Sailing’s Transat race secures title sponsor

French bakery goods brand Bakerly has been named the new title sponsor of the Transat sailing event.

The race will officially be known as The Transat Bakerly. The length of the two parties’ agreement was not disclosed, but the partnership will at least cover this year’s edition of the event, which begins in Plymouth, England on May 2 before travelling 3,000 miles to New York in the US.

Bakerly will also sponsor the race’s warm-up event, which will see competitors travel from Saint-Malo in France to Plymouth. As part of the agreement, spectators in Saint-Malo, Plymouth and New York will be given the chance to sample products from French industrial food group Norac, Bakerly’s parent company.

This year’s event will comprise four classes – Ultimes, IMOCA 60s, Multi50s and Class40s – and feature 25 solo skippers. The race was last held in 2013.