11 IMOCA, 61 runs, and in the end, Macif wins!
The curtain rose today on the 15th Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération on a day with spectacular potential. With fast-paced racing in the Groix channels and a spectacular parade on the waters of the harbour, the fleet of 11 IMOCA, boats designed for solo round-the-world racing, held their own in the exhibition sailing competition.
Macif Santé Prévoyance, launched at full speed by the duo Sam Goodchild and Loïs Berrehar, is leading the way on the race track between the island of Groix and Pointe du Talud. Close behind is Charal, led by Jérémie Beyou and Morgan Lagravière.
The battle begins between these two protagonists, who, given their potential, are the most likely to push the speed limits to the maximum. With sophisticated boats and co-skippers renowned for their skill in piloting these demanding machines, that's all it takes to put on a show, galloping across the water.
In the end, after six to seven attempts each, victory in these Azimut 2025 Runs rightfully goes to Macif Santé Prévoyance, which impresses with its stability in flight, both in altitude and trajectory. Alongside Lois Berrehar, Sam Goodchild, who had already set the fastest time last year on his previous IMOCA, repeated the feat with the fastest time, averaging 25.9 knots.
61 attempts for 11 boats
In the channels, the south-southwesterly wind, which had threatened to be absent, is blowing at 12-15 knots over a flat sea barely disturbed by a small cape. The duos and their guests let loose and complete lap after lap. The nine other foilers and the boats with centreboards, as Archimedean as they may be, happily take part in this sprint exercise on the water. After three hours of racing against the clock, the eleven crews complete 61 attempts, all rigorously measured by the race committee president, Gilles Bricout. This was enough to delight the lucky crew members for the day, immersed in the cockpits of these exceptional sailboats.
Among them, it is difficult not to highlight the superb performance of Armel Tripon's brand new boat, Les P'tits Doudous, which made its competitive debut. Recognisable by its hull decorated by artist Cyril Kongo, as a tender nod to the hospitalised children for whom this boat is an ambassador, the newest addition to the fleet made a remarkable debut. After two warm-up laps, the Nantes skipper, supported by sports coach Tanguy Leglatin, clocked the third fastest time of the day, 20 seconds behind Macif Santé Prévoyance, which was imperious in these speed races.
For a few seconds
But behind them, a group of boats with similar performances are also playing the game to the fullest, keeping the suspense alive regarding the final rankings for the day on the Lorient waterway. We must give special mention to the impressive run by Romain Attanasio and Maxime Sorel's Fortinet-Best Western, which missed out on the podium for the day's fastest time by a tiny second. A great performance for a hull dating back to 2015!
Parade from La Base to Péristyle
After the runs, it was time for the grand parade, which for the very first time saw the entire fleet sail into the heart of the city of Lorient, at the foot of the peristyle and the Maison de l'Agglomération. Honours went to the women, as Initiatives Cœur, led by Sam Davies and Violette Dorange, opened the exhibition sailing event at 4.30 pm.
A choreographed display under mainsail, timed by race director Francis Le Goff, who is well versed in the exercise, having been the master of ceremonies for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games on the Seine in 2024. Still carried by the unifying and creative spirit that is the hallmark of this event organised by Azimut, the boats sailed one after the other past the Pointe de Bernoulli, accompanied by the music of local artist Youn Kamm on the trumpet. This site bears witness to the transformation of the former submarine base into a living space dedicated to ocean racing. It was a beautiful symbol to conclude this day of exhibition, in the heart of a region with a strong maritime tradition, ahead of tomorrow's 48 Hours, the flagship event of the Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération, which promises to be more tactical than ever...
Ranking des Runs Azimut
1 / Macif Santé Prévoyance : 02’19’’
2 / Charal : 02’27’’
3 / Les P’tits Doudous : 02’49
4 / Fortinet - Best Western : 02’50
5 / Bureau Vallée : 02’53’’
6 / 4CAD - La Mie Câline : 02’55’
7 / Initiatives Cœur : 02’56’’
8 / Teamwork - Team SNEF : 03’00
9 / Coup de Pouce : 03’37’’
10 / Fives Group - Lantana Environnement : 03’44’’
11 / Café Joyeux : 03’46’’