European nautical events not to be missed
House the sails and drop the moorings: head for essential nautical races in Europe!
Lover of the sea and the great outdoors, adventurers of foam and sailing passionate, this article is for you!
Embark with Orca Retail for an overview of the most prestigious nautical events in Europe.
Legendary regattas at colorful festivals, prepare to live exceptional moments in the heart of the marine world.
Vendée Globe: The Grail of Solitary Navigators
The Vendée Globe, often nicknamed "The Everest of the Seas", is much more than a simple sailing race. It is an extraordinary human and sporting adventure, an endurance and surpassing yourself that pushes skippers to defy the most extreme elements on the planet.
Created in 1989 by Philippe Jeantot, the race has known 9 editions since its creation, with A departure every 4 years from Sables-d'Olonne, in Sold.
The course, with a distance of approximately 45,000 km, takes the navigators in a journey around the world, non -stop and without assistance, passing through the three most formidable caps: The Cap de Bonnepérance, Cap Horn and Cap Leeuwin.
Over the years, the Vendée Globe has seen the birth of legends of sailing. Among the most illustrious winners, let us quote:
- Titouan Lamort (1990): First winner of the event, he completed the world tour in 109 days, 8 hours and 49 minutes.
- Armel Le Cléac'h (2016): holder of the event record with a time of 74 days, 3 hours and 3 minutes.
- Yannick Bestaven (2020): Winner of the latest edition, he crossed the finish line after 89 days, 16 hours and 47 minutes of racing.
Each edition, millions of people follow the test with passion, admiring the courage and selflessness of skippers. It is a real human and sporting adventure that makes you dream and inspires, a symbol of the spirit of adventure and the human capacity to push its limits.
Next edition: November 10, 2024
Website: www.vendeeglobe.org
Route du Rhum: a mythical transatlantic
Connecting Saint-Malo in Ille-et-Vilaine has Point-to-side In Guadeloupe, the Route du Rhum is a mythical transatlantic which is part of the great history of sailing.
Created in 1978 by Michel Etevenon, it attracts every four years A diverse fleet of sailboats and skippers from around the world. An extraordinary adventure that promises a unique experience and an intense sporting challenge.
The route of the Route du Rhum, about about 3,700 nautical miles, takes the skippers on a demanding transatlantic crossing. From trade winds to tropical depressions, including calm zones and formed seas, browsers must face various and sometimes extreme weather conditions. A technical and strategic challenge that tests their know-how and their adaptability.
The duration of the Route du Rhum varies considerably depending on the categories of boats in the running. The maxi-multitic, the fastest of the fleet, generally complete the route in a little more than 6 days. The monohulls, meanwhile, take several weeks to cross the finish line, with racing times that can exceed 30 days.
Since its creation in 1978, the Route du Rhum has seen many legendary skippers illustrated. Among the greatest winners, let us quote:
- Alain Colas (1978): First winner of the monohull test, he disappeared at sea a few days after his arrival in Pointe-à-Pitre.
- Philippe Poupon (1986): First winner in multihull, he paved the way for a new era of domination of boats with several shells on the Route du Rhum.
- Laurent Bourgnon (1994): monohull winner with record time which was not beaten until 24 years later.
- Gitana 11 (2002): First maxi-multicoque to win the event, with Franck Cammas at the helm.
- Loïck Peyron (2014): winner in the ultimate category with a new event record, broke four years later by Charles Caudrelier.
In 2022, the French skipper Charles Caudrelier pulverized the Route du Rhum record in the ultimate category aboard its Maxi-Timaran Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. He crossed the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre in 6 days, 19 hours, 47 minutes and 25 seconds, spraying more than 2 days the previous record set in 2018 by Francis Joyon.
Next edition: 2026
SInternet ite: www.routedurhum.com
The Tall Ships Races: a grandiose show of giant sailboats
The Tall Ships Races is an opportunity to see navigating and admiring majestic sailboats from around the world.
The race was born the day after the Second World War, at a time when Europe sought to rebuild itself and to come together. In 1953, London lawyer Bernard Morgan then proposed the organization of a friendly race between young cadets and sailors from around the world, in order to promote international friendship and traditional sailing training. The first edition of The Tall Ships Races, which took place in 1956 between Torbay and Lisbon, met with immediate success.
Since then, this rally, organized in different European cities, have offered a grand and unforgettable spectacle. Sea parades, visits to boats, earth entertainment: a rich and festive program awaits young and old.
The 2024 Tall Ships Races will take place from Thursday June 27 to Monday August 5. On the program: three fascinating races and two more quiet stages for a total of 5 countries (Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, Åland and Poland Islands) to discover the treasures of the Baltic Sea.
Next edition: June 27, 2024
SInternet ite: TALLSHIPSRACESHELSINKI2024.Fi
Kiel Week: the largest regatta in the world
Far from being a simple sporting competition, Kiel's week is a real maritime celebration anchored in German history and culture. Created in 1882 at the initiative of naval officers and local notables, it has established itself over the years as the unmissable event for sailing enthusiasts around the world.
Each year, at the end of June, the city of Kiel turns into a vast nautical theater. More than 1,500 boats And 15,000 browsers from more than 70 countries Gather for a week of intense races in all sail classes, from smaller boats to ultra-performance maxi-monulticuks. A grand spectacle and a relentless competition that punctuate the days of spectators, who came to admire the prowess of navigators.
Beyond the sports events, Kiel's week offers a rich and varied program that is aimed at all audiences. Sailboats, outdoor concerts, floating villages, children's exhibitions and entertainment : There is something for everyone and all ages!
Next edition: June 19 to 28, 2024
Website: www.kieler- woche.de
The sails of Saint-Tropez: a concentrate of glamor and sail
If today the sails of Saint-Tropez shine in a thousand lights, their origins are rather modest. In 1981, two skippers, Jean Laurain and Dick Jayson, launch a friendly challenge: Connect the Pampelonne beach from the port of Saint-Tropez via the Nioulargue topping. The winner had to offer lunch to the other crew.
Quickly, this friendly challenge turns into a real race, attracting more and more participants and spectators. In 1999, the event took its current name, "Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez", and becomes an essential reference in the sailing world.
Each year, at the end of September, the Gulf of Saint-Tropez is adorned with multicolored sails. Elegant classics, luxury yachts and ultra-modern racing boats compete in fierce events, offering spectators a grand and unforgettable spectacle. An intense competition punctuated by the wind, the strategy and the address of the skippers.
Beyond the sports competition, the sails of Saint-Tropez are also an essential world meeting. Glamor evenings, sumptuous festivals and fashion shows punctuate Tropéziennes nights, attracting the biggest names in the international jet set. A unique atmosphere where luxury, elegance and passion for sailing mix.
Next edition: September 28 to October 6, 2024
Website: www.lesvoilesdesaint-topez.fr
The Giraglia Rolex Cup: a Mediterranean challenge for seasoned navigators
Created in 1953 By the Yacht Club Italiano, the Giraglia Rolex Cup has established itself as one of the most prestigious offshore races in the world. His record brings together illustrious names from the sail, such as Michel Desjoyeaux, Philippe Briand and Franck Cammas, who all registered their name in the legend of this extraordinary competition.
Taking off since Saint-Tropez, the Giraglia Rolex Cup presents itself as a race off 600 nautical miles punctuated by sumptuous landscapes and raised sports challenges. Drawing his journey through the Mediterranean Western, she bypasses Italian and French islands, offering navigators a grand spectacle between sea and sky.
Next edition: From June 13 to 20, 2024
Website: www.loropianagiraglia.com
Brest maritime festivals: a time trip at the heart of heritage
Created in 1979, the Brest maritime festivals (formerly Festival des Vieux Gréments de Brest) is part of a long maritime tradition which dates back several centuries. The city, a former military and trade port, has always had a close link with the sea. The festival is an opportunity to celebrate every four years This rich heritage and to share the passion for navigation with the general public.
For a week, the port of Brest turns into a real open -air museum. Hundreds of traditional boats from all over Europe gather for spectacular parades, offering spectators an unforgettable nautical ballet. Exhibitions, concerts, street entertainment and pyrotechnic shows also punctuate the festival, creating a festive and friendly atmosphere for all ages.
Next edition: From 12 to 17 July 2024, the first in 8 years!
Website: www.fetesMaritimesdebest.fr
New York Vendée: a solo transatlantic crossing
Created in 2013, the New York Vendée, formerly called Transat New York - Vendée Les Sables d'Olonne, is a solo transatlantic race connecting New York (United States) to Sables-d'Olonne (Vendée).
The course, about a length of 3,700 nautical miles, is marked by formidable caps such as the Cap Finisterre and Great Newfoundland benches.
Skippers must face often difficult weather conditions, with strong winds, colossal waves and extreme temperatures.
Next edition: Unknown, 2024 edition launched on May 29.
Website: www.newyorkvendee.org
The Arctic Vendée: an icy adventure in the immensity of the Far North
The Arctic Vendée is a solo race created in 2018 connecting Les Sables-d'Olonne (France) to Ivalo (Finland), passing through the Northeast passage. Length of 6,500 nautical miles, she is The longest and most difficult transatlantic race in the world.
Skippers engaged in the Arctic Vendée must face extreme climatic conditions, with icy temperatures, strong winds and threatening icebergs. The course, marked by narrow passages and dangerous navigation areas, requires great technical mastery and flawless adaptability.
Due to unusually severe ice conditions in the northeast passage, the 2022 edition of the Arctic Vendée has been modified. The route by the southern Iceland, shortening the total distance to 3 300 nautical miles.
The next edition of the Arctic Vendée is planned for 2026. The exact route has not yet been defined, but it is likely that it will resume the passage of the northeast, offering skippers an even greater challenge.
Next edition: 2026
Website: www.vendeearctic.org
Advice to participate or observe nautical events
- Plan your trip in advance: Major nautical events attract a lot of people, so it is important to reserve your accommodation and your useful transport tickets.
- Find out about the event: Consult the event website to find out the program, the conditions of participation and the observation points.
- Attend entertainment on the ground: Most nautical events offer entertainment on land, concerts, exhibitions and stands of stands.
- Respect security: Do not forget to respect the safety instructions and follow the organizers' instructions.
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