Sailor of the Year 2023 nominees announced
Each year, the Sailor of the Year ceremony rewards sportsmen and women who have represented France in major sailing events. The winner will be announced on December 8, 2023 at an evening event at the Olympia. The winners are chosen by a panel of experts. The jury, which will have the onerous task of electing the Sailor of the Year 2023, will also take into account the vote of the public, who can from today until December 06 choose their favorite Sailor of the Year. Here are the nominees:
- Pauline Courtois, Maëlenn Lemaître, Louise Acker, Clara Bayol and Théa Khelif (Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team): Match-Racing World Champions
- Lauriane Nolot: world champion and gold medallist at Test Event 2023 in Kitefoil
- Armel Le Cléac'h and Sébastien Josse (Banque Populaire): winners of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre, Ultim category
- Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière (For People): winners of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre, IMOCA category
- Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and Quentin Vlamynck (Solidaire en Peloton): winners of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre, Ocean Fifty category
- Nicolas Andrieu (Alla Grande Pirelli): winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre, Class40 category with Italian Ambrogio Beccaria (only French skippers can be nominated).
Eric Péron qualifies for Arkéa Ultim Challenge
At the end of a 2,500-mile Atlantic course, the race directors validated the qualification of Éric Péron, skipper of the Trimaran Adagio, for the Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest, the non-stop single-handed round-the-world race in an Ultim trimaran; a course rich in lessons for the sailor and the boat before the start of the race on January 7.
No return to base for several skippers awaiting qualification
British sailor Phil Sharp has built the IMOCA Ocean's Lab to compete in the Vendée Globe 2024. Launched in October 2023, the boat suffered damage while Phil Sharp and his crew were convoying to Martinique for the Retour à la Base race. As a reminder, to hope to take part in the Vendée Globe, skippers and their boats must qualify in dedicated races, one in 2022, or in 2023 and one in 2024. Forced to turn back, the sailor will therefore not be present on the West Indian starting line... He's not the only one who won't be taking part, as Éric Bellion, Yannick Bestaven, Charlie Dalin and Oliver Heer have withdrawn from the Transat Jacques Vabre and won't be present either. Nicolas Troussel and James Harayada had already given up on the idea of taking part.
Ambrogio Beccaria and Nicolas Andrieu win the Transat Jacques Vabre in Class40
This Thursday at 08:01 local time (13:01 Paris time), Ambrogio Beccaria and Nicolas Andrieu crossed the finish line in victory in the bay of Fort-de-France of the 16th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre. The two sailors on the Class40 Alla Grande Pirelli have a total race time of 18 days 12 hours 21 minutes 55 seconds. The duos of Amarris (Nebout-Mahé) and IBSA (Bona-Santurde Del Arco) complete the podium after studying the race times of the two legs between Le Havre and Lorient and La Martinique.
The Solitaire du Figaro delivers a positive sporting assessment of its 54th edition
A beautiful course in three challenging legs; four stopovers; 32 skippers, including a third of rookies and numerous nationalities; suspense; twists and turns, but above all a magnificent winner in the person of Corentin Horeau (Banque Populaire) - these are the results delivered by the organizers.
The Brest Finistère Classic returns for a second edition in 2024
Following the success of the first edition, the organizers of the Brest Finistère Classic are launching a second edition from August 26 to 31, 2024 between Brest and Douarnenez. By invitation, the event will be open to auric, metric and Bermuda yachts. A few conditions must be met, notably overall length (over 10 meters and compliance with CIM rules). Among classic yachts, only those designed before November 28, 1956 will be allowed to enter. Registration opens on December 12, 2023.
Team Holcim-PRB arrives safe and sound
After a 14-day delivery trip, Nicolas Lunven's IMOCA Holcim-PRB reached Martinique on January 20, 2023. The next ten days will be devoted to preparing the boat for the start of Nicolas' first solo race aboard Holcim-PRB, at 100% of her potential. He will be taking part in the new Retour à la Base race to qualify for the Vendée Globe 2024.
A superlative result for the 24th edition of the Mini Transat
The Mini Transat organizers report positive results for the 24th edition of the Mini Transat. The number of participants in this 2023 edition was raised from 84 to 90, 31 Proto and 59 Series. 17 nationalities were represented, with 27 international sailors taking part. There were 14 women and 13 "repeat offenders". The average age of the fleet was 33, with extremes of 21 and 66. While the abandonment rate generally fluctuates between 10 and 15%, this edition counted less than 5% abandonments, a total of 4 sailors. It was also a record-breaking edition, with Hugues de Prémare's Mini 6.50 covering 317.25 miles between November 1 and 2, 2023, at an average speed of 13.22 knots. This beats the records for the longest distance covered in 24 hours by a production boat and a proto.
Timothé Rossi wins the French Match Racing Espoirs Championships
After four days of matches in Cherbourg, Normandy, the crew of Timothé Rossi, a member of the Société des Régates d'Antibes, won the French Match Racing Espoirs Championship. Timothé Rossi will represent France at the next Match Race World Championships in Australia in early December.
IMOCA victory for Ruyant and Lagravière on the Jacques Vabre
Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière won the 16th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre on November 17, 2023 in the IMOCA class . On their boat For People, the duo crossed the finish line at 7 hours and 2 minutes French time, winning in 11 days, 21 hours, 32 minutes and 31 seconds. This is Thomas' second victory in the race after the 2021 edition.
