The latest race news from the race
© Jean-Marie Liot / ALeA / TJV17
The worker bees of the Transat Jacques Vabre race village
Volunteers, first aid centres, and general village and civic services…More than 250 people work in the race village every day to make the party greater. Setting up events, managing entry to the pontoons, distributing Jacques Vabre coffee, welcoming visitors and keeping every thing clean and in working order; just some of the many vital roles which make the event a success each year. And all delivered with a smile.
“The volunteers and associations we work with are a breath of positive energy,” Tiphaine Le Grand, one of the cornerstones of the organisation of the Transat Jacques Vabre, says. Camaraderie and sharing are features of these nine days in Le Havre before the start of the race.
Volunteers with a big heart
Sébastien, 39, is a docker. He volunteered for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the city of Le Havre and wanted to close this great adventure with the Transat Jacques Vabre. “It's been an incredible opening (of the village),” he says. “I wanted to help show the attractions of my city; I made lots of friends.” Ina, 27, just wanted to do something different. “I took some of my holiday from work to come and help,” explains the young woman devoted to welcoming people to the Transat Jacques Vabre pavilion. “The idea was to discover new things, to share experiences, to bring a smile to people’s faces and more.” Dany and Françoise, a couple from the city, are both managing entry to the pontoons. “We have volunteering in the blood and we love boats! So, it was an obvious choice,” they explain as they prepare to go back to normal day jobs for three days before then returning to the docks to don their navy blue jacket. Retirees, students, workers, women and men: volunteering has broad horizons.
Camaraderie and sharing
“My role is to get people from Le Havre, who think it is not for them, to visit the Transat Jacques Vabre race village,” says Sophie, 19. As part of her civic role, this young biology student goes to meet people in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Le Havre and invites them to come and discover the event. With the help of the volunteers, Sophie takes the young, and sometimes invalid (Association Normhandimer) on a tour of the village. Two other societies are also involved in organising the visits: BAC (Bourse d’Aide aux Chômeurs – an unemployed support service) and Gateway (helping deprived communities with social and professional integration). So, Nacer, Khemisti and Cyril have put the barriers and banners in place and keep a close watch in case of a gust of wind. The girls from La Passerelle are a blur of activity keeping everything clean. Commitment and sharing - principles as valid on land as at sea.
