness about the safeguarding of the oceans with the Ocean as Common appeal. This will be given to the UN.
- the #NoPlasticChallenge; a challenge for the attending public and those following the event on the internet to reduce their consumption of plastic. It was created by skipper Stéphane Le Diraison, who will compete in the race on the IMOCA, Time for Oceans, and launched on October 18. A Facebook filter has been created for the occasion.
- A beach clean-up with the Surfrider Foundation Europe Seine-Maritime and skipper Paul Meilhat on Wednesday October 23 from 10:00-13:00 on the beach in Le Havre, Boulevard Albert 1er, by the skatepark.