© Romain Marie

Between 15 and 20 skippers are due to come together in Lorient in early September for what will be the final clash before the Route du Rhum 2026

Every September, the Défi Azimut heralds the start of the autumn season for the IMOCA class. What is more, this three-act event will once again provide a showcase for the new generation of IMOCAs making their competitive debut. Featuring a range of new boats and new faces with some ambitious campaigns, they will face some stiff opposition from the category’s star players. Indeed, with the meeting set to bring together the biggest fleet of IMOCAs since the start of the season, the key movers and shakers of Sailing Valley will be keeping a close eye on this festive sports event. Don’t forget to save the date, 15 to 20 September 2026, at Brittany’s offshore racing hub, Lorient La Base.

Kicking off with showstopping speed runs and the singlehanded 48H sprint for the top spot, the event will round off with the crewed Tour de Groix island race, which is open to sponsors. In the midst of this heady cocktail of sport, an array of meetings and conferences with the industry’s leaders will shine a spotlight on the offshore racing ecosystem. Created in 2011 by Jean-Marie Corteville, President of Azimut, the Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération format, has shown again and again that it has managed to expertly stand the test of time.

Boasting the perfect slot in the race schedule, ‘Le Défi’, as the event is affectionately known on the pontoons of Lorient La Base, “will be the first major event of the season”, confirms Francis Le Goff, who is delighted to be returning to his post as Race Director alongside Pierre Hays: “The only pressure on our shoulders is our ability to come up with a course where everyone makes it back in time for the party! By its very nature, the Défi is a relaxed event focused on doing things right whilst ensuring that it is worthwhile on a competitive level. It’s a clever mix!”

Between 15 and 20 skippers are due to come together in Lorient in early September for what will be the final clash before the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe, the main event of 2026.

For some, this will also be their first race, whether they’re newcomers to the IMOCA class like Pierre-Louis Atwell (Résilient), or have been promoted to the role of skipper like Davy Beaudart, former crewmate of Louis Burton, who will be stepping up to the challenge of helming his old Bureau Vallée single-handed. 

Pictured here is Elodie Bonafous, skipper for the Petits Princes association - Quéguiner, competing in the 2026 Défi Azimut. After joining the Figaro circuit in 2020, Elodie quickly made a name for herself, even becoming the first Frenchwoman to reach the podium in a stage of the legendary Solitaire du Figaro in 2022.