The 2004 professional edition of the race featured a new title — The Transat — and a new finish, at Boston, Massachusetts.
On Thursday 15 May, Frenchman Michel Desdoyeaux (Foncia) had to retire from the race after a collision with a whale.
Loïck Peyron, on Gitana Eighty, caught up with Vincent Riou, who had to abandon the race due to serious keel damage after a collision with a basking shark on the night of Monday 12 / Tuesday 13 May.
The race dury decided to grant two and a half hours of bonus time to Loïck Peyron after he rescued Vincent Riou.
Starting on 11 May from Plymouth, Peyron spent 12 days, 11 hours, 15 mutes and 35 seconds (not including the time bonus) to cover the 2,992 miles of the race (averaging 8.7 knots), thus improving previous record of 12 days, 15 hours, 18 mutes and 8 seconds, which was held by Mike Golding (Ecover).