The Ocean Race in Phil Sharp's sights
Launched at the end of 2023 by British sailor Phil Sharp, the IMOCA OceansLab is the first hydrogen-powered racing boat. The IMOCA, an evolution of Initiatives C?ur, was built at Black Pepper Yachts in Nantes and is based in La Rochelle. The boat's unique power system comprises a hydrogen fuel cell, compressed green hydrogen and an electric propulsion motor. The skipper is still looking for part of the operating budget and a main partner to take part in races on the circuit: The Ocean Race Europe 2025, the Transat Jacques Vabre 2025, La Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe 2026 and the round-the-world race, The Ocean Race, in 2027.
The Transat CIC closes its finishing line
Clarisse Crémer showed resilience after the damage to l'Occitane en Provence and the forced stopover in the Azores. The young sailor completed The Transat CIC on May 19 at 02:08 French time, after 20d 12m and 38m of racing. She ranked 26th in the IMOCA class. Finishing this race puts her back above Violette Dorange in the Vendée Globe selection table for the time being. Anatole Falcon on the Class40 Good Morning Pouce crossed the finish line on May 20 at 10h18 30min (French time). He finished 8th in his category. Finally, Rémy Gérin on Faiaoahe crossed the finish line on May 23 at 20 h 16m 25s (French time) after 25 days 06 hours 46 minutes and 25 seconds. Second in the Vintage class, he is also the last of the 35 skippers to complete the demanding course of The Transat CIC.
A woman wins the Mini for the first time in May
The start of the Mini en Mai 2024, organized by the Société Nautique de La Trinité-sur-Mer, was given on Monday May 20 at 11:00 am. The starting line-up was 85, but Japanese sailor Hiroki Nakayama - 1034 Clochette - was forced to retire after a minor collision. Due to light winds, competitors first sailed the traditional course in Quiberon Bay, reduced to 13 miles, before setting off on the main course. After a hard-fought neck-and-neck battle with Romain Van Enis (969 - BE Sailing), it was finally Marie Gendron (1050 - Léa Nature) who won the 450-mile race. The young woman is the first woman to win this race, renowned for its demanding course. 3rd place went to Alexandre Demange (1048 DMG Mori Sailing Academy 2). In the Series, Amaury Guérin (996 - Groupe Satov) won after a duel with Paul Cousin (981 - AFP Groupe Biocombustibles). In 3rd place was William Ollivier (979 - Expérience Immobilier).
Ocean Fifty 2024 championship kicks off
Monday May 20 marks the start of the 2024 Ocean Fifty championship. The 9 Ocean Fifty boats on the circuit gathered in Saint-Malo for Act 1 of the Ocean Fifty Series. The first confrontations took place on May 23 at 10 a.m. on built courses, before heading out to sea over the weekend. On the program: 2 days of inshore races (built courses close to the coast) with coefficient 1, 2 days of offshore courses (with three crew members) with coefficient 2.
Paprec 600 off to a good start
On Monday May 20 at 12 noon, with an easterly wind of 16 to 18 knots, and a swell with waves of almost 2 m, 30 yachts, including 8 double-handed Class40s, set off on the Paprec 600 Saint-Tropez. The 14 double-handed racers and 8 crews must complete a 600-mile loop starting and finishing in Saint-Tropez, passing through the Bouches de Bonifacio, the island of Giannutri, the island of Gorgona, the island of Pianosa, the Giraglia Passage and the island of La Vaquette.
A new look for the maxi-trimaran The Famous Project
The maxi-trimaran Idec Sport, now in the hands of Alexia Barrier for her 100% women's project The Famous Project, will be launched on May 31. The boat is newly decorated by Jean-Baptiste Epron a very graphic design, in line with its main partners - the Idec Group, the CIC bank, Wipro and also Richard Mille - while retaining the red bows of Idec Sport.
Queguiner âeuros La Vie en Rose wins the BPGO Trophy
Setting out from Concarneau on May 18 for a 740-mile course between the Ponant islands, the thirty or so Figaro 3 skippers battled right to the end. After 4 days of racing, Elodie Bonafous and Corentin Horeau won by just 1 minute ahead of Basile Bourgnon and Tom Laperche on Edenred. Victor Le Pape and Yann Eliès crossed the finish line of the great BPGO Trophy race in 3rd place.
The C Kite Festival returns to the Indian Ocean
From June 27 to July 1, 2024, the kitesurfing elite will gather on the beach of the Mauritius Palmar resort in Mauritius. Expected competitions will bring together top athletes such as Louka Pitot, Antoine Auriol, Tom Hebert, Titouan Galea, Edgar Ulrich... There will also be plenty of entertainment: demonstrations, fitness classes, street food, evening entertainment...
Women's America's Cup trophy unveiled
The trophy for the first Puig Women's America's Cup was presented by Puig to the Fundació Joan Miró on May 21st. Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola was commissioned to design and create the trophy to be presented to the winning team of the Puig Women's America's Cup on October 13. It is " of a simple geometric figure, like a cylinder, with no decorative elements or base, which at a given moment opens up like a great sail struck by the wind. "Made of silver, 58 cm high and weighing around 5 kg, its interior conceals a rose gold effect. The first women's America's Cup will take place in Barcelona from October 5 to 13, 2024, as part of the 37th America's Cup. The six established official participants representing New Zealand, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, the United States and France will be joined by six new teams from Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Sweden and Australia.
A foretaste of the New York Vendée Les Sables
On May 24, the IMOCA boats taking part in the Vendée New York Les Sables-d'Olonne will be putting on a show in New York. They'll be making runs in Manhattan Bay. At 11 a.m., the start line of the Vendée Liberty will open and the first group will set off on the 1-mile course. 4 groups will follow each other until 3:30 p.m..
The Engie Kite Tour returns on May 31
The 2024 edition of the Engin Kite Tour will be held on May 31st in Fréjus . The program includes 3 days of kitefoil, Twin-Tip (TT), directional board and wingfoil racing off Caouanne beach. Many of the circuit's ambassadors, and not the least, have confirmed their presence. Laurianne Nolot, Kitefoil World Champion for the second time, and Axel Maella, 4th at the 2024 Worlds, will be taking part. Poema Newland, 4th at the World Championships, Chris Ballois and Alexia Fancelli will also be there, alongside a host of enlightened amateurs.
An expanded stable and new boats for Sails of Change
The Sails of Change ocean racing stable - formerly known as Spindrift - announces several changes for the 2024 season. Duncan Späth will become skipper of the TF35 Sails of Change 10, after three seasons as mainsail trimmer. He will take over the SUI10 sail number from his mother Dona Bertarelli, who skippered the D35 Ladycat for over 10 years. Yann Guichard, will lead another campaign with a second 15-meter TF35 flying catamaran, Sails of Change 8, under the number SUI8. He will be surrounded by a crew largely made up of young sailors new to the TF35. Finally, new record attempts are planned for 2025 at the helm of the maxi-trimaran Sails of Change.
Ocean Fifty Solidaires en Peloton christened during Act 1 of the Ocean Fifty Series
On Saturday May 18 at 5:00 pm, the Ocean Fifty Solidaires En Peloton skippered by Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, winner of the last Transat Jacques Vabre, was christened in Saint-Malo. As a reminder, this is the former Arkema, which was in the hands of Quentin Vlamynck. On board, Thibaut Vauchel-Camus will be joined by Tom Laperche, Axelle Pillain, Laurent Gourmelon, Julien Deniel and Antoine Gautier for the start of the first leg of the Ocean Fifty Series in Saint-Malo, on May 23.
The Atlantic Cup, the only dedicated Class40 race in the United States
The 7th edition of the Atlantic Cup will kick off on May 25, 2024. 9 crews representing 4 countries will leave Charleston at 12 noon for Newport for a 708-mile first leg. The second leg will then reach Portland, 249 miles away. June 5 and 6 will be dedicated to coastal races of 30 miles each.
This race makes its comeback after a 6-year absence, and takes place in pairs. Each pair is allowed 8 sails for the entire 1,048-mile race. Considered the toughest ocean race in the United States, it is the longest offshore race in the Western Atlantic and the only American race to round Cape Hatteras and Cape Cod.
Participants include Erwan le Draoulec and Tanguy Leglatin on Everial, Nicolas Jossier and Pierrick Letouze on La Manche évidence nautique, and Alberto Riva and Jean Marre on Acrobatica.
