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The 17th CIC Normandy Channel Race kicks off with 22 Class40s setting sail from Caen/Ouistreham bay at 2:00 PM, navigating under perfect Norman skies. Here’s why the modified course could redefine the competition for this year’s race.
With a steady ten knots of wind, Fabien Delahaye and Pierre Leboucher on LEGALLAIS lead the pack as they round the final mark heading towards the Cotentin Peninsula. The teams will soon traverse the English Channel to the Isle of Wight, aiming to arrive by nightfall and capitalize on favorable tides.
Due to an impending low-pressure system bringing strong winds and rough seas, organizers have adjusted the race route. Instead of heading to Ireland and the iconic Tuskar Rock, racers will round Lundy Island in the Celtic Sea, then shift southward toward the Portsall Rocks, before rejoining the classic course around Guernsey and through the Eastern English Channel to Dieppe—a first for the race.
Despite a smaller fleet this year, the competition remains fierce, with standout teams like LEGALLAIS, BLEU BLANC PLANETE LOCATION, and CUSTOPOL in contention. The expected strong winds of 20 to 25 knots will challenge all crews as they strive for victory. The race is set to wrap up by Thursday back in Ouistreham.
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