The CIC Normandy Channel Race is once again set to be a highlight of the Class40 season. For this 17th edition, the Normandy race starting from Caen will feature a particularly strong field, with 23 boats expected at the start, confirming its status as a must-attend event on the calendar.
Contested as a double-handed race over nearly 1,000 miles between Ouistreham Bay, the English Channel, and the Celtic Sea, the event features a demanding and technical course. Crews will have to navigate challenging coastal waters, make critical strategic decisions, and pass through iconic landmarks such as the Isle of Wight, Fastnet Rock, and the Channel Islands.
A Race as Competitive as Ever
The CIC Normandy Channel Race remains one of the most challenging events on the Class40 circuit. The density of the fleet, the constant proximity between the boats, and the meteorological complexity of the course make it a true test of mettle for the competing duos.
Numerous favorites and a difficult-to-predict hierarchy
It will take a real expert to predict the winner of this 17th edition, given how strong the field looks. Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran-Seafrigo) will be teaming up with Jules Ducelier, a young Figaro sailor and 2023 winner of the Jeune Talent Normand selection, to form a highly anticipated duo.
The Spanish duo of Pep Costa and Pablo Santurde Del Arco (VSF Sports) is also aiming for victory. The two sailors know each other inside out, and Pep will be able to draw on the vast experience of Pablo Santurde Del Arco, whose Class40 track record is particularly impressive, with 17 victories to his credit.
It would be remiss not to mention the duo of Fabien Delahaye and Pierre Leboucher (Legallais). As the winner of the event in 2024, the Normandy-based skipper will be eager to shine on home turf.
Another crew to watch: Axel Tréhin and Antoine Carpentier (Custopol). As the defending champion following his victory last year with Corentin Douguet, Axel Tréhin will be sailing this time with Antoine Carpentier, the recent winner of the Globe40 aboard Crédit Mutuel and a major force in the class with 16 podium finishes in Class40.
Among the outsiders, Quentin Le Nabour will form an experienced duo with Thierry Chabagny (Bleu Blanc Planète Location). The pair has proven their mettle by claiming victory in the very recent Armen Race. Aboard Maccaferri Futura, Luca Rosetti and Pierre Brasseur will also have a strong case to make. In an increasingly competitive fleet, the podium could once again come down to the wire.
Weather conditions will once again play a central role in the 2026 edition. In the English Channel, gaps can quickly widen depending on the boats’ positioning within the current systems, particularly in strategic areas such as the Raz Blanchard, the Channel Islands, or around the Isle of Wight.
The race promises to be all the more demanding as crews will have to constantly navigate dense maritime traffic, sometimes pronounced coastal effects, and rapid weather changes between the English Channel and the Celtic Sea. In this context, even the slightest error in positioning or timing can cost several miles, further emphasizing the tactical and unpredictable nature of the CIC Normandy Channel Race.
One thing is certain: the 2026 edition promises to be another open, hard-fought, and strategic race right up to the finish line in Caen.
The start will be broadcast live on the France 3 website starting at 2 p.m. from the Bay of Ouistreham.
Map link: https://normandy-race.com/suivre-la-course/
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