Please select your home edition
Edition
Ocean Safety 2023 - New Identity - LEADERBOARD

Pascal Bidégorry and Charlie Enright to co-skipper 11th Hour Racing in Transat Jacques Vabre

by 11th Hour Racing 11 Sep 2019 12:50 BST 27 October 2019
The 11th Hour Racing Team takes to the waters of France for their first training session © Amory Ross / 11th Hour Racing

A former winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre, Frenchman Pascal Bidégorry, will pair up with American offshore sailor Charlie Enright as co-skippers on board 11th Hour Racing for the upcoming 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre, a two-handed race across the Atlantic that starts October 27 in Le Havre, France.

The pair will race on the 11th Hour Racing IMOCA 60 boat formerly named Hugo Boss that made its debut at the 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre and finished as runner-up in the 2016 Vendee Globe. It will be Bidégorry's seventh time participating in the Transat Jacques Vabre.

"We are in full preparation mode for the start of the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre and can't wait to arrive in Le Havre on October 18 to take in the atmosphere and get in that racing mindset," said Charlie Enright who will co-skipper the boat with Bidégorry in his first Transat Jacques Vabre appearance.

Bidégorry has more than 30 transatlantic crossings on his resume and holds numerous trophies, records and titles in races such as The Ocean Race 2017-18 (formerly Volvo Ocean Race), Multi One Championships and Solitaire du Figaro. In 2005, Bidégorry won the Transat Jacques Vabre on the ORMA 60 trimaran and 10 years later was victorious again in the Transat Jacques Vabre in the Ultime class of trimarans on board MACIF with compatriot Francois Gabart.

More recently, Bidégorry was the navigator on board Dongfeng Race Team that was the surprise winner of The Ocean Race in 2017-18, making the bold decision to sail the coast-hugging route into the finish in The Hague, Netherlands on the final day of offshore sailing and narrowly hold off two other boats further offshore for the overall victory.

"Pascal knows the nuances, the ins-and-outs and all the particulars of sailing on these foiling IMOCA 60 boats, which is exactly the experience that we were looking for in this initial transatlantic race for 11th Hour Racing," said Enright. "We've had a steep learning curve in our first two months out on the water and Pascal has been a big part of that."

"We started working almost two months ago with the team, including the whole shore team, with a focus on the performance of the boat, and to improve each day," said Bidégorry. "We have a lot still to be done but it's all very exciting and I am really happy to be here as part of it."

The pair will compete in the Azimut Challenge (Le Défi Azimut) September 18-23, one day after appearing at the Transat Jacques Vabre media day in Paris on September 17. Other training camps scheduled include several days offshore throughout September through early October and some side-by-side training with the new Apivia IMOCA 60 sailed by Charlie Dalin.

"For me, the most eye opening aspect in training has been that we have to do everything on these boats," said Enright about the initial training. "My past two round-the-world experiences have been fully-crewed VO65 boats and sailing these boats two-handed -- we are doing it all."

Related Articles

11th Hour Racing's Francesca Clapcich partnership
Strengthening its title sponsorship as she embarks on a groundbreaking campaign 11th Hour Racing has expanded its partnership with professional sailor Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA), strengthening its title sponsorship as she embarks on a groundbreaking campaign. Posted on 20 Mar
Francesca Clapcich announces research partnership
With Leeds Beckett University along with sponsor 11th Hour Racing Double Olympian and round-the-world sailor, Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA), has announced a groundbreaking research partnership with the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University in the UK. Posted on 14 Mar
Clapcich & 11th Hour Racing launch new campaign
To foster belonging and drive climate justice Double Olympian, America's Cup athlete, and record-breaking round the world sailor, Francesca Clapcich, has announced a new global campaign that will foster belonging and drive climate justice. Posted on 10 Sep 2024
11th Hour Racing debuts new film in Venice, Italy
Featuring sailor Francesca Clapcich at ONA Short Film Festival 11th Hour Racing is thrilled to announce the world premiere of its latest film, "Between Waves," featuring renowned Italian sailor Francesca Clapcich. Posted on 4 Sep 2024
11th Hour Racing sponsors IMOCA
To further advance sustainability and diversity in offshore racing 11th Hour Racing announced today it will join forces with the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA) to drive sustainable innovation and support opportunities for female sailors within competitive sailing. Posted on 14 May 2024
11th Hour Racing sponsors UpWind by MerConcept
Supporting a more inclusive and diverse offshore sailing community 11th Hour Racing announced today the new sponsorship of UpWind by MerConcept, to recruit, train, and support a team of six female sailors as they compete in the Ocean Fifty offshore sailing circuit. Posted on 13 Feb 2024
11th Hour Racing sponsor Francesca Clapcich
Expanding its work beyond sustainability On the heels of The Ocean Race win by its sponsored team, 11th Hour Racing is expanding its work beyond sustainability and ocean health to champion diversity, opportunity, and access in sailing. Posted on 1 Feb 2024
11th Hour Racing: When the dust settles
The end of the year is always a moment for reflection The end of the year is always a moment for reflection. Even in our wildest dreams, we couldn't have imagined how this year would unfold - from the highs and lows of the race itself, to the incredible welcome home in Newport. Posted on 16 Dec 2023
Top sailing team releases impact report
Detailing the integration of sustainable practices within the four-year campaign Professional US sailing outfit 11th Hour Racing Team has released an Impact Report detailing the integration of sustainable practices within the four-year campaign. Posted on 14 Nov 2023
1th Hour Racing Team - New behind the scenes video
The Art of Branding: 11th Hour Racing Team's vibrant identity by Van Orton Design When art meets performance, the result can be spectacular. The creative duo behind Van Orton Design, Marco and Stefano Schiavon, are proof of this concept. Their vibrant branding took the world stage with 11th Hour Racing Team during The Ocean Race. Posted on 14 Oct 2023