For one week, the sea-fishing industry will race in crews, made up of fishermen, professionals in the fishing industry or students in maritime colleges attached to fishing ports along the French coast. Vincent Riou, winner of the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe on PRB will be the patron of this anniversary edition.
Throughout the week, the ports of Loctudy to Saint-Guénolé via Lesconil and Guilvinec will be mobilised to welcome the many visitors expected. The town of Plobannalec-Lesconil will be the fixed point of this week of regattas and will welcome the Fishing Ports Challenge village, open to the public from 10 am.
Bringing together the maritime sector and yachting on a one-design yacht
The crew consists of a maximum of 6 people:
- At least 3 professional fishermen, including the skipper of the boat
- 2 people from the direct sector (wholesaling, processing...)
- Only one crew member from outside is allowed: the yachtsman. He is the one who most often drives the boat.
In the original spirit of the Challenge, fishers must steer as often as possible. The race committee will apply on one or more rounds the so-called "fisherman at the helm" rule, which requires replacing the usual helmsman, usually the yachtsman, by a fisherman sailor.
Since the 2004 Challenge in Royan, all the competitors in the regatta have chosen the one-design Grand-Surprise. Built by the Archambault shipyard, it has remained the official yacht of the Défi during all the following editions, except in 2008, in Corsica.
The Fishermen's Village to promote sea trades and products
The Fishermen's Village will welcome visitors for gastronomic events at the France Pavilion Hall. They will be able to discover the local specialities and products of the port cities involved and take part in three major seafood tastings offered by the participants.
During the whole week, many animations and festivities will be proposed free of charge to the public: concerts at noon and in the evening, fireworks, musical wandering, exhibitions, fun and educational activities for children, demonstrations and water activities..
In addition to the daytime entertainment, festivities are scheduled in the Village located at the port of Plobannalec-Lesconil. With notably two evening concerts : Red Cardell with Bagad Kemper on Wednesday 24th May and Soldat Louis on Friday 26th May followed by fireworks.
A 30 e edition in Pays Bigouden Sud
Teams from the 3 maritime facades of metropolitan France will participate. To date, the following are registered: for the English Channel, Boulogne-sur-Mer and its maritime high school of Portel, Port en Bessain - Huppain, Grandcamp-Maisy, Saint-Vaast la Hougue, Paimpol; for the Atlantic, the high school of Guilvinec and the Ports of Pays Bigouden, Lorient, Pornic, l'Île d'Yeu, La Cotinière-Oléron, Royan; for the Mediterranean, Palavas les Flots, Le Grau du Roi - Port Camargue.
The highlights of the event day by day
Sunday 21 May: Loctudy
- Afternoon : Village of animations installed at the marina in Loctudy
- Free entertainment on land and at sea
- 17:00: Crew introductions
Monday 22 May: Lesconil
- Jacques Sauneuf Trophy, training race starting from Loctudy
- 5:00 p.m.: Inauguration of the Village in Plobannalec-Lesconil
- 6:00 p.m.: Presentation of the Jacques Sauneuf Trophy Awards
Tuesday May 23rd: Lesconil
- School Day
- Midday: musical show for children with "Gérard Delahaye"
- Several races to follow
- 6:30 p.m.: Results and rankings of the day
Wednesday 24 May: Lesconil
- Coastal itinerary and stopover at Les Glénans
- Maritime Safety Day: conferences and exercises in the port
- Helicopter winching demonstration
- 6 p.m.: Results and rankings of the day
- 6.30 pm: Tasting of the ports of the Mediterranean coast
- 9:00 p.m.: "Fest Rock 2: Bagad Kemper & Red Cardell" concert
Thursday 25 May: Lesconil and Saint Guénolé
- Several races to follow
- Misainiers Regatta
- 5:30 pm: Results and rankings of the day
- 6:00 pm: Tasting of the ports on the Atlantic coast
- 7 pm : Grand Fest-Noz with "Startijenn" in Saint Guénolé
Friday 26th May : Lesconil and Le Guilvinec
- Coastal routes and stopover in the port of Guilvinec / Léchiagat
- Forum on Haliotika Fishing in Guilvinec
- 6 p.m.: Results and rankings of the day
- 6.30 pm : Tasting of the Channel side ports
- 9:00 p.m.: "Private Louis" concert
- Fireworks
Saturday 27 May: Lesconil
- Morning closing regatta
- Armor Lux fashion show
- Announcement of the results and presentation of the 2017 Fishing Harbour Challenge Awards
Sunday May 28th: Lesconil
- Trawler Regatta
- Boaters Regatta
