Défi Atlantique
Pointe à Pitre / Horta / La Rochelle
This transatlantic return race, officially included in the Class40 and French Sailing Federation (FFVoile) calendars, will give competitors in the 2026 Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe the opportunity to make their return crossing under race conditions, with a fully “carbon-free” approach. Boats must carry a minimum of two crew members and a maximum of four.
One important date to note: the Class40s entered in the Défi Atlantique will start on Sunday 7 March.
A stopover is planned in Horta, in the Azores, to make the most of the weather window for arrival on the Atlantic coast. It will also give skippers the option of changing one or more crew members if they wish.
Officially included in the Class40 and French Sailing Federation calendars, the second leg, sailed double-handed, may count as a qualifying passage for the 2027 Transat Café L’Or.
The fleet is expected to start arriving in La Rochelle from Saturday 27 March onwards. A dedicated welcome programme will be set up in the Bassin des Chalutiers, as it was for the previous edition in 2023, organised by Grand Pavois Organisation.
The Notice of Race and entry pack will be available from Etienne Hardy at Grand Pavois Organisation: ehardy@grand-pavois.com
et le dossier de participation seront disponibles auprès d’Etienne Hardy de Grand Pavois Organisation : ehardy@grand-pavois.com