France SailGP Team: a new era for the 2025 season
With just a few days to go before the start of the 2025 season, France SailGP Team unveils its renewed team and announces a big news: the reception of a new F50 in January, in Auckland. The team, now partially independent thanks to investor support led by K-Challenge, integrates several talents, including Camille Lecointre as tactician and Enzo Balanger as young Inspire sailor. SailGP's Inspire program enables young people from all over the world and from all walks of life to enter a top-level professional championship.
Under the direction of Quentin Delapierre, Les Bleus will start the competition in Auckland with a new boat based on SailGP technologies. Although the team will miss the Dubai Grand Prix, this strategic decision promises optimized training and better preparation for a season that will feature 12 teams and over $7 million at stake.
With a reinforced staff and renewed ambitions, the objective is clear: to shine at every Grand Prix and secure a place in the Abu Dhabi final.
The Sailing Grand Slam is born: a new circuit for Olympic sailing
The major Olympic sailing events unite around the Sailing Grand Slam (SGS), an international circuit comprising five emblematic regattas: the Trofeo Princesa Sofia (Spain), the Semaine Olympique Française (Hyères, France), the Holland Regatta (Netherlands), the Kieler Woche (Germany) and the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta (USA).
Developed in conjunction with World Sailing, this project aims to offer top-level competitions while simplifying the process for athletes thanks to a single registration platform and standardized documents. The SGS also emphasizes sustainable practices and includes innovations such as referee training and testing of new race formats.
The first joint notice of race will be available in December. A new step in promoting Olympic sailing worldwide!
Nicolas Lunven sets a new 24-hour solo record!
Nicolas Lunven, skipper of Holcim-PRB, covered 546.60 nautical miles solo in 24 hours, or 1,012.30 km, at an impressive average speed of 26.68 knots . This record beats that of Thomas Ruyant (540 miles) and confirms the potential of the boat, which already holds the crewed record with 640.48 miles in 2023.
After just three days of racing in the Vendée Globe, Nicolas Lunven has proved his expertise in weather strategy with this exceptional performance, which marks his stunning entry into the competition.
Championnat de France Espoirs de Match-Racing: time for duels in Antibes!
Antibes' Baie de la Salis is set to host the Championnat de France Espoirs de Match-Racing 2024 from November 16 to 19. Ten French crews under the age of 25 will duel aboard First 7.5s supplied by event organizer AMRA. Among them are a number of talented youngsters in the world's top 20, including titleholder Timothée Rossi and local rivals Ange Delerce and Ian Garreta.
The competition begins with a Round Robin, in which each team plays the others once. The eight best teams will qualify for the quarter-finals, where everything will be up for grabs. Varied conditions, from steady winds to light airs, promise a captivating show all weekend long.
Antibes becomes the scene of a high-level confrontation, revealing a new generation of promising sailors ready to shine on the international scene.
PWA Windsurf World Cup: the French dominate in Slalom and Foil
The 2024 season of the PWA Windsurf World Cup ended on a high note for French windsurfers. Pierre Mortefon achieved an historic double by taking the world titles in Slalom X and Foil Slalom. In the women's category, Justine Lemeteyer won the Foil Slalom World Championship ahead of Marion Mortefon, who took second place.
In the Yokosuka final, 22-year-old Justine Lemeteyer maintained her lead against stiff competition, marked by the arrival of riders from the iQFoil circuit. Marion Mortefon, victorious in Japan, concludes the season on a positive note.
In the men's category, Pierre Mortefon demonstrated exemplary consistency throughout the stages, enabling him to dominate the final ranking in Foil Slalom after a victory in Slalom X. An impressive performance for the Frenchman, who is back on top after a difficult 2023.
The Tricolores leave this 2024 season with worldwide recognition and the ambition to defend their titles next year.
Voiles d'Automne 2024 draws to a close in Saint-Tropez
The Voiles d'Automne 2024, organized by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, offered a weekend of contrasting regattas in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. After a rough first day with 20 to 25 knots of easterly wind and a heavy swell, the 60 yachts entered enjoyed calmer, sunnier weather on the following days. However, the lack of wind meant that no further races could be run after Saturday.
In the IRC, Expresso won ahead of Raving Swan and Chihuaha. In the OSIRIS classes, L'autre femme, Intrepide and Maquis won their groups. In the First 31.7 class, Guy Gorzerino's Procyon Ville de Saint-Mandrier won from 13 entries.
At the awards ceremony, Pierre Roinson, President of the SNST, praised the conviviality of this year's event and the commitment of the volunteers. See you in March 2025 for the ARMEN Festival.
Vendée Globe 2024: the 10th solo round-the-world race has begun!
This Sunday at 13h02, Alain Leb?uf, President of the Vendée Globe, kicked off the 10th edition of this legendary race . The skippers set off on a solo, non-stop, non-assisted round-the-world voyage of over 24,000 nautical miles. They set off in calm conditions, with a light wind of 4 to 7 knots, after an emotional morning of farewells on the pontoons and the descent of the channel in front of a huge crowd.
Only Conrad Colman (MS Amlin) was unable to take the start for technical reasons. The sailors now begin their planetary adventure, with the wind expected to strengthen for their first night at sea.
