The Transat Café L'or is calling for applications for its next destination

The Ocean Fifty fleet has never been bigger with nine competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race and 10 in October's Transat Café L'OR © Alexis Courcoux / Vincent Olivaud

After Cartagena (Colombia), Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), Itajaí (Brazil), and Fort-de-France (Martinique), the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandie is now calling for applications to find a destination partner for the next editions, starting from the fall of 2027.

For over 30 years, the Route du Café has forged a strong bond between Europe and the coffee-growing regions of the Americas. Originally born in the city of Le Havre, its start port, the race regularly reinvents its finish line, true to its commitment to the sporting challenge and sharing. Following its highly successful three-year partnership with Martinique, the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR is now accepting applications from cities in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean wishing to take part in the adventure, starting in 2027

The most legendary of the double-handed transatlantic racing

Every two years, the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR brings together the crème de la crème of ocean racing. Between 70 and 100 boats, representing more than a hundred sailors, line up at the start in Le Havre. Divided into four classes (ULTIM, Ocean Fifty, IMOCA, and Class40), the sailing duos compete across the Atlantic before savoring the aroma of a joyful and convivial finish period in a land of coffee. In 2023, the Coffee Route represented €64 million in media advertising and reached 190 territories.

A festive, popular, and responsible finishing village

On the other side of the Atlantic, the finish village that welcomes the winners is much more than a place for celebrations. It is an eco-designed and eco-managed space, rich in encounters and exchanges around the preservation of our ocean and land resources. It allows us to showcase the host country from a different perspective. In 2023, 35,000 visitors visited the village of Fort-de-France in Martinique, which helped promote the region's businesses and artisans.

Application procedures

For destinations wishing to apply, the application form is available from the co-general directors of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandie: Gildas Gautier () and Antoine Robin (). Applications can be submitted until October 30, 2025. Site visits will be organized in early 2026 before an announcement of the new finishing site for the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR at the end of 2026, on the occasion of the official launch of the 2027 edition.