The race, which is owned and organised by OC Sport Pen Duick, the French subsidiary of international event organiser OC Sport, now officially becomes “The Transat CIC” for the 2020 and 2024 editions.
The 2020 edition of The Transat CIC will welcome skippers in four classes – Ultimes, IMOCA 60s, Multi50s and Class40s – to take on one of the great challenges in professional sailing. They face a gruelling 3,500-mile course and are likely to encounter storm force headwinds, rough seas and freezing fog.
Founded in 1859, CIC is a leading bank in France and abroad, and one of the largest banks in France, with a network of nearly 2,000 branches. It also has a strong international network and is present in 34 countries.
"To be associated with such a legendary race, to contribute to its promotion and to its success naturally falls within the entrepreneurial spirit of the CIC," commented Nicolas Théry, CIC President. “Today, sailing brings together and touches a great number of people. Thanks to digital and new technological means, everyone can live the competition as they wish, alongside the greatest navigators of the moment.”
Daniel Baal, Director General of CIC continued: "We welcome this partnership that unites the oldest French deposit bank with the oldest solo transatlantic race. By giving our name to this legendary event, CIC confirms the importance of sport to us, and in particular the nautical sector."
Hervé Favre, OC Sport CEO said: “Today we are proud to join together with CIC for what is shaping up to be an excellent 60th anniversary edition of this legendary event. The Transat offers a very attractive commercial prospect, and this new partnership with CIC is an important milestone for the race. Without the sponsors involved, offshore races could not offer the followers such an engaging platform, and we look forward to working together to take The Transat CIC to the next level in terms of delivery and having them onboard for the next two editions of this exciting race,” Favre added.
The race is expected to attract many of the world’s top ranked solo skippers and a diverse field of boats, including the latest generation IMOCAs, with the race serving as an early test for many of the entrants in the 2020 Vendée Globe solo round the world race.
The current monohull record is 12 days, 11 hours and 45 minutes set by Loïck Peyron racing Gitana in 2008. The multihull record is 8 days, 8 hours and 29 minutes set by Michel Desjoyeaux on board Geant in 2004.
Entries will officially open within the next two weeks with the release of the full Notice of Race. The Pre-Notice of Race is available now. Visit the website for more information.
Editors notes:
About CIC:
A leading bank in France and abroad, and the bank of choice for one in three companies in France, CIC has a network of nearly 2,000 branches and 20,000 employees in France. Internationally, CIC is present in 34 countries. Heavily involved in the sporting world, CIC supports many regional sports events and associations. CIC was voted ‘Best Bank’ at the ‘2019 Customer Relationship Podium®’ by BearingPoint-Kantar.For more info visit the website. https://www.cic.fr
About The Transat CIC:
The first and oldest single-handed transatlantic race, The Transat, is single-handed ocean racing at its best.
Starting on May 10th from Brest in northern Brittany and finishing in Charleston, South Carolina, the 2020 edition will see the race celebrate its 60th anniversary. For this historic edition, the race also has a new title sponsor in CIC, a major player in the French banking sector, officially becoming The Transat CIC.
Owned and organised by OC Sport Pen Duick, the French subsidiary of international event organiser OC Sport, the 3,500-mile race across the North Atlantic is regarded as one of the toughest professional solo ocean races. It is a challenge that is dominated by the progression of low pressure systems that produce the headwinds that define this classic race.
To start with the fastest time was in the order of 40 days. Now the world’s top solo sailors in the world’s fastest boats can make the same passage in as little as 8 days.
About OC Sport Pen Duick
OC Sport Pen Duick is the owner and organiser of The Transat. The French subsidiary of international event organiser OC Sport, the company is focused on the creation and organisation of ocean races. It has the largest portfolio of offshore sailing events in the world including the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, The Transat, La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro and La Transat AG2R La Mondiale. Find out more. https://www.ocsport.com/penduick | 
