Veterinary Business

Vets Get Close up View of Start of Transat Race

vetreportMay 26, 2016

A group of vets with a keen interest in sailing watched the start of the Transat race and enjoyed commentary from round-the-world skipper Mrs Denise ‘Dee’ Caffari MBE on Monday 1 May 2016.  The group was hosted by Virbac.  The son of the company’s founder, Jean-Pierre Dick, is a world-class yachtsman and was at the helm of one of the 40 boats to cross the start line.  The Transat Race is the longest-established single-handed transatlantic race in history and starts at Plymouth and finishes in New York. This year’s participants raced their mono-hulled and multi-hulled boats for up to two weeks before reaching the finishing line.  The winner was Frenchman Francois Gabart, who crossed the line on Wednesday 11 May, completing the race in eight days, eight hours and 39 seconds.

Virbac’s guests arrived in Plymouth on Sunday 29 April for activities which included a tour of S^tMichel Virbac, Jean-Pierre Dick’s 60-foot mono-hull.  They also spent time talking to him and members of his racing team before having dinner at the Corinthian Yacht Club, overlooking the harbour.  On Monday 1 May, the vets watched the start of the race from an escort boat with commentary from Dee Caffari.  In 2006, she became the first woman to sail single-handedly and non-stop around the world ‘the wrong way’ – ie westward against the prevailing winds and currents.  Nic Chapman, Southern Regional Manager for Virbac, said: “We all enjoyed meeting Jean-Pierre for the tour of his boat and even the seasoned sailors amongst us came away with a healthy respect for the task of guiding it single-handedly across the Atlantic.

“Despite the rough weather, watching the boats come out beyond the breakwater at the start of the race was also very exciting and we were grateful for Dee’s expert commentary.  Overall it was an excellent weekend and we were delighted to share the experience with some of our sailing-loving customers.”