The Med Class40 Trophy calendar was enriched this season by a brand-new event: the CIC Med Channel Race, the first edition of which set off from Marseille on Sunday April 27, 2025.
The 12 crews taking part were faced with the full complexity of a Mediterranean course, with complex and changeable weather conditions and tactical passages around Corsica and Majorca.
Crédit Mutuel wins
Winners of this first edition, Ian Lipinski and Alberto Bona, aboard Crédit Mutuel, demonstrated a remarkable mastery of the course. The Franco-Italian duo took the lead at the Calvi mark.
Ian Lipinski - Crédit Mutuel #158: "I'm very happy to be back in first place. I think we sailed very well with Alberto, who was great in his choices. The course, in sections, offered a variety of challenges: the laborious exit from Marseille harbor, the Calvi buoy, the descent under gennaker to Sardinia. We had to deal with thermal breezes and devents, and never give up." source : Crédit Mutuel
Crédit Mutuel completed the race in 4 days, 23 hours and 21 minutes, ahead of Centrakor, skippered by Mikael Mergui and Keni Piperol, who put in a solid performance.
Mikael Mergui - Centrakor #183: "We put up a good fight against Crédit Mutuel. We held on until the last night, when a small mistake cost us dearly. But with only three days of training together, it's already a great performance."source : Instagram Mikael Mergui
The podium was completed by an old-generation Class40 (#89), and a magnificent 3rd place for the locals, Mathieu Claveau and Victoire Berger, aboard Prendre la mer - Agir pour la forêt, who were taking part in their first race as a duo.
Victoire Berger - Prendre la mer - Agir pour la forêt #89: "Even in my wildest dreams, I couldn't have imagined this scenario.
With Mathieu Claveau, we had thought of this first Class40 race as a training stage, sailing without the pressure of results, to learn and get used to things... But our 1st place on the starting line and our competitive instincts quickly got the better of us. The result: we gave it our all and really performed. (...) To be the only woman in the race and to be on the podium is also a strong message. At the finish line, I was wearing the Sailiz “Yes girls can sail” overalls. I think this time, the proof is in the pudding." Source : LinkedIn Victoire Berger
A hard-fought race for every crew
Aurélien Ducroz and Jonathan Chodkiewiez, on Crosscall, finished 5th, narrowly beaten by Aquamarin:
Aurélien Ducroz - Crosscall #166: "We fought right to the end, but the soft conditions in the Bay of Marseille gave Aquamarin's bow the advantage. It was a great fight, bravo to them!"
source : Instagram Aurélien Ducroz
For Chris Kerl, skipper of Aquamarin #135, who was competing in his first Class40 ocean race, this 4th place is promising: ”It's a great satisfaction. We didn't give up until the end. I'm really happy with our race" source : CIC Med Channel Race – Facebook
Other impressions
Goulven Marie - Qwanza #98 : “It was a very good course, the boat glided well, we had a great feeling, despite some tricky passages in Bonifacio and Palma de Majorca.” source : CIC Med Channel Race - Facebook
Matthieu Foulquier-Gazagnes - L'Agence-Telecom - Sotraplant #157: "We're happy to have finished together. Sometimes we were ahead, sometimes behind. In the Mediterranean, it's all in the details" source: CIC Med Channel Race - Facebook
Edgard Vincens - Fraise.org #148: "The Mediterranean was true to itself! The course was superb, full of transitions. It was intense. We now know what we need to work on" source: CIC Med Channel Race - Facebook
François Verdier - Phenix - Ha Plus PME #142: "We were neck and neck with Crosscall, and that really pushed us to excel. Our goal this season remains to beat the scows" source : CIC Med Channel Race - Facebook
The overall ranking of the CIC Med Channel race : CIC Med Channel Race - Class40
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