Towards a tough start to the Fastnet
The legendary Rolex Fastnet race will set off from Cowes at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2023, bound for Cherbourg, now the event's finishing port. 450 boats are expected at the start, including all the major ocean racing classes, with 2 Ultim trimarans, numerous IMOCAs, Class40s and Ocean Fifties, as well as production yachts in the IRC and MOCRA multihull classes. The expected weather conditions, with strong headwinds and heavy seas, promise tough sailing out of the Solent, and some impressive images. The first boats are expected on Sunday.
New duos announced for the Transat Jacques Vabre
Several skippers have announced the names of their co-skippers for this autumn's Transat Jacques Vabre. In the IMOCA class, Benjamin Dutreux will be sailing alongside Corentin Horeau on the Guyot Environnement monohull, while Clarisse Crémer will be alongside Alan Roberts on Occitane.
Success for Retour à La Base
A new race on the IMOCA calendar, qualifying for the Vendée Globe 2024, the Retour à La Base, which will bring yachts back into the race after the Transat Jacques Vabre, from Fort-de-France to Lorient, is filling up. The organizers claim 35 registrations and pre-registrations as of July 19.
French success at Marseille Test Event
France's Olympic sailing team hits the nail on the head at the Test Event held in Marseille ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. It won five medals, including 4 golds, and came first in the country rankings.
Soon an AC40 for the Orient Express Sailing Team
The French America's Cup challenge, Orient Express Sailing Team, is due to receive its AC40 in Barcelona in August. The boat left the Mac-Conaghy yard on a rack at the beginning of July. A few weeks earlier, the first molds for the AC75 had arrived at the Multiplast yard in Vannes.
Bretons win the TourVoile
The TourVoile , back after several years, in a shorter version, based on the Tour de Bretagne and a series of additional stages to La Rochelle, ended on July 15. The fleet of 14 Figaro 3s closed the event with a coastal race in the Strait of La Rochelle. The Equipe Bretagne Jeunes Habitable crew, skippered by Paul Morvan, son of Gildas and brother of Gaston, won the event.
Alexis Loison looks back on the Solitaire du Figaro
Skipper Alexis Loison has announced the support of the REEL Group for his return to the Solitaire du Figaro. The Norman sailor will be taking part for the 17th time.
