European nautical events not to be missed
Hoist the sails and cast off: set a course for Europe's must-see yacht races!
Lovers of the sea and wide open spaces, adventurers of the foam and sailing enthusiasts, this article is for you!
Board with Orca Retail for a tour of Europe's most prestigious nautical events.
From legendary regattas to colorful festivals, get ready to experience exceptional moments at the heart of the marine world.
Vendée Globe: The Holy Grail for solo sailors
The Vendée Globe, often dubbed "the Everest of the seas", is much more than just a sailing race. It's an extraordinary human and sporting adventure, a test of endurance and self-transcendence that pushes skippers to brave the planet's most extreme elements.
Created in 1989 by Philippe Jeantot, the race has seen 9 editions since its inception, with a start every 4 years from Les Sables-d'Olonne, in Vendée.
The course, a distance of around 45,000 km, takes sailors on a periple around the world, non-stop and unassisted, passing the three most fearsome capes: the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Horn and Cape Leeuwin.
Over the years, the Vendée Globe has seen the birth of sailing legends. Among the most illustrious winners are:
- Titouan Lamort (1990): the event's first winner, he completed the circumnavigation in 109 days, 8 hours and 49 minutes.
- Armel Le Cléac'h (2016): Event record holder with a time of 74 days, 3 hours and 3 minutes.
- Yannick Bestaven (2020): Winner of the last edition to date, he crossed the finish line after 89 days, 16 hours and 47 minutes of racing.
Every year, millions of people follow the race with passion, admiring the skippers' courage and self-sacrifice. It's a real human and sporting adventure that inspires and inspires, a symbol of the spirit of adventure and the human capacity to push back one's limits.
Next edition: November 10, 2024
Website: www.vendeeglobe.org
Route du Rhum : A mythical transatlantic race
Relating Saint-Malo in Ille-et-Vilaine to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, the Route du Rhum is a mythical transatlantic race that 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 du Rhum course, some 3,700 nautical miles long, takes skippers on a demanding transatlantic crossing. From trade winds to tropical depressions, from calm zones to heavy seas, sailors have to cope with varied and sometimes extreme weather conditions. A technical and strategic challenge that tests their know-how and ability to adapt.
The duration of the Route du Rhum varies considerably depending on the categories of boats competing. The maxi-multihulls, the fastest in the fleet, generally complete the course in just over 6 days. Monohulls, meanwhile, take several weeks to cross the finish line, with race times that can exceed 30 days.
Since its creation in 1978, the Route du Rhum has seen many legendary skippers shine. Among the biggest winners are:
- Alain Colas (1978): the first winner of the event in a monohull, he disappeared at sea a few days after arriving in Pointe-à-Pitre.
- Philippe Poupon (1986): The first multihull winner, he paved the way for a new era of multihull boat domination in the Route du Rhum.
- Laurent Bourgnon (1994): monohull winner with a record time that was not beaten until 24 years later.
- Gitana 11 (2002): First maxi-multihull to win the event, with Franck Cammas at the helm.
- Loïck Peyron (2014): Winner in the Ultime category with a new event record, beaten four years later by Charles Caudrelier.
In 2022, French skipper Charles Caudrelier smashed the Route du Rhum record in the Ultime category aboard his maxi-trimaran Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. He crossed the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre in 6 days, 19 hours, 47 minutes and 25 seconds, shattering the previous record set in 2018 by Francis Joyon by more than 2 days.
Next edition: 2026
SWebsite: www.routedurhum.com
The Tall Ships Races: A grandiose spectacle of giant sailing ships
The Tall Ships Races is an opportunity to see and admire majestic sailing ships from all over the world.
The race was born in the aftermath of the Second World War, at a time when Europe was seeking to rebuild and reunite. In 1953, London lawyer Bernard Morgan proposed the organization of a friendly race between young cadets and sailors from all over the world, to promote international friendship and traditional sailing training. The first edition of The Tall Ships Races, held in 1956 between Torbay and Lisbon, was an immediate success.
Since then, these gatherings, organized in various European cities, have offered a grandiose and unforgettable spectacle. Parades at sea, boat tours, entertainment on land: a rich and festive program awaits young and old.
The Tall Ships Races 2024 will take place from Thursday June 27 to Monday August 5. The program includes three exciting races and two more leisurely stages, covering a total of 5 countries (Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, the Åland Islands and Poland) as you discover the treasures of the Baltic Sea.
Next edition: June 27, 2024
Swebsite: tallshipsraceshelsinki2024.fi
Kiel Week: The world's largest regatta
Far from being a simple sporting competition, Kiel Week is a true maritime celebration rooted in German history and culture. Founded in 1882 on the initiative of local naval officers and notables, it has become a must-attend event for sailing enthusiasts from all over the world.
Every year at the end of June, the city of Kiel is transformed into a vast nautical theater. More than 1,500 boats and 15,000 sailors from over 70 countries gather for a week of intense racing in all sailing classes, from the smallest boats to ultra-high-performance maxi-multihulls. A grandiose spectacle and fierce competition punctuate the days of the spectators, who come in droves to admire the prowess of the sailors.
Beyond the sporting events, Kiel Week offers a rich and varied program aimed at all audiences. Yacht parades, open-air concerts, tubeing villages, exhibitions and children's entertainment: there's something for every taste and every age!"
Next edition: June 19 to 28, 2024
Website: www.kieler-woche.de
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez : A concentrate of glamour and sailing
While today the Voiles de Saint-Tropez shine brightly, their origins are rather modest. In 1981, two skippers, Jean Laurain and Dick Jayson, set themselves a friendly challenge: to link the beach of Pampelonne from the port of Saint-Tropez via the Nioulargue shoal. The winner had to buy lunch for the other crew.
Rapidly, this friendly challenge turns into a real race, attracting more and more participants and spectators. In 1999, the event took on its current name, "Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez", and became an unmissable reference in the world of sailing.
Every year at the end of September, the Gulf of Saint-Tropez is decked out in multicolored sails. Elegant classics, luxury yachts and ultra-modern racing boats face off in fierce competition, offering spectators a grand and unforgettable spectacle. An intense competition punctuated by wind, strategy and skilful skippers.
Beyond the sporting competition, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is also an unmissable social gathering. Glamorous evenings, sumptuous parties and fashion shows punctuate Tropezian nights, attracting the biggest names in the international jet set. A unique atmosphere where luxury, elegance and a passion for sailing come together.
Next edition: September 28 to October 6, 2024
Website: www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr
The Giraglia Rolex Cup: A Mediterranean challenge for seasoned sailors
Created in 1953 by the Yacht Club Italiano, the Giraglia Rolex Cup has established itself as one of the world's most prestigious offshore races. Its record of achievements includes such illustrious names in sailing as Michel Desjoyeaux, Philippe Briand and Franck Cammas, all of whom have written their names into the legend of this extraordinary competition.
Taking off from Saint-Tropez, the Giraglia Rolex Cup presents itself as a 600-nautical-mile ocean race punctuated by sumptuous scenery and spine-tingling sporting challenges. Tracing its course across the Western Mediterranean, it bypasses the Italian and French islands, offering sailors a grandiose spectacle between sea and sky.
Next edition: June 13-20, 2024
Website: www.loropianagiraglia.com
Les Fêtes Maritimes de Brest : A journey back in time to the heart of heritage
Created in 1979, the Fêtes Maritimes de Brest (formerly the Festival des Vieux Gréements de Brest) is part of a long maritime tradition that goes back centuries. A former military and trading port, the town has always had a close link with the sea. The festival is an opportunity to celebrate every four years this rich heritage and share the passion for sailing with the general public.
For one week, the port of Brest is transformed into a veritable 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 fireworks displays also punctuate the festival, creating a festive and convivial atmosphere for all ages.
Next edition: July 12 to 17, 2024, the first in 8 years!
Website: www.fetesmaritimesdebrest.fr
The New York Vendée: A solo transatlantic crossing
Created in 2013, the New York Vendée, formerly known as the Transat New York - Vendée Les Sables d'Olonne, is a single-handed transatlantic race linking New York (USA)to Sables-d'Olonne (Vendée).
The course, some 3,700 nautical miles long, is dotted with fearsome capes such as cap Finisterre and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.
Skippers have to contend with often harsh weather conditions, with high winds, colossal waves and extreme temperatures.
Next edition: unknown, 2024 edition launched on May 29.
Site internet : www.newyorkvendee.org
L'Arctique Vendée : An icy adventure in the vastness of the Far North
L'Arctique Vendée is a solo race created in 2018 linking Les Sables-d'Olonne (France) to Ivalo (Finland), via the Northeast Passage. With a length of 6,500 nautical miles, it is the longest and toughest transatlantic race in the world.
Skippers involved in the Vendée Arctic face extreme weather conditions, with freezing temperatures, high winds and threatening icebergs. The course, punctuated by narrow passages and dangerous navigation zones, demands great technical mastery and an unfailing ability to adapt.
Due to unusually severe ice conditions in the Northeast Passage, the 2022 edition of the Arctic Vendée has been modified. The course skirted Iceland from the south, shortening the total distance to 3 300 nautical miles.
The next edition of the Vendée Arctic is scheduled for 2026. The exact route has not yet been defined, but it is likely to take in the Northeast Passage, offering skippers an even greater challenge.
Next edition: 2026
Website: www.vendeearctique.org
Tips for participating in or watching boating events
- Plan your trip in advance:Major sailing events attract a lot of people, so it's important to book your accommodation and transport tickets in good time.
- Find out more about the event: Visit the event website for the program, participation conditions and viewing points.
- Attend the onshore entertainment: Most nautical events feature onshore entertainment, concerts, exhibitions and stall villages.
- Respect safety: Don't forget to respect safety instructions and follow the organizers' instructions.
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