2026 CIC Med Channel Race Day 2
by Sirius Events 4 May 08:24 BST
4 May 2026
2026 CIC Med Channel Race Start © Jean-Marie Liot / CIC Med Race
Tactical games on the road to the Strait of Bonifacio
Departing yesterday, Sunday, May 3, at 1:00 PM from the southern bay of Marseille, the Class40 fleet of the 2nd edition of the CIC MED CHANNEL RACE crossed the Var coast during the afternoon and evening before rounding Île du Levant and heading towards Corsica and the Strait of Bonifacio. The competition is fierce among the competitors, who are sailing within a few miles of each other.
The classic Class40s, known as "pointus," and the new generation Class40s, the "scows," are vying for the top spots. Having headed south to avoid a significant area of calm winds off the northwest coast of Corsica, the competitors, after a long southerly leg, are now making their way towards the next ranking gate between Corsica and Sardinia, which they should reach during the night from Monday to Tuesday.
At the 8:00 AM ranking, No. 134 STELLA NOVA, skippered by Omar Naas and Louis Torreilles, was in the lead, followed by No. 149 LES AILES DE CHARLOTTE and No. 155 FLAMINGO ROSSO. The traditional boats are making the most of the weather conditions at the start of this leg.
A dramatic start in Marseille
The traditional images of an offshore race start, though rare in the Mediterranean, were first seen on the banks of the Mucem basin before leaving the Marseille docks at 11:00 AM. A huge thank you to FRANCE 3 PROVENCE - ALPES, which brought the final hour before the start to life and shared the skippers' emotions with over 11,000 people on its Facebook Live. At sea, the bay of Marseille, though somewhat hazy, offered remarkable landmarks: the start beneath the Frioul Islands and the Château d'If, rounded during the coastal leg. The competitors then headed towards the Var coast, bounding for Porquerolles, engaging in a determined tactical battle upwind. Around 9:00 PM, boat number 134, STELLA NOVA, crossed the Porquerolles harbor entrance in first place.
Sardinia on the agenda for Tuesday
After rounding Île du Levant, the competitors sailed south in a tight pack for the rest of the night, which was also expected to be marked by thunderstorms. Shortly before 08:00, the first boats tacked towards Corsica, a tactical maneuver expected to continue throughout the day as they sailed towards the Strait of Bonifacio. The second ranking gate should therefore be reached around 00:00, and the descent along the Sardinian coast should begin. According to current forecasts, the competitors should be at the southern tip of Sardinia early Wednesday morning. The top 5 competitors are within 5 nautical miles of each other, and the entire fleet is within 15 nautical miles.
To access the crew presentations: www.med-race.com/les-equipages
To follow the race on the map (a position update every 15 minutes): www.med-race.com/suivre-la-course
Website: www.med-race.com