Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez opens its village
While the Maxi regattas start on October 1, the Voiles de Saint-Tropez village opens its doors this Friday, September 29, 2023. On the program: welcoming participants, Maxis and classic and modern sailboats. Regattas for the 250 Traditional and Modern yachts will start progressively on Monday and Tuesday.
The Ultim fleet gathers in Groix for a showdown
This Friday, September 29, 4 Ultims will compete over four sessions of runs off the island of Groix, Sodebo having broken its daggerboard. This will be the first time the teams are all together again, after the lengthy work carried out since the Route du Rhum to make the boats more reliable. On Saturday, they will set off at midday for an offshore course in the northern Bay of Biscay. The first race will be crewed, and the second double-handed. Actual Ultim 3's new foils will be on show, but the wind will have to be up for it, which is no easy feat.
A new IMOCA for Armel Tripon
Announced for 2021, the IMOCA project built with decommissioned carbon fiber has begun. Work has begun at Duqueine Atlantique in Loire-Atlantique. This VPLP design, based on the same mold as Boris Herrmann's IMOCA, will bear the colors of Armel's sponsor, Les P'tits Doudous. The carbon will be supplied by Airbus, and the fittings will be machined from titanium collected in operating theatres.
Pen Duick VI leads Ocean Globe Race
Two weeks after the start of the Ocean Globe Race, Marie Tabarly leads the fleet, despite being the heaviest boat. The fleet is divided into three, with Pen Duick VI accompanied by Translated 9, Maiden and Spirit of Helsinki. Explorer and Godspeed are at the back of the pack, the latter having made a three-day stopover in Cascais.
The Mini Transat fleet heads for the Canaries
After a 24-hour postponement due to poor weather conditions off Cape Finisterre, the Mini Transat started at 13:38 on September 25. The 90 competitors left Les Sables-d'Olonne in a southeasterly flow of 4 to 7 knots. 1,350 miles separate them from Santa Cruz de La Palma, in the Canaries. By Friday, the bulk of the fleet had rounded Cape Finisterre, splitting into two groups outside and inside the DST.
A new home port for Erwan Le Roux
While La Trinité-sur-Mer has always been Erwan Le Roux's home port, the Ocean Fifty Koesio stable has taken up residence in La Rochelle. Currently based at the Port des Minimes, the aim is to establish itself in the Chef de Baie port area, which is being developed by the urban area. Now partnered with co-skipper Audrey Ogereau, the sailor has resumed training while awaiting the completion of his boat. Koesio will be fitted with a new mast, boom and aerodynamic covers.
Eric Péron returns to the Ultim circuit
Eric Péron, who was due to take part in the Arkea Ultim Challenge, the first solo round-the-world Ultim race, had finally lost his sponsor. Thanks to the arrival of Adagio, Europe's leading appart'hôtellerie, the sailor is back in the race. He will rent Ultim Sailing's giant trimaran, the former Mieux.
Mini class honours "old boats
current record has been held by the López-Doriga brothers since 2006 on Arte y Naturaleza  âeuros Art et Nature âeuros in 12 days and 13 hours. Alex Pella had hoped to beat this time by half over the 1,500-mile course, but had to abandon the race after breaking his head on September 26.
