Tabarly takes on the Atlantic challenge

In summer 1980, Éric Tabarly broke a transatlantic record that had resisted all attempts for 75 years. As he often said: in his eyes, the records were too weather-dependent to be of any sporting interest. So, Éric Tabarly did not see why he should try to beat the transatlantic record. Even though it had become a myth. Or even a curse.

In 1905, a formidable 56m, three-masted gaff schooner, aptly named the Atlantic, won the transatlantic race between New York and Lizard Point in Cornwall. The brainchild of Kaiser Wilhelm II, this event was intended to demonstrate the German navy’s superiority. The schooner was from New York and its skipper was from Scotland. His name was Charlie Barr and he already had a record of exceptional performances. In 12 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 19 seconds of an incredible race, Barr dominated the field, left behind a disappointed imperial yacht Hamburg, and finished in an astounding time.

His achievement remained unmatched until this summer of 1980. During these 75 years, all the attempts to beat this iconic record failed. The previous year, a trimaran overturned, another broke up, and a third was very close to capsizing. In terms of the attempts by monohulls, are they even worth mentioning? None had ever come close to succeeding.

After injuring his shoulder, Éric Tabarly was unable to take part in the OSTAR event in June 1980. Éric had already won this famous English solo transatlantic race on two occasions, in 1964 and 1976. Prevented from trying for a third victory, he asked the young Marc Pajot to replace him following a last-minute decision. On his own on board the strange foiling trimaran Paul Ricard, the Olympic medalist had finished fifth in Newport, north of New York. But the British organizers, punishing a replacement that had been made too late, did not rank him… Following his disappointing second place by just five little minutes, at the end of the two-handed transatlantic race (teamed up with the same Pajot) the previous year, Tabarly’s strange boat was taking time to make its mark.

Nevertheless, Éric still needed to take his boat back to France. His friend and partner Gérard Petipas managed to convince him to take this opportunity to try for the record. All he needed to do was follow the American coastline for around 10 hours, then cross the start line in New York and reach the Channel as quickly as possible. On board, Tabarly only had one way of operating, which was “as quickly as possible”.

The hero agreed on two conditions: eager to return home, he refused to hang around waiting for the ideal weather window. Neither did he want any media hype around his attempt. He asked Petipas to not share the news of his venture until it was certain that he would beat the time set by the Atlantic.

This is how, on July 31, Europe 1 woke up France with some sensational news: in just a few hours, Éric Tabarly was going to make history again! The next day, following an incredibly fast crossing, which was only slowed down by some calm conditions when entering the Channel, the strange hydrofoil was passing below the cliffs of Lizard Point. And the world’s most famous skipper was adding another achievement to his name: the transatlantic record, with a time of 10 days, 5 hours, 14 minutes and 20 seconds.