The 2026 Class40 Mediterranean Trophy won by Omar Naas and Louis Torreilles

Fourteen scow-bow Class40s competed in this year’s Mediterranean Trophy, which featured six events: the Paprec 600, CIC Med Channel Race, Porquerolles Race, Massilia Cup Offshore – Destination Barcelona, Cannes-Malta and Rolex Middle Sea Race. A highly competitive fleet that produced particularly close battles, with a very high level of racing and fiercely contested events.

Third in the Paprec 600, second in the CIC Med Channel Race, then winners of the Massilia Cup Offshore – Destination Barcelona and the Rolex Middle Sea Race, Stella Nova built its overall victory throughout the season, eventually finishing ahead of Mathieu Claveau’s Inherent – Phare 40 and Gildwen Moriceau Loquen’s Flamingo Rosso.

A round-the-world project as the starting point

The season had actually begun with a very different objective for the duo. Owner of Mach40 No. 134, Omar Naas is preparing for a round-the-world project and brought Louis Torreilles on board to help him prepare. Coach, co-skipper and then skipper for the final two events of the season, Louis shared the entire championship campaign with Omar.

“Our main objective this season was to prepare Omar as well as possible for his upcoming round-the-world project: working on manoeuvres, first sailing double-handed and then in ‘faux solo’ mode during the first three races of the championship that we sailed together.

It turned out that we were up at the front from the very first race, so naturally we got caught up in the fight for the win.”

The duo had in fact come together a few months earlier, following an almost unexpected encounter. Omar Naas asked Louis Torreilles to help deliver Stella Nova from Greece to Port-Camargue, on the recommendation of Chris Kerl, who had sailed with Louis in the Med Max the previous year.

“We immediately got on really well and it quickly became clear that we made a very good team and that our paths had crossed at exactly the right time. Louis brought a season of Class40 experience, including a Transat Café L’Or, while I brought a very high-performance boat. We trained together several times and Louis taught me how to get the most out of a Class40.”

Building momentum race by race

The first turning point came in the spring, during a training camp organised in Port-Camargue with Kito de Pavant and seven other Class40s. It was then that the duo realised they had what it took to fight at the front.

The first races quickly confirmed that feeling: third in the Paprec 600 St-Tropez, second in the CIC Med Channel Race, then winners of the Massilia Cup Offshore – Destination Barcelona. A progression that was anything but down to chance, according to Omar Naas.

“After each race, we analysed our performance together, honestly looked at what had worked and what hadn’t, and took those lessons into the next start. We stayed true to our own strategy rather than focusing too much on the other boats.”

In the Paprec 600, Stella Nova led for much of the race before losing the lead in the final third. In the CIC Med Channel Race, the duo surrendered first place in the final hours and finished second, just ten minutes behind the winner.

Then came the Massilia Cup Offshore – Destination Barcelona. Fourth after the first race, Omar Naas and Louis Torreilles never gave up. “Even when we were behind, we never stopped believing that we could win. In the second race, we stayed very focused and followed our strategy 100%, which ultimately allowed us to win the overall classification.”

That approach and confidence carried them all the way to Malta.

The final act in Malta

For the Rolex Middle Sea Race, Louis Torreilles took the helm alongside Benoît, Pierre-Benoît and Edgard. Against Optimus Prime, Stella Nova fought another close battle before taking the win.

“They sailed an almost perfect race and were involved in a very tight duel with Optimus Prime for much of the course. When they crossed the finish line in first place, it was clear that we had won the Mediterranean Trophy. All our efforts had paid off.”

The title therefore rewards much more than a victory in the final race. “This is a trophy that means a huge amount to both of us, and we dedicate it to everyone who worked so hard within the team and believed in us. It is a fantastic achievement for the whole team.”

A collective success in which the boat itself played an important role: “Our boat was always performing at its best, thanks to Louis, Patrice and Pierre-Benoît Chillaud, who prepared it.”

And now, towards the Atlantic

This successful first Mediterranean season now opens a new chapter for Stella Nova. “One thing is certain: Stella Nova will be heading out into the Atlantic.”

The programme still has to be defined, notably depending on the funding that can be secured. “Everything is on the table: Les Sables-Horta, the Fastnet, the CIC Normandy Channel Race and the Transat Café L’Or, or even the Global Solo Challenge.”

Omar Naas is also considering taking part in the AZAB, a solo IRC race from Falmouth to the Azores and back.

One thing is certain: after discovering Stella Nova’s potential in the Mediterranean and securing the Class40 Trophy, Omar Naas and his team are now looking towards the Atlantic with new ambitions.