A first clash for the 6 America's Cup boats
This Friday, September 15, 2023 and until the 17th, the six challenges taking part in the 37th America's Cup meet on the Vilanova race course, in the province of Barcelona. Although this first event does not count towards the rest of the race, it will give everyone a chance to test their mettle on the AC40s.
A new mixed duo for the PRB skippers' team
After Kevin Escoffier withdrew from Team Holcim PRB amid a sexual harassment scandal, the sponsor presented a mixed duo to wear the Team's colors. Nicolas Lunven, known for his victories in the Solitaire du Figaro, will skipper the boat for a Vendée Globe 2024 program. Rosalin Kuiper, will be her co-skipper on the Transat Jacques Vabre and skipper on The Ocean Race Europe 2025.
A new co-skipper for Samantha Davies
With Nicolas Lunven, Samantha Davies' co-skipper on Initiatives-Coeur since 2021, becoming PRB's main skipper, the yachtswoman now teams up with Jack Bouttell, recent winner of The Ocean Race. This half-Australian, half-British sailor is a good technician and used to sailing aboard the demanding latest-generation IMOCA boats. In 2017-2018, he won The Ocean Race on the VO65 Dongfeng, before repeating the experience with 11th Hour Racing Team, winner of the 2022-2023 edition in IMOCA.
A well-deserved victory for Corentin Horeau
The start of the final leg of the Solitaire du Figaro was given on September 10, 2023 from Roscoff towards Piriac-sur-Mer. After 3 days, 12 hours 59 minutes and 27 seconds, Corentin Horeau on the Figaro Banque Populaire won this new edition of the Solitaire du Figaro. At the age of 34 and in his 7th participation, Corentin Horeau wins his first overall victory. 15th at the end of the first leg in Kinsale, he fell just 3 minutes short of Basile Bourgnon on the 2nd leg. His 6th place on the final stage put him ahead of Basile Bourgnon, 9th on the stage and second overall, and Loïs Berrehar, 7th on the stage and 3rd overall. Benoît Tuduri, who crossed the finish line first on this 3rd leg, finished 1st in the Bénéteau rookie ranking.
A match-racing finale for the 3rd Grand Prix of Sail GP season 4
The third Grand Prix of Season 4 of Sail GP saw the English win in Saint-Tropez, in a Spanish-British-Australian final never before seen on SailGP. Ben Ainslie's English team took victory on the wire, overtaking the Australians at the end of the final close-hauled leg. The French, disappointed, finished 6th. The 4th edition will take place in Taranto, Italy, on September 23 and 24.
An emotional start to the Ocean Globe Race
The Ocean Globe Race, featuring 144 crew members and 14 iconic boats, is a retro race without computers, GPS or high-tech materials. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, the fleet set off from Southampton on September 10, 2023. The first leg, which saw Captain Coconut and Explorer take the lead, will take the sailors all the way to Cape Town. Among the French entries are the sailboat Neptune, L'Esprit d'équipe and Pen Duick VI, skippered by Marie Tabarly.
Baptism of the Class40 Legallais
Nine days after her launch, the Class40 Legallais, which will be sailed by Fabien Delahaye and Corentin Douguet in the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie - Le Havre, was christened on September 9, 2023 in Caen. Flavie Renouard, runner-up in the French 3000m steeplechase; Benjamin Lacroix-Desmazes, member of the French sitting volleyball team; and Pierre Casenave-Péré, first skipper of Legallais Team Voile, are the boat's godmother and godparents.
A successful edition for the Fifty Fifty Sail - Crédit Mutuel Arkea
The 5th edition of the Fifty Fifty Sail - Crédit Mutuel Arkea was held in Quiberon Bay on Saturday, September 9, 2023. 120 sailors - 60 men and women - took part in this mixed regatta, which helps fund reconstruction programs through sailing for women victims of violence. The three winners were Samuel Blevin's Joke in the J109 Osiris class, Philippe Girardin's J120 Hey Jude in the IRC class, and Charlie Capelle's Acapella in the Multi 2000 class.
The Solitaire du Figaro opens up to double-handers
In 2024, the first leg of the Solitaire du Figaro will be double-handed. Called l'Étape by La Solitaire, its aim is to attract and train a new generation of Figaro BENETEAU 3 sailors. This formula will offer a minimum of five pairs the same organization, including safety, race management and onshore infrastructure. Entry fees are reduced to ?500, and the pairs will have a specific ranking. If the start is delayed by 30 minutes, the course marks, finish and sailing conditions will be the same as for classic figarists.
