Label bleue

Protecting the marine environment, discovering solidarity, other cultures and civilizations, these are the objectives of Label Bleue - created in co-operation with the department of Charente-Maritime, and dedicated to children of the department, France, Madeira and Brazil. The educational aim of this operation is not only to involve 6 to 13 years old children into an international sport event and to give them the opportunity to be part of the race by following and meeting one skipper, but also to develop their mind and curiosity without forgetting to sensitize them to sustainable development, sun, wind and sea. In 2007, they were about 9 200 children participating to the village activities.

A race village for ‘the future sailors’.

The race’s village will be held from the 9th to the 12th of September. During four days, children will participate and discover activities about the sea and the race proposed on the village.

Sailing in an 8 x 12 meters pool with Capitaine Pic. Around a pool criss-crossed by colourful sails, every child will sail his own boat freely using the wind and sailing manoeuvres.

Meeting the competitors, pasting up the drawings, participating to the security controls. According to skippers’ availability, children will meet their skipper and participate to boat preparations, thus they will discover precisely every boat items and understand their functioning. Then the 1m² drawings realized by children with their class will be stuck on the skippers mainsails that will leave a few days later.

The race’s ‘Big game’
A tracking game will be proposed to children. Educational logbook will be given to children; they will have to find clues thanks to boards placed in the village. This game will end on the Charente-Maritime stand where prizes will be distributed.

Animations of the educational partners of ‘Label Bleue’

- The Musée Maritime offers free-guided  visits (bookings recommended),

- The Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) will propose workshops about birds,

- The association Echo Mer will accompany children for an eco-citizen visit of La Rochelle harbour,

- The Ecole de la Mer will lead workshops about fishes.

A virtual race on VirtualReagatta.com

Every class will create its own boat, fix the sails and stand in for Bahia. An options pack will be offered to every participant class: they will have additional sails and most of all the night autopilot. The General Council of Charente-Maritime will have computers available on its stand to show children how to use the website.

Download information

A lot of information will downloadable on the race website www.transat650.org: skippers entry list, educational kits, race’s route… children will follow and work with their teachers throughout the adventure.