This year is the premier of the Classic Transat Lagasse, which is reserved for traditional yachts and classic sailboats. The race started in Douarnenez, a fishing port in Brittany, and will finish in St Barth, after a stop in Agadir, Morocco. The boats departed Douarnenez for Agadir, where the first boats arrived on August 27. They set sail from Agadir on November 28, and the first boats are expected to arrive in St Barth on December 16 or 17. As always with these transatlantic races, a large welcoming party of tourists and locals will be waiting in Gustavia to welcome the crews. Tents are being put up on the square in front of the museum on La Pointe for the welcoming party. The festivities will continue on December 20 with a regatta of local sailors and sailing school students at Public followed by cocktails and a barbecue on the beach, sponsored by St Barth Properties. On December 21, the sailing vessels will sail around the island with cocktails afterwards at Le Bistro on the harbor in Gustavia. The principal sponsor of the race, the Canadian telecommunications company Lagasse, will host a gathering at La Plage in St Jean on December 22, and the awards ceremony will take place the evening of December 23.