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The new 2026 Figaro Beneteau Class program promises to be dense, varied and demanding. With four official events for the French Elite Offshore Racing Championship, including a new double-handed race between Vendée and Portugal, the calendar sets a fast pace.
Paprec's Solitaire du Figaro gets a head start on the season
Running the Solitaire in May changes the whole preparation process.
Historically held at the end of the summer, the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is taking the lead this time. It will start in Perros-Guirec on May 17, 2026. The race, still made up of three offshore legs, will finish on June 7. For Figaro sailors, this means they'll need to be on the pace from the very first weeks of the season. Gone are the days of late breaking-in, when you have to get up to speed immediately. This also changes the logic of winter training, which becomes even more structured.
A new double-handed race to Portugal: a long end-of-season sprint
Round trip Vendée - Portugal, a loop that promises to be tactical and physical.
The highlight of the program is a double-handed event, organized by EG'EAU, starting on August 27 and finishing on September 13. This long-distance format, between Vendée and Portugal, adds intense offshore racing to the end of the summer. The fact that the 3 coefficient is lower than that of the Solitaire in no way detracts from its importance: complex weather in the Atlantic, upwind return strategies, double-handed rhythm management... This will be one of the pivotal events of the Championship.
The return of the double: strategic choice or logistical necessity?
The double is a bridge between learning and performance.
In addition to the Vendée-Portugal race, the Banque Populaire Grand Ouest Trophy, scheduled from April 15 to 25, 2026, will also test the pairs. Organized in Concarneau by Ultim Sailing, this event with a coefficient of 2 offers a course between the Ponant islands, from Normandy to Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The double-handed format, which has long been on the back burner, is making a comeback, not only as a means of transmission, but also as a way of renewing teams and optimizing budgets. Less fatigue than solo, but more coordination.
The Figaro Beneteau Academy structures the training program
Eight events designed to prepare youngsters for high-level competition.
Created in 2022, the Academy now hosts a complete circuit with eight events. From the Spi Ouest France in La Trinité, to the Tour Voile, via the Fig'Armor in Lorient, young sailors in double-handed or crewed configuration sail on the same support as the pros. It's a gradual build-up course, where pairs can practice both coastal tactics and offshore life management. The Paprec Challenge, which allows duos to race the first leg of the Solitaire with the "big boys", continues to play a key role in the transition to the elite.
A class that's always active in the institutional arena
Collaboration with the French Sailing Federation remains central.
The construction of the calendar, as well as its articulation with clubs and organizers, has been thought out with the Fédération Française de Voile (French Sailing Federation). The Race Commission plays an essential coordinating role in this respect, particularly with regard to regulatory aspects, the distribution of events and support for young sailors. Support for the emergence of new talent is clearly affirmed. The Class thus retains its role as a springboard to the highest levels of French ocean racing.
