109 boats will be on the starting line of the DRHEAM CUP/GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE on Saturday 11:00, in the outer harbour of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. The show will be exceptional, both sun and wind are forecast!

The atmosphere and weather were perfect on Friday in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, in the DRHEAM CUP/GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE official village! For its tenth anniversary, the race launched in 2016 by Jacques Civilise will experience yet another first time: an early start announced by Francis le Goff, Race Manager, on Thursday night to the skippers, due to the risk of violent thunderstorms in the Channel in the night from Sunday to Monday.

The fleet will leave on Saturday from 11:00, forcing the organisers to cancel the DRHEAM-TROPHY, the race prologue as well as the Rêves de Large initiative, which would have given children from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin the opportunity to experience a race onboard Class40 boats. "They were slightly disappointed, but we quickly adapted the programme, explained Cyrielle Montvallain, event manager for the city of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.We organised a visit of the port, with goodies for the children, who will be able to follow the start of the race on the Adèle, the boat hired by the city. They will be able to live the event from the inside, which was the aim of this initiative which is a real success.”

The children will not be disappointed with the show, since the weather is particularly good for the start, in the Baie de Becquet. The start will take place in four waves - 11:00 for the Ocean Fifty, 11:15 for the IMOCA, Multi 2000, Vintage Multihulls and Monohulls, 11:30 for the Class40 and 11:45 for the IRC and Sun Fast 30 One Design. Sunshine and a good 16 to 20 knot easterly breeze should enable the fleet to head downwind at a good speed, for the fastest boats.

During the skippers' briefing on Friday afternoon in the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin Mairie, Francis Le Goff unveiled the three courses that may change depending on the weather forecast: the first will be 1230 miles long for the Ocean Fifty, that will head directly to the Fastnet, then a virtual DRHEAM-CUP mark to the west before going south to the BXA buoy (near the Gironde estuary) before finally heading to the finish in Lorient. The Imoca, Vintage, Multi 2000 and Class 40 will race 1100 nautical miles, on an almost similar course, whereas the IRC and Sun Fast 30 OD fleet will round Wolf Rock, a DRHEAM-CUP mark off the coast of Brittany and Rochebonne, for a total of 790 miles to Lorient.

These courses, explained Francis Le Goff, could still change depending on the last weather reports, as Race Management closely monitors the storm cells. Although there will be plenty of wind in the first part of the race, with a stable east/north-east wind strengthening to 25 knots on Sunday, the second part is more uncertain, with a calm zone between two low-pressure systems that could mean more uncertainty in the last few days of the race.

The skipper of the Ocean Fifty Sodebo Fifty – the class is out in full force at the DRHEAM CUP/GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE, with eleven boats on the starting line – Léonard Legrand perfectly sums up the conditions the fleet is likely to face in this sixth edition: “It’s going to be a race in two parts: the first will be a bit rough in fairly strong winds, and the second will be more precise and unpredictable.” That means it will be important to not expend all our energy at the start and remain concentrated until the end, because we will need to be rested for the less windy parts. It’s going to be a very well-rounded race.”

In their own words:

Pete Goss (DMS Vinyl, Multi 2000): “I’m racing on DMS Vinyl with David Summers; we’re taking turns this year. The DRHEAM-CUP was one of our goals, and we invited Raphaël Dinelli  (the Brit rescued him during the 1996 Vendée Globe)  for the occasion because he’s a good friend – it’s nice to sail with him.” It’s going to be a fun, exciting race, with all the different conditions we will come across. As always, our priority will be to enjoy ourselves!”

Basile Bourgnon (Edenred, Ocean Fifty): “For many of us, this is our first solo race in the Ocean Fifty class; it’s looking like a very intense race. I can’t wait – especially as there’s wind, at least for the first part of the race; these are the best conditions for Edenred and for me. It is also part of the class series, so everyone will want to do their best, we’ll need to set our sights just right.”

Titouan Pilliard (Use it Again for Youth!, Vintage Mono): "I have come to experience heavy conditions, and I will get them! I also wanted to confront the competition. My aim is to increase the reliability of the boat, to feel ready for all conditions and hold on for the entire race, as the five days will be intense. I am slightly apprehensive as it is my first solo offshore race, but mainly I am excited, a dream is coming true.”

Jimmy Pahun (L’Esprit d’Equipe, IRC équipage): "It is my first DRHEAM CUP, a great race that I have followed since the first edition, it is our French Fastnet! All of that on a great course between two cities that are fully invested in the maritime world, I am excited to take the start on L'Esprit d'Equipe, which we are aiming to enter in the 2027 Ocean Globe Race. We are looking for partners, there is no better way to find them than racing!”

Sophie Faguet (Défi Solidaire avec Ellye et L’Arche, Class40): "We are going to experience intense downwind conditions, which is great as on the Trin'40, the weather was calmer. It’s great to see such a record turnout this year, and it’s lovely to see the town of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and the department coming together to promote sailing and host these events.”