The maxi trimaran Banque Populaire to carry the Olympic flame
As Official Sponsor of the Olympic Torch Relay and Premium Partner of the Paris 2024 Games, the Maxi Banque Populaire XI will bring the Olympic Torch to the other side of the ocean. Her skipper, Armel Le Cléac'h, will lead a legendary crew on a historic transatlantic race starting June 7, 2024. From Brest to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and then Fort-de-France (Martinique), this innovative French ocean racing yacht will carry the spirit of sport high throughout its voyage.
Race start Les Sables Horta Les Sables
Two weeks after the CIC Normandy Channel Race, the Class40s now have a date with the 9th edition of the Les Sables âeuros Horta âeuros Les Sables. The 16 duos set off on the 2,540-mile race on Tuesday June 27 at 13:02 for a round trip between Vendée and the Azores.
Tour Voile unveils its route
On July 1, competitors in the Figaro Bénéteau class will set off on the Tour Voile from Saint-Quay-Portrieux, in the Côtes-d'Armor region of France. For 16 days, the fleet will alternate between coastal courses and offshore sailing. A total of 700 miles await the crews. The first leg will take the 12 teams from Brest to Lorient. Two additional teams from the Tour de Bretagne à la Voile will join the procession. They will then head for Quiberon, Pornichet and finally La Rochelle, from July 14 to 16.
A Vendée Globe 2028 project for Elodie Bonnafous
In collaboration with Queguiner, the young Breton sailor, Elodie Bonnafous, launches the construction of an IMOCA for the Vendée Globe 2028 . Construction will start this summer, with a launch scheduled for 2025. Farewell, then, to the Figaro Bénéteau and welcome to the IMOCA circuit, with a non-stop single-handed round-the-world race in its sights.
The GCA Group becomes the first partner of the Ocean Fifty class
The Ocean Fifty class continues to flourish with one of its historic players. The GCA Group, which has accompanied Gilles Lamiré for several years, has chosen to remain at the heart of the development of the class and has made a three-year commitment alongside all the teams, sharing a common ambition of pleasure, sharing and performance.
A new title partner for the Mini Transat
Versace Sailing Management, which has been entrusted with the organization of the next two Mini Transat races in 2023 and 2025, has just announced that La Boulangère has become its official partner. The race, now christened La Boulangère Mini Transat, will start in September 2023 from the pontoons of Les Sables-d'Olonne. 90 skippers have already registered and 33 are on the waiting list. The list of participants will be published on July 31.
Ocean Fifty Réalites launched in Lorient
On June 19, Ocean Fifty Réalites was launched in Lorient. This is the second boat built for Fabrice Cahierc, who was able to draw on his experience and improve the first version, now Koesio, and winner of the Route du Rhum 2022. Construction took place at the CDK yard.
11th Hour Racing repair request
After colliding with Benjamin Dutroux's Guyot Environnement off The Hague 15 minutes after the start, 11th Hour Racing is working hard to get its boat back in shape. The team, which withdrew from Leg 7, said it had requested redress from the race's international jury. The World Sailing International Jury has provisionally scheduled the hearing on 11th Hour Racing Team's request for redress for June 29 at 10:00 a.m. in Genoa, so that all teams can be present.
Les Voiles du Vieux-Port de Saint-Tropez celebrate their 20th anniversary
From June 16 to 18, the Marseilles harbor was the venue for the 20th anniversary of the Voiles du Vieux-Port. At the end of three days, the traditional sailboats, divided into 4 classes, returned to the pontoons of the Société Nautique de Marseille for the final celebration.
Australians win Sail GP Season 4 opener
Sail GP season 4 opened on June 16, 2023 on Lake Michigan. The closed course, protected by two dykes, gave rise to some short and very tense regattas between the 10 competing teams. Although the Australians were strong from the start, the race was eventually won by the New Zealanders. The Canadians completed the podium. Quentin Delapierre and his French team finished in 6th place.
Eric Bellion unveils his new daggerboard IMOCA for the Vendée Globe 2024
Eric Bellion has opted for sobriety by launching the construction of an IMOCA with scow-shaped daggerboards and no foils. The Stand as One plan Raison has been launched at Port La Forêt later this week. This project is the fruit of a brainstorming session with Jean Le Cam. The two skippers pooled their efforts to build two 100% identical boats. The aim was also to show that it was possible to build a boat at lower cost. His three-year campaign will take him through the major races on the circuit, including The Ocean Race and, of course, the Vendée Globe 2024.
Kevin Escoffier brought to justice
Following inappropriate behavior towards a member of his team during the stopover in Newport, skipper Kevin Escoffier has been relieved of his role as skipper. The case, taken in hand by the Fédération Française de Voile, points to sexual harassment. Since the affair, Le Canard Enchainé has been investigating, and it would appear that this is not the first time the skipper has acted in this way.
