Plymouth has entered the final countdown before the city becomes the starting line for the famous transatlantic yacht race, The Transat, on April 24. 

The Transat race sets sail every four years from Plymouth and, this year, the race will finish around 3,000 nautical miles away in New York City. Approximately 25 of the best solo sailors in the world will arrive in Plymouth on April 24 between 9am and 11am and moor their vessels at Plymouth Yacht Haven and Sutton Harbour Marina until the start of the race on Monday, May 2.

The city’s waterfront, which is expected to welcome 120,000 visitors for the event, will come alive with a variety of entertainment including the new Ocean City Blues and Jazz Festival, air and firework displays, street entertainment and a dedicated Race Village.

The Transat bakerly Race Village on Plymouth’s West Pier and Commercial Wharf from Friday, April 29 to Monday, May 2 from 10am to 5pm daily will consist of a number of sailing themed stalls including a stall for the Ellen MacArthur Trust, The Transat’s official UK race charity.

The Parade on The Barbican will become the setting for the first Ocean City Blues and Jazz Festival where visitors can enjoy the bars and restaurants with live music from local artists from April 30 to May 2.

There’s a spectacular free fireworks display over Plymouth’s waterfront area at around 9.15pm on Saturday, April 30.

On Sunday, May 1, there will be a 30-minute air display kicking off at 2pm. The display will feature the Extra 300 unlimited solo aerobatics, the Brietling Wingwalking Team and the Red Devils Parachute Regiment display team.  

Visitors can take their spot on the waterfront or on a spectator boat on Monday, May 2 to watch the start of the 14thTransat race, the world’s oldest solo transatlantic race. Four different classes of world-class sailors will set off on their journey from Plymouth to New York at 2.30pm to the cheers of the crowds.