Yacht racers, local stakeholders and LandSeaLot researchers observe together at Transat Cafe L’OR 2025
Transat Cafe L’OR is a demanding transatlantic yacht race, with a course that follows in the wake of historic coffee merchants. From Le Havre, France, participants race across the Atlantic and are set to reach the finish line in Fort-de-France, Martinique, in early November 2025.
Le Havre, the race’s starting point, is also a key area for LandSeaLot project activities. A major port city, Le Havre falls within the Seine Estuary and Bay Area LandSeaLot Integration Lab. This “Lab” is one of nine sites across Europe where researchers and local communities are developing new methods, technologies and participatory approaches to improve how we study and manage the land-sea interface area (LSI). Encompassing areas of the world where the land meets the sea, the LSI is an important ecological zone as well as being highly significant to economies and society.
To complement and enhance the knowledge provided by traditional observation methods like satellites, LandSeaLot is recruiting coastal initiatives and communities to observe and collect data in their local surroundings. At Transat Cafe L’OR, LandSeaLot researchers from Ifremer and TransEurope Marinas highlighted the importance of these community observation efforts and discussed how local stakeholders – including marinas, entrepreneurs, water sports enthusiasts, and local authorities – are getting involved.
In the racing village, LandSeaLot was hosted by Sogestran, a fluvial and maritime transport company. Here they began discussions about how Sogestran barges and ships could be equipped with LandSeaLot sensors: devices that measure parameters like water temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels, which are key to enhancing our understanding of coastal areas and how they are changing.
Another effort to observe local areas is Phenomer, a citizen science initiative that recruits local boaters and canoers to report harmful algae blooms in France. At Transat Cafe L’OR, representatives from LandSeaLot, Ifremer, and Phenomer began conversations with local marinas about how best to support this initiative, for example by establishing marinas as central training and communication hubs for citizen scientists.
LandSeaLot plans to support citizen observation through the sharing, testing and deployment of cost-effective technology: small, easy to use sensors and other devices that collect information about coastal areas in a more cost effective way than traditional methods. In Le Havre University, a meeting was held between LandSeaLot representatives from Ifremer and TransEurope Marinas and representatives of local marinas who expressed interest in demonstrating and testing sensors. Julien Lebas, the Le Havre Plaisance harbour master, took the time to outline local requirements and explain how sensors would benefit marinas. The discussion about deploying sensors in marinas was encouraging, highlighting where adjustments might be needed to facilitate data visualisation, ease of use, and support for extracting meaningful conclusions for local groups. Stakeholders including HAROPA port authority, Agence de l’Eau Seine Normandie, and the local government office GIP Seine Aval were also present, discussing plans to scale up citizen science efforts and tailor LandSeaLot’s engagement strategies to local needs.
Dr Romaric Verney, Principal Investigate for Ifremer and coordinator of the Seine Estuary and Bay LandSeaLot Integration Lab, participated in a round table discussion on “Ocean and Science” to present LandSeaLot’s ambitions alongside Émilie Praca (Éoliennes en mer Dieppe Le Tréport), Pauline Gérardin (MerConcept and Phenomer) Christophe Thébaud (Sogestran).
Partners also had the chance to meet and speak with boaters and other race attendees. “We had very good discussions with visitors,” says Dr Verney. This included individuals who frequently interact with and are well positioned to observe the LSI like divers and sailors, as well as young people eager to learn about the Seine estuary and the environmental challenges it faces today. “One visitor was glad to hear that LandSeaLot emphasises solutions to problems like climate change. She believes that the role of science is to find positive solutions.”
In the coming weeks and months, LandSeaLot will continue mobilising citizen efforts to observe the LSI. Participants including boaters, fishers, marinas and other local associations will be trained in the collection of data using cost effective sensors, which will enrich shared scientific knowledge. By Transat Cafe L’OR 2027, LandSeaLot researchers hope to share initial results from these exciting collaborations.
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