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Offshore Regattas, sailing races and sailing events in France in 2021
Offshore sailing races, Uncategorized

Offshore Regattas, sailing races and sailing events in France in 2021

The following program is an inventory of all the French sailing races and sailing events that I am aware of for 2021. All the main French regions are represented: The Mediterranean coast, including the French Riviera, the Atlantic coast, Brittany, Normandy, The Caribbean and the Pacific isles.

Festival Armen

This event has been cancelled

This original event mixes yachting, race and art. It consists of 2 weekends of races, with the week in between focused on art. At least one piece of art must be produced by a crewman during the week. The art contest winner is selected by a jury reunited specifically for the occasion and the public.

Mini Golfe

This event has been cancelled

The first race of the year for the class “Mini 6.50”. This race qualifies partly for the “Mini transat’ race.

Solo Maitre Coq

The solo Maître Cop is an official race for the Figaro3 classe, the first one of the season actually. It is composed of a round of inshore races in the Sables d’Olonne bay during the first 2 days, followed then by the major offshore race around the isles of Re, Yeu and Belle-Ile.

Sardinha cup

The Sardinha cup takes its name from the course the schools of sardines used to follow, coming from Portugal and then up the French Atlantic coast.

It is composed of 2 legs summing up to about 1 300 miles, which makes of this race one of the Figaro 3 circuit longest ones.

This year, due to the pandemic, the course won’t stop in Portugal as usual. The starting and arriving points of the 2 legs will be at Saint Gilles Croix de Vie.

Plastimo Lorient Mini

An official race of the Mini circuit:

Voiles de St. Barth

This event has been cancelled

A prestigious regatta event in the Caribbean isles.

Au large de Saint-Tropez (900 miles of St-Tropez)

The longest offshore race in the Mediterranean sea. It used to be named “900 miles of Saint Tropez” and has since been renamed “Au large de Saint-Tropez” (Off St Tropez). The skippers can choose one of the 2 proposed courses: 400 or 900 miles. A beautiful and serious spring race.

Update: Due to the last COVID 19 measures in France, the race start is postponed from 10th and 14th April 2021 to 2nd June 2021. Only the 400 course is maintained.

Les Dames de Saint-Tropez

This event has been cancelled

About 20 beautiful traditional ships are invited each year to this particular event for women.

Pornichet select 6.50

A tactical and difficult race for the class Mini in the South Brittany waters.

Corsica med

Initially planned on 30th April, the starting date has been postponed to the 28th June.

This race is non-stop for Mini and Class40 boats, but will include 2 legs for IRCs, with a stopover at Maccigano in Corsica. The course goes from Marseille to Corsica then back to Marseille.

Two handed transatlantic race Concarneau – St Barth

Postponed
  • Type: race
  • Date: Starts on May the 9th.
  • Location / Course: Concarneau, Brittany, to St Barthelemy, Caribbean Isles
  • Class(es): Figaro 3
  • Site: https://www.transatendouble.bzh/

The two-handed transatlantic race is the new name of the former transat AG2R La Mondiale after the decision of its main sponsor to withdraw its support to the event.

This race, that takes place every two years, was cancelled in 2020. It will be in 2021 the first opportunity for the new figaro 3 to be tested on a long transatlantic race.

The week of the Gulf of Morbihan

This event has been cancelled

Not a race, not a regatta. The sailing event of the Gulf of Morbihan is unique. More than 2000 boats of any size and age gather in the Gulf, Brittany’s jewel. During the festival, lots of activities are offered in its numerous ports. An event to commune with the sea and with sailorship.

Tahiti Pearl Regatta

The Tahiti Pearl Regatta gathers all types of boats for the main regatta of the French Polynesia. It is a wonderful way to discover this beautiful sailing spot.Throughout the years, the Tahiti Pearl Regatta has gained a worldwide reputation

Porquerolle’s Race

An official regatta of the IRC circuit in the beautiful Gulf of Hyeres, on the French Riviera.

SNSM Var Trophy

The SNSM is the French association for sea rescue. It is a non-profit organization of sailors for sailors, ran by volunteers. This specific event has initially been created to gather sailors and rescuers and has since the first event 19 years ago kept its spirit. Nowadays, it gathers more than 80 boats of all types, exploring the region through small day races.

Navy school Grand Prix

  • Type: Regatta
  • Date: 13 to 16 May
  • Location / Course: Crozon peninsula. Brittany (spot and area)
  • Class(es): One design boats (JMulti 50, Diam24, J70, J80, Muscadet, Corsaire, J22, Seascape 18, Seascape 24, Open 5.00, Open 5.70, Laser SB20, Gib’Sea plus, First 18 & 24, First 31.7, Mach 6.50, Requin, Speed Feet 18)
  • Site: https://www.agpen.fr/

More than 2 000 sailors should attend this regatta. They will be competing for the French One Design Boat Championship. This event consists of a series of regattas happening over a few days in Brest bay, Douarnenez bay and Iroise sea.

ArMen Race USHIP & ArMen USHIP night

Organized by the “Nautical Society of La Trinité-sur-Mer”, in South Brittany, the ArMen race is another famous competition of the French circuit. It’s one of the rare occasions where simple production boats can compete alongside the biggest multihulls “Ultims”. It’s a nice looking show.

Transmanche Race

“Transmanche” in French means “Across the Channel”. The race is open to anyone who knows how to sail a boat which gives this event its specific atmosphere.It starts from the small and beautiful port of Aber Wrac’h, in North Brittany, goes up to Plymouth, then back to Aber Wrac’h without touching the English soil. Although it is open to everyone, the course across the channel is technical and requires experience and seamanship. You can attend double-handed or with a crew.

Mini in May

One important race in the Mini 6.50 class program. The course starts at La Trinité-sur-mer, in South Brittany, goes up to the “Ile de Sein”, then down to the Gironde estuary to return at last back to La Trinite. 500 miles that will help the competitors train effectively for their Mini Transat.

Normandy Channel Race

  • Type: Race
  • Date: Starts on May the 30th
  • Location / Course: Caen – Channel – Celtic sea. Normandy (1000 miles)
  • Class(es): Class40
  • Site: https://normandy-race.com/

The Normandy Channel race starts at Caen, in Normandy, goes up to England and Ireland, then back to Caen. It’s a 1000 miles technical race for double-handed Class40 crews, mixing coastal and offshore areas. One week filled with high level sailing skills and intense emotion.

Gascogne 45/5

  • Type: Race
  • Date: 02 to 06 June
  • Location / Course: La Rochelle. Atlantic Ocean (300 to 400 miles)
  • Class(es): IRC and OSIRIS (solo, duo and crews)
  • Site: http://srr-sailing.com/s/11972/45.5

A 2 to 3 days race, starting from and arriving at La Rochelle.

Ocean race Europe

The Ocean race Europe is a new race that is meant as a prequel of the famous Ocean race that will depart in 2022.

The novelty of the coming sessions will be the presence of the IMOCA class next to the traditional one-design VO65.

The race will start from Lorient harbour, in Brittany, will stop at Cascais, in Portugal and will finish at Genoa in Italy.

Marie-Agnes Peron Trophy

  • Type: Race
  • Date: Starts on 3rd June
  • Location / Course: Douarnenez – Iroise sea. South Brittany (220 miles).
  • Class(es): Mini 6.50
  • Site: https://map.winchesclub.org/

A classic race in the class Mini 6.50 circuit with a relatively short course that turns into an intense sprint.

Osiris race

A coastal race for OSIRIS boats.

Rolex Giraglia

The Rolex Giraglia is a well known Franco – Italian sailing event.  It is divided in 2 parts : the races in Saint Tropez ( small races that don’t exceed 35 miles), and the long race that is sailed over a 450 miles triangle from St Tropez, to Giraglia, Corsica and then eventually Genoa on the other hand.

Tour de Re

  • Type: Race
  • Date: 25 to 27 June
  • Location / Course: Ile de Re, La Rochelle. Atlantic Ocean (spot)
  • Class(es): All types of boats armed to sail over 6 miles of the coasts and with a minimum length of 6.50 meters
  • Site: http://srr-sailing.com/s/8253/tourdere

The “Tour de Re” is more than 100 years old and is one of the oldest and most important French sailing events. 2 different courses are proposed (the “Tour de Re” and the “Small tour de re”), plus a rallye. Many onshore activities are also offered.

Mini Fastnet

The most renowned double-handed race of the Mini circuit. A long race that starts from Douarnenez, in south Brittany, goes up to the famous fastnet rock, in Ireland, then back to Douarnenez. Sun, rain, wind, currents and cargo traffic compose the competitor’s sailing experience on a day to day basis during this racing week. 

La Trinité – Cowes

Crewed or double-handed, this sailing race is a prelude to the famous RORC Cowes – Dinard.

Cowes – Dinard

One of the oldest RORC race, created in 1905 by the English King Edward the 7th. A short but technical sailing race, where the competitors have, among other difficulties, to manage the fastest tide currents in Europe. A fun fact about this race is that nowadays the winner still receives the original trophy, the King Edward VII cup.

Solo Guy Cotten

An official solo race for the Figaro3 classe.

Tour du finistere

A beautiful race that runs alongside the Finistere region in Brittany. The competitors stop every night in a Britton port which makes this event a mix of competition and tourism. But don’t be mistaken: navigation conditions are really tough in a complex environment which mixes rocks, fast currents and heavy traffic.

Transgascogne

2 legs for this class Mini 6.50 race. 300 miles from Verdon-sur-Mer (Gironde, France) to Getxo, (Southern Basque Country, Spain), then 300 miles back to Verdon-sur-Mer. The event can be sailed single or double-handed and will be the last qualification race for the Mini 6.50 class before the Minitransat.

Transquadra (first leg)

  • Type: Race
  • Date: 13 or 18 August 2021
  • Location / Course: Marseille, Mediterranean coast or Lorient, Brittany (3000 miles for the 2 legs)
  • Class(es): IRC
  • Site: https://www.transquadra.com/

An original race for non professional sailors aged 40 or more.

The race has 2 starting points: Lorient, in Brittany, and Marseille, on the Mediterranean coast. All the boats then regroup at Madere, leg 1 finish.

The second leg of the race, from Madere to La Martinique, will start on 29th January 2022.

Guyader Grand Prix

  • Type: Race and Regatta
  • Date: 15 to 22 August
  • Location / Course: Douarnenez. Brittany (spot)
  • Class(es): Ultim, IMOCA, Multi 50, Class40, KiteSurf, Dragon, Barquera, Diam 24, Paddle, Kayak, Easy to Fly
  • Site: http://www.grandprixguyader.com/

The Guyader Grand Prix is a unique event organized by a team of enthusiastic volunteers. Almost all that can float is invited to participate, from the giant ultim class to the paddle. And if your mind is not focused on racing, you can even alternatively attend the fishing derby.

The event includes offshore races, speed runs and regattas. It takes place in Douarnenez bay and its surroundings.

Last but not least, Guyader Grand Prix will also host the Dragon France Grand Prix.

Sails of Antibe

  • Type: Regatta
  • Date: 15 to 19 September
  • Location / Course: Antibes. French Riviera (spot)
  • Class(es) : Traditional racing yachts
  • Site: http://www.voilesdantibes.com/

The sails of Antibes is a gathering of traditional racing sailing yachts, including the famous 12MJI that raced in the America cup from 1958 to 1987). You should be able to watch regatting legends like Ikra, Sovereign, Thendara, Lelantina, Outlaw, Adria, Cambria or Tuiga among others. On shore are also organized many related exhibitions and activities. An event for traditional yacht lovers.

The “Solitaire du Figaro”

  • Type: Race
  • Date: 22 August to 19 September
  • Location / Course: Atlantic Ocean – Brittany
  • Class(es): Figaro 3
  • Site: https://www.lasolitaire.com/

La Solitaire du Figaro is the most famous European One design single-handed race. It is also the most difficult and exhausting challenge for the skippers. It is composed of 4 legs and the course is changed every year.

The 2021 course will start and end in St Nazaire, not far from Nantes (Atlantic Ocean), spread over 2500 miles.

The last 2 editions I followed up were really enthralling. Let’s hope the 2021 edition will hold the standards!

The sails of St Tropez

In 20 years, the Sails of Saint-Tropez have become one of the main gatherings for classical and modern racing boats. 300 boats and 4000 sailors compete every year in the Saint-Tropez bay with the most traditional sailing race spirit.

You will want to be there for the competition and the atmosphere, but also for the show offered by these sailing beauties racing under the blue sky of the Mediterrean sea.

The Mini Transat

  • Type: Race
  • Date: Starts on 26 september
  • Location / Course: Les Sables d’Olonne. Atlantic coast / Santa Cruz. Canary Isles / St Francois. Guadeloupe (Transatlantic)
  • Class(es): Mini 6.50
  • Site: https://minitransat.fr/fr/

Graal of the Mini 6.50 class, the Mini Transat takes place every 2 years. The skippers have to cross the Atlantic Ocean on a 6.50 boat, single handed and without assistance nor any contact with the land. Weather routing is also not allowed.

The race is composed of 2 legs: The first one runs from Les Sables d’Olonne (French South atlantic coast) to Santa Cruz de la Palma (Canary isles) ; the second one from Santa Cruz to St Francois (Guadeloupe).

Spi Ouest-France

“Spi Ouest-France” is the biggest regatta for cruiser racer boats in France. It takes place in the “Bay de Quiberon”, near the beautiful Gulf of Morbihan. The festivities are not only on the water, but also ashore for the public: activities, concerts, conferences etc.

Transat Jacques Vabre

The Transat Jacques Vabre sails every 2 years. It runs from Le Havre, in Normandy, to Salvador de Bahia, in Brazil.

The competitors race on the legendary clipper line that joined France to Brazil, and was especially renowned as a major Europe supplier for coffee.

The double-handed race gathers all the main professional sailing classes and constitutes one of the main sailing sport events of the year.

SNIM

This regatta usually takes place in April, but due to Covid crisis, it has been reprogrammed in October / November

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