Anthony Streicher looks back on the first training camp in Port Camargue
For three days, Port Camargue hosted a training camp bringing together eight Class40 boats to prepare for the start of the 2026 season. This was a first for the Mediterranean, marking an important milestone in the development of the class in this region and confirming the growing momentum of a collective effort focused on performance, the sharing of experience, and the advancement of offshore racing.
With Class40s 89, 134, 135, 142, 149, 155, 168 and 179 gathered on the water, this first Mediterranean training camp brought together a significant fleet around a shared objective: going back to basics before the opening competitive dates of the season.
The programme over these three days included speed tests, manoeuvres, start practice, coastal courses and windward-leeward courses — all essential sessions for rebuilding instincts, fine-tuning settings and getting crews back into the intensity of collective racing before the competitive calendar begins.
One of the main benefits of this format lies, of course, in the number of boats present. Training as a group of eight allows everyone to accelerate their progress. It offers the opportunity to compare, exchange ideas and better gauge one's level in both speed and manoeuvring, while also enriching the work through debriefs held every evening. That is the true strength of a fleet dynamic: improving each individual project while raising the collective level.
This sense of rapid progress came through directly in the feedback from participants. Gildwenn, aboard Class40 No. 155, summed up the benefit of the camp this way: "I gained two months in my preparation." A powerful statement, illustrating the value of such a gathering when it allows an intensity of work, exchange and learning — difficult to replicate otherwise — to be compressed into just a few days.
The same enthusiasm came from Nicolas, on No. 149, who highlighted both the richness of the content and the spirit within the group: "Didn't have time to take any photos, we were too busy learning loads of things… thank you for the dynamic energy brought by Phare40 to this camp." A simple sentence, but one that speaks volumes about what made these three days a success: time well spent on the water, concrete learning and a collective energy in the service of all.
To lead the camp, the group chose to call on Kito de Pavant, a well-known and tireless figure in offshore racing. His perspective, experience and high standards brought real added value to the three days, both in running the sessions and in the quality of the feedback given to skippers and their teams.
The choice of Port Camargue was no accident. Firstly, because significant groundwork has been laid to welcome Class40s to this area on a lasting basis. Today, six boats are based there year-round, thanks to a structured reception set-up and a "teams" agreement that includes a dedicated technical area for each project. Secondly, because the sailing area offers a particularly interesting playground for this type of camp: varied, accessible and well-suited to comprehensive work on the water.
Finally, this gathering was made possible through the effective coordination between François Verdier and Phare40, who initiated and organised the camp.
Beyond the sporting and technical success of this first edition, the gathering reflects a broader ambition: to establish a genuine centre of expertise in the Mediterranean dedicated to offshore Class40 racing. The goal is clear — to create the right conditions to welcome boats, structure training, share certain dynamics and contribute to the class's visibility in this region.
This first edition at Port Camargue demonstrates that such a dynamic is not only possible, but already underway. It also illustrates what makes the Class40 class special: a spirit of sharing, a clear sporting ambition and an ability to generate collective initiatives that benefit everyone.
A fine first edition, then — one that could well prove to be a founding milestone for what comes next.
