Become a teammate in the Armen Race
In summary
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Sports
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Duration5 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationFrance / Brittany
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions70.86 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Become a crew member in the Armen Race by joining a Volvo 60 and embarking on a 310-nautical-mile loop in the Bay of Biscay , passing west of Sein, Belle-Île, and Île d'Yeu. The Armen Race is a must-do race on the Atlantic coast. For this 12th edition, we invite experienced sailors to sail alongside professionals and share a unique experience on a course that can hold many surprises, but always in a friendly atmosphere.
Join the crew of the Libertalia, a 19.50-meter racing monohull designed for the Volvo Ocean Race. Guided by four professional sailors, put your competitive spirit to the test and compete in an offshore fleet for an extraordinary crew experience !
The highlights
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An offshore race in the Bay of Biscay
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Boarding a Volvo 60 with crew
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Watchkeeping with 100% active participation in the smooth running of the sailboat
Photos
Sport
Level
Sailing
The expert's opinion
A sailing course to learn how to sail in races , to gain experience by interacting with other crews.
As a 100% active crew member, you fully participate in the smooth running of the ship and life on board.
This program is subject to weather conditions and the motivation of the crew.
In figures
Sailing
- Average duration/day: 12h30
- Average distance/day: 207 km
Management
French
On board, a crew of four qualified and certified professional sailors (Captain 200 Sailing and State Diploma) supervises the crew members.
They are there for supervision, safety, training and onboard entertainment.
It is a wise and serene choice to train with the expert and personalized advice of experienced professionals.
Program
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Transport and training Lorient / La Trinité-sur-Mer
- Activity Sailing
- Duration of the activity 8h
- Distance 100 km
- Accommodation Sailing cruise ship
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The Libertalia crew will welcome you at 8:30 am at the port of Lorient La Base, Europe's leading offshore racing hub. For those who wish, a light snack will be available in our containers with coffee or tea, giving everyone a chance to introduce themselves.
We then distribute Musto BR2 gear (bib overalls and foul-weather jacket), Spinlock life jackets and harnesses, AIS beacons, and of course, a mess kit and a thermos for your meals on board. Yes, on a Volvo 60 there's no galley; you eat freeze-dried and canned food, but don't forget the little treats!
Loading the sails on board will be followed by a tour of the boat: deck layout, interior layout, bunks, chart table, ballast tanks… it's important to quickly get your bearings on board this racing yacht with its spartan and physically demanding comfort. Once everyone's bags are loaded, we'll have an initial safety briefing.
A quick lunch and off we go, setting sail from Lorient harbor and hoisting the sails. We head out into the Groix channel to set course for Belle Ile, the Teignouse passage and Quiberon Bay to reach the port of La Trinité-sur-Mer.
This 35 to 50 NM delivery trip is an opportunity to discover the positions in navigation and allow everyone to get a feel for the boat: tacking, sail maneuvers (J and spinnaker), distribution of positions according to the size and experience of the crew members in order to be ready for the regatta the next day.
Overnight in port, possibility to disembark for dinner and overnight ashore for those who wish.
Day 1 -
Armen Race preparation
- Accommodation Sailing cruise ship
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Vigil over the race village in La Trinité-sur-Mer. Registration line, crew briefing, race direction, weather, routing, final pre-race preparations.
Day 2 -
Armen Race in progress
- Activity Sailing
- Duration of the activity 24h per day
- Distance 450 km
- Accommodation Sailing cruise ship
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This is D-Day, the day of the race on the 310 nautical mile course.
Signing in and departure from the port to go to the starting line, anchored in Quiberon Bay.
Concentration and calm at all stations for this day… In 2002, there were 227 crews, or 828 racers, who took part in one of the three courses along the western coasts: the Nuit de l'Armen (131 miles), the Armen Race (310 miles) or the Armen Ultim (370 miles).
On the starting line of the Tour de Belle-Ile, all types of boats are together: IRC, one-design, class 40, multihulls, Imoca…
Once the starting signal is given, each boat sets its own course to exit the bay, enter the Teignouse estuary, and embark on a two-day race via the western shore of Sein*, Belle-Île, and Île d'Yeu. Navigation is done in watches, with each crew member giving their best for the good of the team. All for one, one for all!
Days 3 to 4 -
Return transport La Trinité-sur-Mer / Lorient
- Activity Sailing
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 70 km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
As the English say, "Finishers first!"
The finish line can be crossed day or night. The crews are welcomed to the race village to celebrate the event.
Depending on the weather and tide of the day, departure during the day to reach Libertalia's home port, Lorient La Base.
A sailing delivery to conclude a wonderful 5-day sailing trip, leaving us with a head full of memories. Once docked in Lorient, the sails were unloaded into the container, and each crew member's equipment was returned.
Day 5
Note
The program is provided for informational purposes only. It is subject to weather conditions and may be changed by the Armen Race organizers.
Accommodation
The Libertalia is a Volvo Ocean Race 60, a 19.50-meter racing sailboat with a professional crew. This VOR60 was designed and built to participate in the 2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race , the crewed round-the-world race. Entered under the name Djuice Dragons, it was skippered by Knut Frostad, with Thomas Coville as watch captain and Jean-Yves Bernot as navigator. This racing sailboat is a high-performance, extreme boat, a Formula 1 of the seas with very spartan comfort. Extremely seaworthy and fast, this large 65-foot monohull is built for offshore racing . Skippered by four professional sailors, the Libertalia carries a crew of 10 for its offshore racing adventures. On deck, there are twin helm stations and double winch pedestals for the grinders! Hydraulics and ballast tanks complete the onboard power.
Rigged as a sloop with a carbon mast, the Volvo 60 boasts a large and varied sail inventory! Up front, you'll be spoiled for choice: staysail, J1, J2, genoa, large genoa, asymmetric spinnaker, and symmetric spinnaker. The mainsail is fully battened. Sleeping and dining on board are basic: 14 berths, a gas stove, and a toilet. The navigation station is located aft, below the cockpit.
- Frame basket
- Navigation station
- Kitchenette with Butagaz
- Toilet at the front
- 12V for charging
More information about the boat:
- Volvo 60 - VOR 60
- Architect: Laurie Davidson
- Shipyard: Cookson Boats - NZL
- Measurement certificate: IRC 0
- Sail number: FRA43535
- Length: 19.50m
- Width: 5.25m
- Draft: 3.80m
- Carbon mast: 29m
- Sails: Quantum Sails membrane mainsail – J1 / J2 / J3 / J4 North Sails & Quantum Sails – Code 0 – A1 / A3 / A5
- Sail area: 200m² upwind – 500m² downwind
- Ballast: 2200l
- Displacement: 13.5 T
- Deck hardware: Lewmar
- Electronics: NKE
- Navigation: Adrena - Iridium Go - Open Port
- Offshore equipment: Category 1
- Main engine: Volvo D2 55 – Sail drive
- Propulsion: Max Prop tri-blade
- Generator: MD10
- Converter: 12v/220v
Access
Go to the starting point
Price details
The price includes
- Embarking as crew member aboard a racing monohull
- Supervised by 4 professional sailors, qualified as Captain 200 Sailing and State-certified instructors
- Accommodation with single bunk beds
- Musto BR2 overalls and foul-weather jacket available for use
- Onboard kitty (meals, fuel, consumables)
- Boat insurance and passenger liability
The price does not include
- Round-trip transportation to the boat
- Meal costs and personal expenses during stopovers
- Sleeping bag and towel
- FFV competition license (mandatory)
- Medical certificate (required)
- Cancellation insurance (optional)
Options
- Bedding kit : CHF56.72 / unit
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
- Musto BR2 jacket and overalls
- Spinlock PFD (life jacket) with harness and AIS beacon
Equipment to bring
- Sleeping bag and towel
- Sunglasses, lip balm and protective creams for the face and hands (sunscreen or not)
- Headlamp
- Waterproof disposable cameras
Clothing to bring
A pair of tennis shoes (rubber soles, not plastic) or a pair of "Dockside" shoes (boat shoes) and a pair of boots. Note that "dress" shoes are strictly prohibited: leather soles and anything resembling high heels are strictly forbidden on the deck of a sailboat, as are heavy-duty shoes like Caterpillar boots with black soles.
Pack some old clothes that are warm and soft , easy to put on and take off (given the significant temperature variations), and don't forget shorts and a t-shirt. Finish packing your bag with warm socks, fleece, thermal and, above all, waterproof clothing, and don't forget gloves in winter. You can pack a change of underwear for each day, as well as wipes, in a zip-top freezer bag. Beanies are a good choice. You can also show off with all sorts of caps and bucket hats, but be careful, the wind collects them, and not everyone can be a seasoned sailor... Fleece neck warmers or scarves are also very fashionable!
The Valdo team
Based in Lorient, our local partner, École Française de Croisière, offers the opportunity to embark on exceptional 21m sailboats with crew for coastal, semi-offshore and offshore courses, as well as offshore races (Rolex Fastnet Race, Caribbean 600, Atlantic Rally for Cruisers…).
His professional team accompanies crew members to Brittany, the Isles of Scilly, Ireland, the Caribbean, or New York. He offers a variety of experiences, from training for novices to transatlantic crossings, as well as tailor-made corporate events (team building, seminars) on legendary monohulls.
