Le Défi Azimut

Race Details

The Défi Azimut is an annual sailing race held in Lorient, France, bringing together the best skippers and their IMOCA boats for a series of intense trials. This event, which has become essential for sailing enthusiasts and professionals, showcases performance, technological innovation, and competitive spirit through several challenges. The 48-hour offshore race offers a realistic simulation of offshore racing conditions, allowing skippers to refine their strategies and test modifications made to their boats before major transoceanic races. The speed runs on a one-nautical-mile course are a spectacular demonstration of the IMOCAs' pure speed, attracting many spectators and highlighting technological advancements in competitive sailing. The nautical parade in the Lorient harbor is a convivial celebration of sailing, bringing together skippers, technical teams, and the public in a festive atmosphere. 

The Défi Azimut is also the last race before the Vendée Globe for the IMOCAs, offering a final opportunity for crucial adjustments and tests. Located in Lorient, the cradle of offshore racing where almost all teams are based, this event benefits from a strategic location that reinforces its importance in the sailing calendar. The Défi Azimut, with its dynamic format and varied trials, serves as a true innovation lab and an ideal training ground for skippers and their teams, thus contributing to the ongoing development and improvement of offshore racing.

The Vendée Globe

Race Details

The Vendée Globe is a solo, non-stop, and unassisted sailing race around the world. This unique competition begins and ends in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. Skippers sail approximately 24,000 nautical miles, crossing the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Also called "the Everest of the Seas," this race challenges sailors with extreme conditions: storms, gigantic waves, and polar cold. The sailors must demonstrate resilience, courage, and exceptional navigational skills. In addition to technical expertise, rigorous mental and physical preparation is essential to overcome the challenges of this solitary adventure. 

Since its inception in 1989, the Vendée Globe has attracted the world's most experienced sailors, each dreaming of completing this solo circumnavigation. The race takes place every four years, captivating the attention of sailing enthusiasts and the general public. The current record is held by Armel Le Cléac'h, who completed the race in 74 days, 3 hours, and 35 minutes during the 2016-2017 edition. 

The most recent edition showcased significant technological advancements, with boats becoming faster and more efficient, while also highlighting the harsh reality of natural elements. The Vendée Globe is not only a high-level sporting event but also an extraordinary human adventure, where each skipper pushes their limits and shares a unique bond with fellow competitors, all united by the same passion for the sea and sailing.

The Ocean Race Europe

Race Details

NY-Vendée

Race Details

The New York - Vendée Les Sables is a prestigious sailing race that stretches from New York City, USA, to Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. The race spans approximately 3,100 nautical miles, offering skippers a unique challenge of navigating in North Atlantic through diverse and often harsh oceanic conditions. It provides an invaluable opportunity for competitors to fine-tune their boats and strategies ahead of major events like the Vendée Globe. 

Departing from the iconic New York harbor, the race heads eastward across the North Atlantic, pushing sailors to their limits with unpredictable weather patterns, strong currents, and the busy maritime traffic of one of the world's most challenging waterways. The journey culminates in Les Sables-d'Olonne, a historic sailing hub in France, renowned for its vibrant maritime culture and as the starting and finishing point of the Vendée Globe. 

The New York - Vendée Les Sables race not only tests the physical and mental stamina of the skippers but also highlights advancements in sailing technology. The IMOCA class boats, known for their cutting-edge design and engineering, are put through rigorous trials, showcasing their speed, resilience, and innovative features. This race is a vital part of the IMOCA calendar, attracting significant media attention and fan engagement, thus fostering a deeper connection between the sport, its supporters, and the broader public. 

In essence, the New York - Vendée Les Sables race is more than just a competitive event; it is a celebration of sailing excellence, a proving ground for the world's best sailors, and a key milestone on the road to the Vendée Globe, reinforcing the spirit of adventure and technological prowess inherent in offshore racing.

The Transat CIC

Race Details

The Transat CIC, historically known as the "Transat Anglaise", is a legendary solo sailing race that has captivated the sailing world since its inception in 1960. Traditionally starting from Plymouth, UK, the last edition of this transatlantic race began in Lorient, France, marking a new chapter in its storied history. The race covers approximately 3,000 nautical miles, ending in New York, USA, and presents one of the most demanding challenges in offshore sailing, attracting elite sailors. 

The route of The Transat CIC takes competitors across the tempestuous North Atlantic, a region notorious for its unpredictable and often severe weather conditions. This solo race requires skippers to navigate treacherous seas and endure extreme physical and mental stress. Starting from the maritime hub of Lorient, known for its strong sailing culture, the race tests every facet of a sailor's skill and endurance before concluding in New York City, a destination that adds an iconic finale to this mythic journey. 

The Transat CIC is renowned for pushing the boundaries of sailing technology and human endurance. The solo nature of the race demands that sailors be exceptional navigators and proficient in every aspect of their boat’s operation and maintenance. The event showcases the latest advancements in yacht design and engineering, particularly in the IMOCA, Class40, and Multi50 categories, emphasizing speed, resilience, and sustainability. 

The race is more than a competitive challenge; it embodies the spirit of adventure and innovation, serving as a critical milestone for many skippers on their path to the Vendée Globe and other major offshore racing events. The Transat CIC blends historical significance with modern competition, continuing to inspire generations of sailors with its enduring legacy of excellence and adventure.

Retour à la Base

Race Details

The "Retour à La Base" race is an offshore sailing competition that brings together some of the world's top skippers and their high-performance IMOCA boats. The first edition of the race took place last year in November 2023 and began in Fort-de-France, Martinique. It’s a route of approximately 3,500 nautical miles, concluding in Lorient, France. For its first edition, the race was a huge success and is now part of the must-see races of the IMOCA calendar. 

Departing from the picturesque Caribbean waters of Fort-de-France, the "Retour à La Base" race challenges competitors with a diverse range of oceanic conditions. Sailors must navigate through the trade winds, across the unpredictable North Atlantic, and into the often-turbulent Bay of Biscay. For among the world's most demanding sporting challenges, crossing the Atlantic from west to east certainly ranks high, especially when tackled solo and in the middle of a northern winter. The race serves a dual purpose: it is not only a competitive event but also a strategic way to bring the boats back to Europe in racing mode after events in the Caribbean. Additionally, it functions as a qualifying race for the Vendée Globe, allowing skippers to earn essential qualifications and test their boats under real race conditions. 

In essence, the "Retour à La Base" race is a prestigious and demanding event that celebrates the best of solo offshore sailing. It combines the allure of a challenging transatlantic voyage with the excitement of a top-tier competition, continuing to inspire and captivate sailors and fans alike with its legacy of adventure and achievement.