First navigation and first autonomous flights for Orient Express Racing Team
After a battery of static tests and a towed test on Tuesday, Thursday June 6, 8 French sailors got their first taste of flight aboard the AC75 Orient Express Racing Team, the official boat entered in the 37th America's Cup! On board: pilots Quentin Delapierre and Kevin Peponnet, trimmers Matthieu Vandame and Jason Saunders, and the cycling sailors in charge of supplying energy to power the sails, Olivier Herlédant, François Pervis, Rémi Verhoeven and Germain Chardin.
The Maxi Banque Populaire sets sail for the relay of the oceans
On June 7, the Olympic Flame will set sail on board the Maxi Banque Populaire XI from Brest to the French West Indies, for the Relais des Océans. From June 7 to 15, Armel le Cléac'h and Sébastien Josse will be accompanied on this relay by a number of celebrities: athlete Marie-José Pérec, doctor Marine Lorphelin, actor and playwright Alexis Michalik and chef Hugo Roellinger.
Acrobatica wins Atlantic Cup
After a 360-mile race from Newport to Portland, only a few minutes separated the first two finishers. In the end, Acrobatica, skippered by Alberto Riva and Jean Marre, took first place on June 3 at 08:56 and 52 seconds US time. They had already won first place between Charleston and Newport. Just 7 minutes and 31 seconds after Acrobatica crossed the finish line, Pierre-Louis Atwell and Maxime Bensa of Vogue with a Crohn's took second place, tying them for second overall in the race. The most spectacular finish of the day came between Dékulpe and Everial, with Dékulpe edging Everial by 25 seconds to take third place.
The race continued with a day of coastal racing, the second of which was cancelled due to poor visibility. With first place in the inshore race, Acrobatica secured overall victory in the event. Two other French duos completed the podium: Pierre-Louis Atwell and Maxime Bensa on Vogue Avec Un Crohn narrowly secured second place by just half a point. Erwan Le Draoulec and Tanguy Leglatin on Everial completed the podium in third place.
New York Vendée, a race never seen before
While they were expecting a downwind course, the 28 sailors in the New York Vendée Les Sables d'Olonnes transatlantic race are facing a completely different scenario. The fleet is divided into three, led by Charlie Dalin on Macif Santé Prévoyance, due to finish between June 8 and 9. A long way behind is Boris Herrmann, who has opted for a unique strategy: climbing high to the north, then descending downwind. His arrival is scheduled for around June 9. The rest of the fleet is divided into three, more than 300 miles from the leader. The southerners have opted to round to the south the biodiversity protection zone defined around the Azores. The central group is also divided, with one group further north and the other further south, which should eventually join up. Of particular note is Sam Goodchild's retirement on Vulnerable, who dismasted and headed for the Azores.
A new ranking for the Transquadra
The Transquadra is a race reserved for amateur sailors over the age of 40, and has become a classic over its 31 years of existence. For its 11th edition, which will bring together 47 boats and 74 sailors, crewed or solo, the organization has introduced a "cruiser" classification dedicated to cruising racing yachts. This concerns around a quarter of the fleet. The first leg will set off from Marseille on July 3, 2024 for the Mediterranean fleet, and on July 7 from La Turballe for the Atlantic. The sailors will first reach Madeira. The second leg will take them to Martinique.
Sydney, finish of the 3rd stage of the Globe40 2025/2026
Between Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean and Chilean Valparaiso on the west coast of the South American continent, Sydney, Australia, will be the link in the Globe40 2025/2026 Asia-Pacific route. The city will host the finish of Leg 3 in mid-December 2025 and the start of Leg 4 in early January 2026. In between, the mythical Sydney-Hobart will take place on December 26.
Global Solo Challenge 2027-2028, registration opens
Entries for the Global Solo Challenge (GSC) 2027-2028 are now open . This race offers amateur sailors the chance to sail non-stop around the world, via the three capes. The second edition will start and finish in Vigo, a dynamic city steeped in history in Spain.
Actual Group alongside Jean Le Cam
Jean Le Cam has added a new partner to his Vendée Globe project, the 6th round-the-world race he will complete this November. The Actual Group has signed up alongside the sailor from Finistère, whom it has known since the 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre. At the same time, Actual remains committed to the Ultim circuit with skipper Anthony Marchand.
Sail GP, the French take 2nd place in Canada
Quentin Delapierre's blue team took a well-deserved second place at the Canada Sail Grand Prix, behind the British and ahead of the Danes. They move up to 4th place in the overall season standings, 6 points behind the Australians, who dropped to 3rd place after finishing 7th in Halifax. The New Zealanders, 5th in Halifax, nonetheless retain first place overall, with an 11-point lead over the second-placed Spaniards. There are still 2 Sail Grand Prix to go before the Grand Final.
Engie Kite Tour 2024, Lauriane Nolot wins in Fréjus
The first leg of the ENGIE Kite 2024 ended in Fréjus from May 31 to June 2, after three days of racing in Kitefoil and wingfoil and two in Twin-Tip (TT) and directional board. After 13 races, of which only 10 were retained, Paul Labordère and Lauriane Nolot won the Kitefoil leg. In Twin-Tip, Giovanni Sambuy and Aude Ournac won after six races (five retained), as did Alex Caizergues in directional board. Finally, in wingfoil, Tom Pansard and Orane Ceris won after eight races (six retained).
