Yacht Club de Cannes busy on all fronts

Matisse Pacaud and Lucie de Gennes, French Elite 470 champions © Guillain Grenier / FFVoile 2026

Between the twinning with three prestigious clubs, the organization of the International Finn Week in Cannes, and the undeniable victories of the YCC members, the month of February was as packed as it was brilliant.

The Yacht Club de Cannes continues its internationalisation, and has just concluded three new twinnings with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Club (holder of the America's Cup), the Royal Cape Yacht Club of Cape Town in South Africa, as well as with the Long Beach Yacht Club in California. Knowing that the next 2028 Olympic Games will take place in Los Angeles, precisely on the Long Beach lake, the flagship club of the Côte d'Azur is establishing its notoriety a little more, and will be in the front row for the Olympic campaign.

Despite unfavourable weather at the start of the event, and a wind too violent to send the 40 Finnists from 10 nations out to sea, the experts of the Yacht Club de Cannes, under the leadership of Philippe Enel (Race Committee Chairman), his deputy Michel Delrieu, and Karine Grené (scorer) were able to launch five fine races in winds between 5 and 18 knots. The German Jürgen Eirmann won brilliantly. Note the beautiful 3rd place of the Frenchman Florian Faucheux. "We had a great week! The regulars and those who discovered this exceptional body of water and the club were delighted by the welcome and the organization... It is always a great satisfaction for the many volunteers who invest so much to see the sailors happy" confirms Jean-François Cutugno, president of the YCC After a phenomenal 2025 season with a world championship title in ILCA 4 in Los Angeles, then a French champion title in ILCA 6 in Martigues, the young Martinican Nathan Wehrle (16 years old), a member of the YCC, continues his irresistible rise. At the first round of the Europa Cup, in Andora, Italy, this week, in unstable winds, he won in the ILCA 6 in the U17 (under 17 years old).

Finally, in Marseille at the Florence Arthaud Nautical Stadium, which is none other than the former body of water for the 2024 Olympic Games, Matisse Pacaud and Lucie de Gennes, tenors of the French 470 team, shone once again, winning the coveted title of French Elite Olympic sailing champions, especially in dantesque wind conditions where they excel. The two YCC members left nothing but crumbs to their opponents with a clear score (1, 3, 1, 1, 3, 1). "We're very happy with the way we've sailed this week. We had very rough and then very weak conditions, a bit of both extremes, and that makes this title even more interesting," explains Lucie, the teammate. "It's our second French championship title in a few months, and it's always important to win a regatta. Now, it's time for the European Championship next week. We have three days off, then we hit the road to Vilamoura (Portugal). It's great to have started the international season with a French championship: everything is working well and we are leaving with a smile. "

But the Yacht Club de Cannes is not going to "rest on its laurels", since it will organise in addition to the 48th Royal Regatta from 19 to 26 September 2026, the 'Cannes/Malta', the Tempest World Championship - a double-handed Olympic keelboat of 6.74 metres in 1972 and 1976 - from 11 to 17 October, then in the wake of it from 28 to 31 October, the RS21 world championship, a 6.34-metre sports keelboat with three or four crew members, very popular with the Anglo-Saxons and Italians.