Irish skipper Tom Dolan is gearing up for his next challenge, the Solo Maître CoQ race, after finishing fourth in the new 3,430 miles Niji40 Class40 race between Belle-Ile-en-Mer, France and Marie-Galante Gaudeloupe. The 21st edition of the Solo Maître CoQ will see Dolan racing solo again after competing in a crew of three for the Class40 race. The event is part of the 2024 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship and will consist of two coastal races out of Les Sables d'Olonne in the Vendée region, followed by a 340-mile offshore race between Belle-Ile and the islands of Ré and Yeu.

Dolan and his crew worked hard to build a lead through the early days of the Class40 race, however, damage to their main halyard and a carbon 'bone' stopper meant they had to sail with a deeply reefed mainsail, causing them to lose miles to their rivals. After a four-hour repair stop in the lee of the Azores, they found themselves almost 300 miles behind the leaders and were unable to make up the deficit.

Despite the setback, Dolan enjoyed racing as a trio, which gave him several areas to work on for the future, particularly sailing on a larger boat and managing heavier loads and manoeuvres. He also set some impressive average speeds on the scow-styled Class40, similar to those of the 60-foot IMOCAs of the pre-hydro-foiling generation.

Looking ahead to the Solo Maître CoQ, Dolan is optimistic despite some past difficulties at the event. He is pleased with the changes to the format of the long race, which will now have a more open course and longer days and shorter, milder nights.

In October 2023, the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre will celebrate its 30th anniversary in Le Havre before the famous two-handed tranatlantic race heads to Martinique, where the finish of the race known as the Route du Café will be hosted for the second time in a row.

It is an anniversary that nearly 100 duos across the three open classes — IMOCA, Ocean Fifty and Class40 — have already marked on their calendars as the highlight of their 2023 season.

And this 16th edition of the biennial offshore race, which is the longest of the Transats, will once again see a very popular celebration take place in Le Havre which has been the historic start port since 1993.

From 20 October 2023, the opening date of the race village, a big public festival around the Paul Vatine baisin runs right through until start day on 29 October.

Thirty years is also a good time to refresh memories of the race’s proud history. Since 1993 no fewer than 534 sailors have braved the Atlantic, racing between Le Havre and the most beautiful coffee-producing destinations.

Although the first Transat Jacques Vabre was raced solo and crowned the Le Havre skipper Paul Vatine as victor, it became double handed from 1995, and that format has continued.

And there are many, many famous duos who have won the the Route du Café: Paul Vatine who scored the double in 1995 alongside Roland Jourdain; Franck Cammas-Steve Ravussin; Yves Parlier-Eric Tabarly, Franck-Yves Escoffier-Karine Fauconnier; Loick Peyron-Jean-Pierre Dick; Charlie Dalin-Yann Eliès and so many other talented partnerships have marked the event with their multiple wins and their complementary skills and personalities.

In 2023 the names of three other winning duos will be added to this long list. A multi-class race, the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre will be the highlight of the season in three classes. In IMOCA, the new Raison and Koch-Finot-Conq designs — due for 2023 launches — will challenge the best 60-footers of the 2021-2022 generation. An amazing field of 40 IMOCAs are due at the start, almost double the entry for the 2021 edition.

Ten Ocean Fifty trimarans are expected to compete, a record field for the 50-footers which also corresponds to the number of entries set by this class which wishes to control its growth. And no shortage of intensity and excitement in Class40 which will have nearly 50 participants for a Route du Café which should be sold out.

Because of the differences in speed potential of the three classes, Race Direction are working on developing three different courses. This innovation was tested in 2021 to guarantee grouped arrivals in Martinique, this making sure everyone shares the one big party and maximum media exposure for all competitors.

The Class40s race only in the North Atlantic and will have some 4,500 miles to cover, which makes the Route du Café their longest transatlantic race. As for the Ocean Fifty and IMOCA, they will race a course into the South Atlantic with two passages through the Doldrums and a total of nearly 6,000 miles of racing

There are many different elements which make the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre a unique event. It is a globally important, major race whose historical partners, the city of Le Havre and the JDE group (holders of the Jacques Vabre coffee brand) are also the organisers. They will be able to rely on the Normandy region and for the second consecutive year on Martinique, the land of origin for coffee in America which awaits sailors from mid-November 2023.

The Race Around, Class40’s official round-the-world offshore yacht race, has named La Rochelle in Western France as the host city for its inaugural event in 2023.

A location steeped in offshore sailing history, La Rochelle will become the home of The Race Around for the event’s start in September next year, and the return location for the 35 solo and double Class40 competitors in the early months of 2024.

In the build-up to the race, the city will also open a world class race village for skippers, teams, sponsors, management and fans alike – creating a unique 10-day celebration in the heart of one of offshore sailing’s most historic locations.

The city’s collaboration with The Race Around reinforces the La Rochelle Agglomeration and Charente Maritime Department’s commitment to further strengthening the city’s sailing presence, growing the maritime industry and hosting international sporting events with a strong focus on genuine sustainability.

Sam Holliday, Co-founder of The Race Around

Sam Holliday, Co-founder of The Race Around, said: “We couldn’t be more excited that The Race Around will be starting and finishing in La Rochelle. In the city, wider department and region we have found a community that we will be proud to call home for our first edition and beyond.

“The city is one with sailing at its heart, from the days of Isabelle Autissier to that of Vendée Globe winner Yannick Bestaven, we’re excited to add to its rich history and our world class competitors cannot wait to start and finish the race of their lives from this forward thinking, sustainability driven and innovate part of the world.

The Race Around course for 2023

“With the building of a world class, free to enter ‘Race Village’ around the Bassin des Chalutiers we’re excited to welcome the Rochalaise people to experience first-hand the world of Class40 alongside entertainment for all ages. The city offers us everything we could dream of to build a long term event alongside our new private and institutional partners!”

Jean-François Fountaine, Mayor of La Rochelle and President of the La Rochelle Agglomeration, said: "We are very pleased to be hosting the first edition of The Race Around in 2023 in La Rochelle. Our bay and its exceptional stretch of water are wonderfully suited to this type of major yacht race. All year round, we live to the rhythm of sporting events, which positions our beautiful maritime city "La Rochelle Force Océan" as a major venue for international sailing competitions.

"As our Agglomeration is strongly committed to the environment, The Race Around will be an eco-responsible event with the objective of achieving a zero carbon footprint. This race is a great opportunity to promote and animate our region and to support our entire nautical industry."

Sylvie Marcilly, President of the Charente-Maritime Department, said: "I am delighted that the beautiful city of La Rochelle has been chosen to host a brand new international nautical event in 2023 in Charente-Maritime.

"Events such as these reinforce the attractiveness and dynamism of our region, they also offer a formidable showcase for our nautical industry and thus contribute to its economic development and the many jobs that depend on it. The values of sport and adventure that an ocean race leaves in its wake are also a source of pride and inspiration for all the people of Charente-Maritime. For all these reasons, and because it is innovative and eco-responsible, I am delighted to welcome "The Race Around" to the Charente-Maritime next year!"

A SAILING HOT-SPOT

La Rochelle is a port of call and a starting point for ocean races and hosts more than 120 nautical events per year, covering a wide range of disciplines and events. The arrival of The Race Around in La Rochelle is fully in line with the local authorities' desire to once again turn towards the sea and ocean racing: a new Pôle nautique Rochelais is under construction and will enable everyone from amateurs to seasoned professionals to practice the sport they love.

La Rochelle hosts more than 120 nautical events per year

Since 2020, the Communauté d'Agglomération de La Rochelle, in partnership with the Atlantic Cluster (professionals in the nautical sector in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region), the city of La Rochelle, the Charente-Maritime department, the Charente-Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Syndicat Mixte du Port de Chef-de-Baie, have been considering the establishment of an offshore racing base, and more specifically a permanent pontoon, which would double the current capacity of the site. This will make it possible to satisfy the increasing demand of offshore racers for pontoons whilst allowing them access to the sea at any time.

 The hard work of Wicklow Sailing Club's 2022 Round Ireland Race committee is bearing fruit with the early entry for this summer's race of the new Class40 yacht Influence by Italian skipper Andrea Fornaro.

The VPLP design is the first such Class40 into the race since the 700-miler Irish ocean classic was added to the Class40 International calendar, just one of 25 world-class offshore fixtures on the list.

It's a feather in the cap for organiser Kyran O'Grady who has added the former Irish Volvo 70 Green Dragon last week for the Wicklow startline on June 18. 

It may well be that O'Grady's pioneering efforts at the Paris Boat Show in December 2018 and again earlier last month are finding favour on the continent.

Class40 Italian skipper Andrea Fornaro will race round Ireland

It brings the entry to 12 so far in a race where O'Grady expects over 60 boats given the cancellation of the 2020 edition due to COVID.

The accomplished Fornaro will have competed in April's RORC's Caribbean 600, and May's Normandy Channel Race before coming to Irish waters.

Fornaro is not the first Class40 to have completed the Irish course. As regular Afloat readers will recall, top Figaro sailor Nicolas Troussel in the Mach 40 Corum made a blistering start to the 2018 race. 

Class 40 is a monohull sailboat primarily used for short-handed offshore and coastal racing.

In other Round Ireland race entry news, French skipper Laurent Charmy has signed up the J111, SL Energies Groupe Fast Wave.

The Round Ireland Race is one of 25 world-class offshore fixtures to make it onto the 2022 International Class40 calendar.

Class 40 is a type of monohull sailboat primarily used for short-handed offshore and coastal racing. 

It may well be that SSE Renewables Round Ireland Race Organiser Kyran O'Grady's pioneering efforts at the Paris Boat Show in December 2018 and again earlier this month may yet bear fruit with a bumper international Round Ireland fleet.

The Wicklow race is also on the RORC calendar and as O'Grady is predicting, there is pent up demand for the 700-miler after the 2020 cancellation.

As regular Afloat readers will know, Class 40 are no strangers to Irish waters or Round Ireland itself over the years with top Figaro sailor Nicolas Troussel competing off Wicklow four years ago.

Ireland's varied sailing waters are proving a popular testing ground for the international Class 40 fleet and a burgeoning Irish Mini class too. Evidence of this was in the 2018 Round Ireland Race fleet where the top French double-handed sailing duo were in action. International stars Troussel and Mini Transat Winner Ian Lipinski teamed up to race the brand new Mach 40 'Corum'. They were not the only Class 40 on the Irish race track that year either as three other international entries also lined up.

The 2022 calendar is here

Class 40 Champion Antoine Carpentier crowned

Antoine Carpentier

Meanwhile, Antoine Carpentier (46), a native of South Brittany, has been crowned 2021 Class40 Champion, rounding off what has been a remarkable season. Having scored a number of victories and podium results over the years on the Class40 circuit, Antoine has now taken the overall title for the first time as skipper of his own project on his Mach40.4 Redman, taking over the mantle from 2019 Champions, the Franco-Italian team of Catherine Pourre / Pietro Luciani (the title was not awarded in 2020 due to the lack of races).

The Swiss team of Valentin Gautier - Simon Koster (Banque du Leman) finished second in the overall standings, ahead of third-placed Franco-British sailor Luke Berry (Lamotte Module Creation).

Irish waters are the centre of attention for French offshore sailing fans today as the 12th CIC Normandy Channel Race races around the Fastnet Rock.

The five leaders in the 12th CIC Normandy Channel Race rounded Fastnet at dawn this morning. It’s the Franco-Spanish pairing aboard Redman (161) who were the first to reach the legendary lighthouse off the south-west tip of Ireland at 03 hours and 37 minutes UTC and switch back onto a course bound for the Scilly Isles and then on to Guernsey. Skippers Antoine Carpentier and Pablo Santurde del Arco are still leading the way now, but there is everything to play for at the head of the fleet given the tight bunching of the front runners. Polled at the Fastnet course mark, there was just one hour separating boat number 161 and fourth placed Lamotte Module Création (153). And the tension is set to rise aboard the Class40s…

Purple arrows represent French Class40 yachts in Irish waters this morning. The boats are competing in the Normandy Channel Race

As forecast, the competitors were racing all night long in a E/NE’ly wind fluctuating between 10-12 knots with gusts of 20 knots. It resulted in the Class40s having to zigzag their way downwind along the coast of southern Ireland in a gybing battle to find the best strategic position, alternately closing on and distancing themselves from the Emerald Isle in a bid to hunt down some breeze, whilst trying to avoid punching into the current and cover their rivals. It’s a scenario that didn’t leave a great deal of respite for the sailors and is ongoing for the second and third pelotons of the fleet who are on the chase between the two Irish lighthouses of Tuskar and Fastnet.

Over the course of the day, the heart of a stormy low-pressure system rolling in from the south will cross paths with the competitors as they make towards the Channel Islands. The upshot of this little encounter will likely be somewhat reminiscent of the doldrums with no wind other than that produced by the storm clouds. The leaders will be the first to negotiate this particular weather phenomenon. Another tricky tactical section ahead then for the crews in this 2021 edition of the CIC Normandy Channel Race. Something to reshuffle the cards once more perhaps…?

#RB&I - A record 10 Class40s have entered the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race and more are expected to take up the tough 1,800 nautical mile non-stop race this August.

Starting and finishing from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the course takes the fleet as far north as Muckle Flugga in the Shetland Islands on the 61st parallel — shared by Alaska and the Bering Sea.

The 2018 race is an official event for the 2018 Class40 circuit and since the class first competed in the race in 2006, only five have finished the gruelling challenge.

In 2006, Britain’s Phil Sharp became the first Class40 skipper to finish the race and he went on to win the Route du Rhum later that year.

Fast forward to June 2018 and Sharp with co-skipper Julien Pulve was victorious in the 1,000nm Normandy Channel Race, winning by just six seconds after six days of racing.

For the 2018 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race starting on Sunday 12 August, Sharp will skipper Class40 Imerys and is one of the favourites to win the class.

“The diversity of racing around Britain and Ireland is a real challenge. You can get everything possible thrown at you. Just finishing gives tremendous satisfaction and makes you all the stronger for it,” Sharp said.

“We didn’t do very well in 2006, but it was my first proper race in the Class40 and it was invaluable for the win in the Route du Rhum.

“It is a coastal race but you rarely see land and the course takes you further north than just about any offshore race. The weather can get very extreme and very cold. Racing in howling winds, fully in winter gear, makes it very easy to forget it is August.

“Pushing the boat to the limits can be stressful, but it is an amazing experience, surfing down waves getting doused in blue water. A Class40 transforms itself into a dinghy, especially the modern ones which are highly optimised racing machines.”

The majority of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race fleet will be racing under the IRC Rating system with additional classes for Class40, MOCRA and IMOCA. This year’s race is also expected to have a record entry for two-handed challengers, among them Liam Coyne’s Lulu Belle.

All boats will carry trackers and full coverage of the race is available on the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race website.