Slam Squad geared up for the Transat Jacques Vabre

The Slam Squad is all geared up and ready to make their collective mark on the classic Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV) transatlantic race which starts from Le Havre on Sunday 29 October.

A dozen of the most talented offshore racing sailors make up the squad, racing six entries across the Imoca, Class 40 and Ocean 50 divisions on the fabled ocean challenge to Fort de France in Martinique, this year marking its 30th anniversary.

With the backing and technical expertise and innovation provided by SLAM, a leader in offshore clothing, the Squad are quietly confident of being well in the mix among the 96-strong fleet.

"We have worked closely with all of the Slam Squad members in making sure their clothing meets all their expectations and will perform as expected," said Enrico Chieffi, CEO of Slam.

"For over 40 years we have built relationships with many sailors so we know what is needed when the going gets tough, and we have a proven track record on delivering it."

The innovative project is a further development of Slam's long-standing and creative relationship with international sailors, which began soon after the company's formation back in 1979 with the brand label getting early exposure on the Star Class podium at the 1980 Olympics.

Further success soon followed, with class sponsorships, America's Cup, Admiral's Cup, Whitbread Race and Volvo Ocean Race crew clothing partnerships all helping achieve SLAM's ambitious and distinctive design goals.

Leading the new Slam Squad away in Sunday's staggered TJV starting sequence will be Anglo-French skipper Luke Berry and his co-skipper Antoine Joubert on the Ocean 50 Le Rire Médecin-Lamotte, the multihull duo no doubt out to repeat their close class win in the recent hard Rolex Fastnet Race.

"As Antoine and I were reminded on the way to the Fastnet back in the summer, there is no substitute for great offshore sailing kit and Slam absolutely does the business," said Berry. "As a manufacturer it has taken the time to explore what is needed — and they have brought some style along with that as a bonus — so it is great to be a member of the Slam Squad.”

Next to start is the large Imoca class featuring two Slam Squad entries: the Groupe Dubreuil Sailing Team with the highly experienced French IMOCA sailor Sébastien Simon and Spanish Olympic gold medal winner Iker Martinez aboard, as well as the equally experienced French team of Arnaud Boissières and co-skipper Gérald Veniard racing La Mie Câline.

For four-time Vendée Globe and TJV veteran Boissières, this latest edition will provide a further opportunity to display his love of the sea and racing.

"This is one of the great races, and to be part of the Slam Squad brings something extra to the event for me. Watch this space, it could be quite a race."

Meanwhile fellow Slam Squad member Simon assessed the competition: "There are some fantastic Imoca teams taking part and the competition is going to be tough for sure. But along with Iker, and with the expertise and support of Slam, I think we have the experience and know-how to be in the running all the way to Martinique."

Martinez, a multiple 49er world champion and Volvo Ocean Race skipper, agreed: "We are going to have our work cut out and we know it is going to be a competition every step of the way, but it is great to be a part of the SLAM SQUAD and we will be going all out to achieve a result."

Finally a trio of entries wearing Slam will get underway in the Class 40 fleet. The all-French pairings of Erwan Le Draoulec and co-skipper Tanguy Leglatin aboard Everial, and co-skippers Axel Tréhin and Gwénaël Riou on Project Rescue Ocean, will be joined by Italian star Alberto Riva and his French co-skipper Jean Marre on Acrobatica, which is the newest Class 40 in the fleet.

"It has been an intensive period since the boat launched in August," said Riva, "but being part of the Slam Squad meant I knew the sailing kit was good to go. Jean and I have known each other a while, and though we are still in the process of getting to know the boat as we have not had a lot of time, we are confident that it will all come together."

Each of the classes on the Transat Jacques Vabre — also known as the Coffee Route as it follows the historic coffee trading route from France — will sail a different course, with the intention they will all arrive at near to the same time at the finish in Fort de France.

"We are proud to be back through the front door into the world of great ocean races by dressing six of the top crews on the Transat Jacques Vabre," said Marco Perazzo, global sales manager of Slam. "We will be able to test technology in the field and develop our products and the collection as a guarantee for our customers, with the aim of increasingly affirming our DNA as a technical brand and becoming a leading player in ocean racing as we already are in the America's Cup with our partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand," he added, noting the start coincided with the opening of a new SLAM showroom in Lorient with Clément Machetel, sales manager for France, leading the project.