Start of the Mini Transat 2024
This September 24 at 2 pm, the 90 sailors of the Mini Transat La Boulangère 2024 were due to set off from Les Sables-d'Olonne towards Santa Cruz de Palma, the first leg of the transatlantic race. Due to weather conditions, the start has been postponed for the time being. The second leg will finish in Guadeloupe. Attracting ever more participants, the event is open to 90 competitors instead of the 84 initially planned. There will be 63 French and 27 international competitors, as well as 14 women. The fleet includes 31 Proto and 59 Series boats, categories in which the competition will be fierce.
40' Malouine LAMOTTE, playful at the head of the fleet
The start of the 4 e The first edition of the 40' Malouine LAMOTTE was held on Thursday, September 21st. After 187 miles of racing between Saint-Malo and Les Sept Iles, in strong winds, squalls, seas and rain, the duo of Ambrogio Beccaria and Nicolas Andrieu won the race. Only 3 minutes and 58 seconds separated them from runners-up Nicolas d'Estais âeuros Léo Debiesse. This general rehearsal before the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre was an opportunity not only to validate certain technical points, but also to gauge each other, and to confirm the status of favorites for some of them.
An eagerly-awaited Azimut challenge and already some disappointments
The Azimut Challenge kicked off on September 21 with the 48 Hours of the Challenge. Charal wins, followed by three formidable contenders. Macif Santé Prévoyance, For The Planet and Paprec Arkéa complete the top four behind Jéremie Beyou and Franck Cammas. Stand As One, Eric Bellion's new scow without foils, had to abandon the race due to electronic problems with the autopilot and weather data reception. It's all over for Corum l'Epargne too, which dismasted on Thursday night in the southwest of Brittany's Pointe. This was the boat's 2nd dismasting.
The runs that were due to take place on Wednesday September 20 have finally been moved to September 24, as difficult weather conditions made it impossible to launch runs with guests on board on the original date. They will replace the Tour de l'île de Groix.
Sail GP returns to Taranto, Italy
On September 23 and 24, 2023, the F50 flying catamarans will meet in Taranto, southern Italy. In the absence of the New Zealanders, still without a wing following the incident in Saint-Tropez, only 9 crews will be competing. The French will be able to count on a new flight controller, Jason Saunders. After starting out with the New Zealanders, he moved on to the Americans and then the Swiss, before joining the French team.
Over 120 competitors expected at the 45th Régates Royales
Held from September 24 to 30, 2023, the 45th Régates de Cannes will bring together some of the world's finest classic yachts, including the Dragon and the 12 MJI, stars of the America's Cup between 1958 and 1987, which will compete in the 2023 European Championship. Several categories will be featured:
- Big Boats
- Classics
40 skippers enter the new Lorient La Base race
While La Base has established itself as the hub of ocean racing, no race has yet arrived in the port of Lorient. This is now a reality, with the return race of the Transat Jacques Vabre, Retour à la Base, a single-handed transatlantic race starting in Martinique on November 26. 40 skippers have answered the call, 5 women and 35 men, aged 22 to 64. This event will also be a qualifier for the Vendée Globe, a godsend for the 14 skippers who have yet to take part in a solo race before 2024.
Construction begins on the maxi-trimaran Idec Sport
Alexia Barrier will set off on the Jules Verne Trophy in 2025 with an all-female crew. The Idec Sport trimaran was convoyed from La Trinité sur Mer to Vannes on September 18 to enter the Multiplast shipyard. A series of works are planned to prepare her for a first series of Atlantic records starting in April 2024.
An Ocean Globe Race hoist
Injured on the back of the knee after a fall on deck on September 17, 2023, crewman Stéphane Raguenes of skipper Jean d'Arthuys' French crew Triana (66) was rescued two days later. The rescue was carried out by the Portuguese Rescue Coordination Center, with support from the Portuguese army and the French Rescue Coordination Center, CROSS Gris Nez. The hoist was successful, as the vessel was some 225 miles from Madeira Island.
Cheating on the Solitaire du Figaro 2023
Benoît Tuduri (CAPSO âeuros En Cavale) finished first rookie in the Solitaire du Figaro 2023. However, following a check of the Figaro Bénéteau 3's onboard computers, it was discovered that the young skipper had downloaded GRIB (weather) files during the race, which is forbidden by the class rule and therefore also infringes World Sailing rule 69 (harm to the image of the sport). The jury therefore decided to exclude him from the race. Pierre Daniellot (Team Vendée Formation) also used weather files. Although his case was considered less important by the FFVoile, the jury finally decided to exclude him, citing a real desire to cheat on his part.
These exclusions led to changes in the stage rankings, but above all in the overall standings. Victor Le Pape wins the Bizuth trophy, Romain Le Gall takes second place and Julie Simon third.
