| Founded: | 2007 2023 (under current name and organizer) |
| Classes: | IMOCA |
| Start: | Martinique |
| Finish: | Lorient |
| Type: | single-handed off-shore race |
| Website: | https://retouralabase.com/en |
The Retour à la base, formerly Transat B to B (short for "back to Brittany") is a transatlantic single-handed yacht race exclusive to IMOCA 60 yachts, which first took place in 2007. It was introduced as a return race from destination of the Transat Jacques Vabre to Brittany, Metropolitan France, home to most IMOCA teams.
Since its introduction it was held every four years in the year before the Vendée Globe except 2019.
A crewed edition was planned for 2021 but was cancelled later.[1]
| Year | Name | Parcours | Distance | Winner | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Transat Ecover B to B | Salvador de Bahia - Port-la-Forêt | 4 200 | 14d 9h 13m 25s | ||
| 2011 | Transat B to B | Saint-Barthélemy - au large de Espagne | 9d 9h 11m 30s | |||
| 2015 | Transat Saint Barth-Port la Forêt | Saint-Barthélemy - Port-la-Forêt | 3 400 | 10d 5h 18m 17s | ||
| 2023 | Retour à la Base | Fort-de-France - Lorient | 3 500 | 9d 0h 03m 48s |
| 1 | Gitana Eighty | 14d 09h 13m 25s | ||
| 2 | Groupe Bel | 14d 12h 22m 49s | ||
| 3 | Foncia (1) | 14d 13h 43m 24s | ||
| 4 | Generali | 14d 19h 22m 02s | ||
| 5 | Safran (2) | 15d 08h 25m 44s | ||
| 6 | Cheminées Poujoulat (3) | 15d 16h 24m 34s | ||
| 7 | Roxy | 17d 17h 38m 46s | ||
| 8 | Cervin EnR | 18d 00h 57m 48s | ||
| 9 | Akena Vérandas | 19d 00h 57m 26s | ||
| 10 | Maisonneuve | 20d 06h 21m 45s | ||
| 11 | Great American III | 21d 23h 22m 34s | ||
| 12 | Spirit of Canada | 22d 02h 20m 21s | ||
| DNF | Aviva 111 | demasted | ||
| DNF | Ecover III | issues with electronics | ||
| DNF | Brit Air | demasted |
| 1 | MACIF | 9j 09h 11min 30s | ||
| 2 | Banque Populaire VI | 9j 13h 08min 10s | ||
| 3 | PRB 4 | 9j 15h 30min 20s | ||
| 4 | Gamesa | 9j 18h 58min 00s | ||
| 4 | Hugo Boss 4 | 10j 01h 43min 00s | ||
| 5 | Safran 2 | 9j 21h 33min 00s | ||
| 6 | Virbac Paprec 3 | 11j 06h 55min 00s | ||
| 7 | Bureau Vallée (1) | 11j 19h 25min 00s |
| 1 | Edmond de Rothschild | 10d 05h 18m 17s | ||
| 2 | Newrest - Matmut | 12d 23h 57m 42s | ||
| 3 | Currency House Kilcullen | 13d 22h 19m 55s | ||
| 4 | Safran | 16d 13h 32m 02s | ||
| DNF | SMA | |||
| DNF | O CANADA | |||
| DNF | Le Souffle du Nord |
The course is between Fort-de-France, Martinique, overseas France and Lorient, Brittany, Metropolitan France. It was held as a qualification race for the 2024-2025 Vendée Globe following the Transat Jacques Vabre in the 2023 IMOCA 60 race calendar.[4]
32 skippers started the race. For several skippers it was the first solo race in an IMOCA 60, among others Sam Goodchild, Yoann Richomme, Violette Dorange and Nico Lunven.[5] Several skippers who announced to compete had to cancel their participation due to damages taken during the 2023 Transat Jacques Vabre or illness. Most notably reining Vendée Globe winner Yannick Bestaven and Charlie Dalin.[6]
The race start was on 30th November 2023.[7] Tanguy Le Turquais and Jean Le Cam started several days later.
| Skipper | Boat | Finishing time (UTC+1) | Elapsed time | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sail No. | Boat Name | Year | ||||||
| 1 | FRA 24 | Paprec Arkéa | 2023 | 09/12/2023 17:03:48 | 9d 00h 03m 48s | [8] | ||
| 2 | FRA 3 | Charal (2) | 2022 | 09/12/2023 22:53:31 | 9d 05h 53m 31s | |||
| 3 | FRA 100 | For the Planet | 2019 | 10/12/2023 00:43:21 | 9d 07h 43m 21s | [9] | ||
| 4 | MON 1297 | Malizia - Seaexplorer | 2022 | 10/12/2023 13:02:41 | 9d 20h 02m 41s | [10] | ||
| 5 | FRA 13 | Groupe Apicil | 2015 | 10/12/2023 15:55:53 | 9d 22h 55m 53s | [11] | ||
| 6 | FRA 109 | Initiative Coeur 4 | 2022 | 10/12/2023 17:36:29 | 10d 00h 36m 29s | |||
| 7 | FRA 02 | Bureau Vallée (2) | 2020 | 10/12/2023 21:33:11 | 10d 04h 33m 11s | |||
| 8 | FRA 85 | Holcim - PRB | 2022 | 11/12/2023 4:28:54 | 10d 11h 28m 54s | [12] | ||
| 9 | FRA 27 | MACSF (2) | 2007 | 11/12/2023 10:12:23 | 10d 17h 12m 23s | |||
| 10 | FRA 10 | Fortinet - Best Western (2) | 2015 | 11/12/2023 14:20:04 | 10d 21h 20m 04s | |||
| 11 | GBR 77 | Medallia | 2015 | 11/12/2023 14:41:14 | 10d 21h 41m 14s | |||
| 12 | FRA 15 | L’Occitane en Provence (2) | 2019 | 11/12/2023 21:33:24 | 11d 04h 33m 24s | [13] | ||
| 13 | FRA 30 | Monnoyeur Duo For a Job | 2011 | 12/12/2023 00:34:42 | 11d 07h 34m 42s | |||
| 14 | NZL 64 | Mail Boxes Etc. | 2007 | 12/12/2023 02:30:42 | 11d 09h 30 m 42s | |||
| 15 | SUI 7 | Hublot | 2019 | 12/12/2023 03:38:59 | 11d 10h 38 m 59s | |||
| 16 | FRA 14 | La Mie Câline (3) | 2010 | 12/12/2023 07:59:02 | 11d 14h 59 m 02s | [14] | ||
| 17 | FRA 59 | For People | 2023 | 12/12/2023 08:59:46 | 11d 15h 59m 46s | |||
| 18 | JPN 11 | DMG Mori Global One | 2019 | 12/12/2023 09:11:42 | 11d 16h 11m 42s | |||
| 19 | FRA 112 | Groupe Dubreuil | 2021 | 12/12/2023 11:36:00 | 11d 18h 36m 00s | [15] | ||
| 20 | FRA 1000 | LAZARE | 2008 | 12/12/2023 17:07:00 | 12d 00h 07m 27s | |||
| 21 | FRA 83 | Foussier-Mon Courtier Energie | 2006 | 12/12/2023 17:37:59 | 12d 00h 37m 59s | |||
| 22 | FRA 172 | Fives Group - Lantana Environment | 2006 | 12/12/2023 22:38:27 | 12d 05h 38m 27s | |||
| 23 | FRA 01 | Devenir | 2007 | 13/12/2023 00:34:55 | 12d 07h 34m 55s | [16] | ||
| 24 | FRA 22 | Freelance.com | 2007 | 13/12/2023 02:17:45 | 12d 09h 17m 45s | |||
| 25 | FRA 71 | Coup de Pouce - Giffard Manutention | 2007 | 13/12/2023 04:53:38 | 12d 11h 53m 38s | |||
| 26 | FRA 1461 | Human Immobilier | 2006 | 13/12/2023 06:19:23 | 12d 13h 19m 23s | |||
| 27 | FRA 56 | Nexans - Art et Fenêtres (2) | 2007 | 13/12/2023 08:04:46 | 12d 15h 04m 46s | |||
| 28 | HUN 23 | New Europe | 2007 | 13/12/2023 08:18:57 | 12d 15h 18m 57s | |||
| 29 | FRA 20 | Partage | 2004 | 13/12/2023 14:11:01 | 12d 21h 11m 01s | |||
| 30 | BEL 207 | D'Ieteren Group | 2014 | 14/12/2023 07:35:53 | 13d 14h 35m 53s | |||
| 31 | CHN 5 | Singchain Team Haikou | 2007 | 14/12/2023 12:24:51 | 13d 19h 24m 51s | |||
| 32 | FRA 29 | Tout commence en Finistère - Armor-lux | 2023 | 18/12/2023 22:37:24 | 18d 5h 37m 24s | |||