Class 40 family preparing for the TRIN'40

The Class40 fleet is set for the TRIN'40 © Louis Bregeon / Class40

It's back to business as usual. With less than a month to go before the start of the Trin'40, a new race departing from La Trinité-sur-Mer dedicated to these exceptional monohulls, the future competitors - 30 registered so far - are slowly getting back into the swing of things. Between preparations for this ambitious 1200-mile solo loop, they shared their passion for this unique class and their ambitions for this first race of the year.

A veritable mosaic of people and athletes are about to disembark in the charming port of La Trinité-sur-Mer, in Morbihan. Let's put things in perspective - or rather, put the mast back in the middle of the hull: the Class40 is not like any other class! Created twenty years ago, this category of 40-foot monohulls has become, over the years, the most dynamic class in offshore racing, and by far the most represented at the start of major transatlantic races.

What accounts for its remarkable success? Boats that are increasingly powerful, sleek, demanding, capable of crossing oceans at high speed... but above all, still accessible to extremely diverse profiles! On the starting line of the Trin'40, we find this unique richness: seasoned professional sailors, ambitious competitors on the rise, offshore racing legends far from ready to hang up their oilskins, but also more novice profiles and knowledgeable amateurs looking to experience an extraordinary adventure... It is precisely this diversity that makes up the DNA of the class.

A spirit that you don't find everywhere

"It's a super dynamic class, with an extremely high level of sport, and boats really made for racing. But above all, there's a spirit that you don't find everywhere, a very family-oriented and supportive atmosphere," summarises Fabien Delahaye, skipper of Legallais, who will be among the serious contenders for victory in the Trin'40.

Having finished second in the Class40 championship in 2025, the Norman sailor is nevertheless cautious about his objectives: "Sailing alone remains a key step. It's about getting your bearings again, rethinking manoeuvrers, energy, and equipment. In the first race of the year, it's always difficult to find the right balance and know whether you're going there to win or to learn. But the desire is clearly to go and test yourself against others, and even though we know it's going to be tough, we can't wait to go back!"

And it's an understatement to say that the battle is likely to be fierce, with formidable competitors like Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran-Seafrigo), recent winner of the Transat Café L'Or and new holder of the Jules Verne Trophy with the crew of Sodebo Ultim 3. The latter will also be fighting against another of his round-the-world companions, since Pierre Leboucher from Nantes will also be making his debut at the helm of a Class40 on the Trin'40, with the ambition of challenging the top sailors in the class, such as Corentin Douguet (SNSM, make a donation), Axel Tréhin, on a boat that has just been launched, William Mathelin-Moreaux (Patapain - Les Invincibles), but also the local sailors, the Trinitains Quentin Le Nabour (Bleu Blanc Planète Location) and Guillaume L'Hostis (Alternative Sailing - Constructions du Belon).

A springboard class

But beyond these podium-chasing profiles, the Trin'40 also represents something more than just a ranking for many: a goal of self-improvement. The Class40 retains what makes it unique: a school for offshore racing, also designed to allow sailors to accumulate nautical miles and offshore experience. "It's a springboard class, a perfect bridge between the amateur and professional worlds," says 30-year-old Belgian Djemila Tassin. "It's also a class that's opening up to greater inclusion, more diverse profiles, richer in other backgrounds. That's invaluable, and I hope it will grow in the years to come!"

But just because she's not aiming for victory on the Trin'40 doesn't mean the navigator from Magenta won't try to push her limits on this new race which will take the sailors towards the Raz de Sein and then along the English coast, before plunging towards Cape Finisterre and returning to Trinité!

Holder since winter of the 24-hour Class40 distance world record, with a total of 459.57 miles covered, the young woman wants to "continue to progress on these incredible boats, which are easy to handle single-handed, robust, and fast, all within reasonable budgets." Her goal? "Learn, learn, learn... and finish first in the 'pointus' category, of course," referring to the older generation of Class40s whose bows are less rounded than the latest additions to the fleet, the formidable "scows" with their strikingly distinctive design!

The level is high, but the spirit is anything but elitist

It was precisely with this idea of progressing offshore that 25-year-old Matéo Le Calvic signed up for the Class40, a race he had barely dared to dream of. "What I particularly like is that the Class40 offers a bit of everything: solo, double-handed, crewed, all on a kind of 4x4 of the seas—very physical but technically accessible," summarises the young man, who will be sailing for the public works company FPFP-TP. "I have a lot to learn and, above all, a desire to see the world, so I'm aiming for the Round Ireland Race, the Middle Sea Race in the Mediterranean, and later the Globe40, the double-handed round-the-world race with stopovers."

The same boat, serving different dreams, even for those who don't aspire to a career in sailing! "It's a friendly class, where amateurs still have a place," says Emmanuel Hamez, 62, a passionate skipper who has been competing on the Class40 circuit since 2014. " It's becoming more professional, but we still feel welcome. The level is high, but the atmosphere is anything but elitist. People share ideas, give each other advice. Nothing is hidden. On the docks, you can chat with anyone."

And that's no small thing when your neighbour on the dock is Vincent Riou! The 2004 Vendée Globe winner has been sailing since 2024 with a brand new boat, sporting the colours of Pierreval - Fondation Good Planet. For the 54-year-old from Finistère, the Class40 represented "a perfect compromise" to quench his unquenchable thirst for the open sea and competition!

"It's a really interesting series, featuring prototypes that require you to be on the lookout for innovations, but at the same time, the well-designed class rules make them relatively easy to use," emphasises the 'Terrible', who completed his eighth Transat Café L'Or this winter. "Today, you find a great mix of amateurs with diverse backgrounds and sailors with impressive track records, who are gaining momentum. These projects are also simpler to set up and manage. Naturally, for someone who's getting on in years like me, it's easier to handle. This mix allows me to find what I love about sailing, which is competing at a high level, often facing challenges, while still having a lot of fun. Because that's truly the ultimate goal!"

"We're happy to be sailing because we're competitors on the water, but also because it's friendly on land," summarises Legallais skipper Fabien Delahaye. " There's a real sense of solidarity because the projects remain on a human scale, and if you come to visit us on the docks, you can chat with other skippers and boat preparers. It's still very accessible compared to other classes. And our boats are beautiful, objectively speaking, of course!" Join us from April 20th on the Trinitain pontoons, for a race start on April 24th, at 2pm sharp!

Find out more at trin40.com