Impact League SailGP: Brazil tops the 2025 sustainable ranking
The Mubadala Brazil SailGP team, led by skipper Martine Grael, wins the first Impact League 2025 challenge âeuros the "race for the planet" launched by SailGP. Their project to clean up the island of Pombeda, in Rio's Guanabara Bay, collected over 4 tons of waste, while involving local fishermen and microplastics researchers.
Rewarded for its social and environmental impact, Brazil is ahead of Emirates GBR and NorthStar Canada in this parallel ranking, which recognizes teams' sustainable and inclusive commitments. Next stop: San Francisco Bay, before an unprecedented rendezvous in Rio in May.
Transat Paprec 2025: 19 mixed duos ready to do battle between Concarneau and Saint-Barth
On April 20, 19 mixed pairs will set off from Concarneau for the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec, the first Figaro Beneteau 3 transatlantic race to be contested by mixed doubles on equal terms. A race that is now part of the DNA of the French Elite Ocean Racing Championship, and a symbol of more inclusive sailing.
The line-up promises to be strong, with a mix of up-and-coming sailors, former winners and international profiles. This edition will test the crews on a tactical course, between fine strategy in the Bay of Biscay and a committed sprint in the trade winds.
Organized by OC Sport Pen Duick and supported by Paprec, Seiko and Corsair, the race is set to be a highlight of spring 2025.
Francesca Clapcich aims for the 2028 Vendée Globe with 11th Hour Racing
Italian-American yachtswoman, two-time Olympian and winner of The Ocean Race 2023, Francesca Clapcich has set herself a new challenge: to take part in the Vendée Globe 2028. Supported by 11th Hour Racing, she becomes the first sailor to aspire to compete in all four of sailing's greatest events: the Olympic Games, the America's Cup, The Ocean Race and now the Vendée Globe.
She will take the helm of the IMOCA class Malizia-Seaexplorer boris Herrmann's former boat, with technical support from Team Malizia. His project is part of a sporting and societal approach, with a campaign focused on inclusion, diversity and ocean preservation.
First race on the program: the Transat Café L'Or (ex-Transat Jacques Vabre) in October 2025.
Vendée Globe Foundation: over ?16,000 raised with U stores in Vendée
To mark the arrival of the Vendée Globe 2024, the U stores in the Vendée region carried out a major solidarity operation in aid of the Vendée Globe Foundation, to help protect the oceans. Thanks to the commitment of customers and the doubling of donations by the company, a cheque for ?16,094 was presented on March 17 in Les Sables-d'Olonne.
This local mobilization, supported by over 6,000 donors, illustrates the importance of raising public awareness of environmental issues. It also supports the Foundation's scientific and educational actions to preserve marine biodiversity, even beyond the race itself.
Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères: the world sailing event returns from April 19 to 26
From April 19 to 26, the Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères - Toulon Provence Méditerranée will bring together over 800 athletes from 65 nations on the legendary Var waterway. Second round of the new circuit Sailing Grand Slam this 59th edition promises to be a summit of Olympic sailing, with the presence of many medal winners from the Paris 2024 Olympics, including France's Lauriane Nolot in Formula Kite.
Ten Olympic series will be on the program, from kitefoil to ILCA, Nacra 17 and mixed 470. From April 23 to 24, the public will be able to attend the regattas at sea aboard launches, free of charge. A high-level sporting spectacle not to be missed.
Figaro Beneteau: Tiphaine Ragueneau makes her ORCOM debut
At the age of 31, Tiphaine Ragueneau is about to compete in her first full Figaro Class season under the ORCOM colors. Trained as a veterinary surgeon and a passionate sailor, the Breton recently put her career on hold to devote herself fully to ocean racing.
Having competed in the Class40 and the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023, she has also joined the 100% women's UpWind by MerConcept team in Ocean Fifty. She will be taking her first solo steps on the circuit at the Solo Guy Cotten Concarneau (March 24-29), after a winter of intensive training in Port-la-Forêt. Supported by ORCOM, a loyal partner of the circuit, Tiphaine approaches this new adventure with humility, ambition... and a strong desire to learn.
Ocean Fifty: Luke Berry seeks partners to take the next step
Already backed by a solid pool of partners, including Groupe Lamotte and the association Le Rire Médecin, Luke Berry is calling for one or more major sponsors for the 2025 season. The aim is to complete his budget for the Ocean Fifty campaign, then set his sights on the Route du Rhum 2026... or even the Vendée Globe 2028 in the IMOCA class.
With a quarter of the financing still to be raised, the skipper is offering significant visibility on his high-performance trimaran, and the chance to associate a brand with a human and solidarity-based project. This season's target is the Transat Café L'Or, the new name for the Transat Jacques Vabre.
An ambitious, mature and progressive project, now ready to take on new partners.
Mediterranean Records Network: a new playground for speed lovers
From May 1, 2025, a new perpetual challenge opens up in the Mediterranean with the launch of the Mediterranean Records Network . Neither a race nor a one-off event, this innovative concept offers four âeuro routes between Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Portofino, Calvi and Mahon âeuros to be taken freely, with no calendar constraints.
Open to foilers, classic yachts (built before 1950) and modern boats, this network is based on a simple digital platform: performances are automatically verified via GPS files, and a real-time ranking is updated for each route.
Titles from Legend , Top 10 Cups and personal medals will reward the fastest sailors... or the most consistent. A new lease of life for speed sailing in the Mediterranean.
Princess Anne, new patron of the International Cape Horn Association
The Association Internationale des Cap-Horniers (AICH) has just announced that HRH Princess Anne will succeed her father, Prince Philip, as patron of the organization. A passionate sailor and a committed figure in the British maritime world, Princess Anne thus perpetuates a family heritage closely linked to the history of circumnavigation.
Already involved in numerous nautical initiatives, notably through the Whitbread of 1973-74, it joined the AICH at a key moment, marked by the revival of adventure sailing. With the rise of the Vendée Globe, retro races like the Golden Globe and growing interest in Cape Horn, the AICH experienced unprecedented growth.
Its president, Archie Fairley, hails the appointment as a new impetus to value those who push the boundaries of ocean sailing.
Snim 2025: Kito de Pavant patron of the 59th edition in Marseille
From April 18 to 21, the 59th edition of the Semaine Nautique Internationale de Méditerranée will bring together IRC, one-design and short-handed regatta enthusiasts in Marseille. Sponsor of the event, sailor Kito de Pavant, faithful to his Mediterranean roots, will return to the harbor of Marseilles both as guest of honor... and as a competitor aboard a large IRC boat.
Under the aegis of the Société Nautique de Marseille, the Snim once again promises to be a highlight of the calendar, combining competition on the water and conviviality on land. Two rounds will be run by a top-notch team, including Paul Bastard and Aline Williot as race directors. The event will also pay tribute to Florence Arthaud, an emblematic figure of the club and patron of its sailing school.
SailGP 2025: a season of technological innovation
Just a few days before the San Francisco Grand Prix (March 22-23), SailGP announces that the 2025 season will be the most technologically advanced in the history of sailing. Thanks to its partnership with Oracle, the circuit is integrating AI to improve F50 performance, enhance safety and offer fans an unprecedented immersive experience, both on site and remotely.
On-board sensors, intelligent GPS markings, collision avoidance, predictive analysis, virtual reality and live overlays... these are just some of the tools now at the service of crews, referees, spectators and the show. All based on an ultra-powerful cloud infrastructure capable of processing 53 billion pieces of data per race day.
In San Francisco, the world's tech hub, the 12 crews will compete at over 60 knots on a mythical stretch of water, with the promise of a regatta at the cutting edge of innovation.
Solo Guy Cotten 2025: start in a week's time in Concarneau
The 49th Solo Guy Cotten kicks off in Concarneau on Monday, March 24. Nearly 40 Figaro Bénéteau boats are expected to take part in this first event of the 2025 French Elite Ocean Racing Championship, combining coastal courses and offshore racing. New this year: tandems entered in the next Transat Paprec will also be able to compete in the double-handed event.
The headliners include Quentin Vlamynck, Hugo Dhallenne (Skipper Macif 2025) and nine rookies, including Tiphaine Ragueneau, who will be making their solo debut. The offshore âeuros course between Brest and the Gironde âeuros promises to be technical, with long moonless nights and strong currents. A great pre-season warm-up and a real-life test for the new recruits.
SailGP Los Angeles: Canada takes its first win of the season
NorthStar Canada claimed its first-ever victory of the 2025 season at the Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix, beating favourites New Zealand and Australia in the final. This performance also marks the team's first success since March 2023 and the promising debut of double Olympic champion Giles Scott at the helm.
On water that was light but still conducive to flying, the Canadians dominated the final, posting the best speed (51.07 km/h) and a flight rate of 99%. New Zealand struggled for victory despite a good start, while Australia never found the right rhythm.
With four different winners in four stages, the season promises to be more competitive than ever. New Zealand climbs to 3rd place overall, just behind Emirates GBR (1st) and Australia (2nd). The United States finished 9th on home soil, despite the support of the home crowd.
Next stop: San Francisco, on March 22 and 23, for a leg expected to be one of the most technical on the SailGP calendar.
