Jean Le Cam who recently finished second in the Vendée Globe, is the first to sign his name on the competitors list for the Calais Round Britain Race, a race reserved for Open 60 footers and setting off from Calais on 22 May 2005. At the request of the racers in the Imoca class, the format has changed from a double-handed race, and will now be contended in crewed format.

Commenting on his race entry Le Cam said: “I am very keen to see the people from the North of France and the port of Calais again after christening Bonduelle [Vendee Globe yacht] there last year. I hope to see the quaysides lit up again by thousands of yellow jackets and thank all those who came to support me. On top of that Calais was our first race, our first victory…We’re going to try and get the same result. I haven’t formed the crew yet, but I guarantee you that at the essence of it will be the desire to return as quickly as possible to Calais for a great race.”

In 2004, a few months prior to the big loop of the world, Jean Le Cam and his crew won the 1000 Miles de Calais race aboard the yellow monohull, in what was its first ever race.

Alongside Bonduelle, there should be at least five to eight other Open 60s, and the line-up is most likely to include those of Roland Jourdain, Mike Golding and Conrad Humphreys. The list of participants should becoming clearer after the IMOCA AGM at the end of March where the Notice of Race will be presented to the racers.