Maxi Banque Populaire XI on a tour from the Mediterranean to the Gironde

by Voile Banque Populaire 8 May 09:20 BST 9-28 May 2026

Maxi Banque Populaire XI on a tour from the Mediterranean to the Gironde © Easyride / BPCE

Aboard the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, Armel Le Cléac'h and his crew departed their home port of Lorient on April 29th for a long voyage that will take them to the Mediterranean and then to the Gironde estuary.

Over two weeks of sailing, they will visit La Seyne-sur-Mer, Saint-Tropez, Port Camargue, and Bordeaux, territories of three regional banks: Banque Populaire Méditerranée, Banque Populaire Sud, and Banque Populaire Aquitaine Centre Atlantique. These deliveries and voyages, transformed into intensive training sessions, are also an opportunity for Armel to build up his skills in preparation for the Route du Rhum and to validate the crew's onboard teamwork before attempting the Jules Verne Trophy.

Maxi Banque Populaire XI on a tour from the Mediterranean to the Gironde - photo © Easyride / BPCE

This is a welcome break in a busy season culminating in the Route du Rhum this coming autumn. Armel Le Cléac'h and his crew set sail for the Mediterranean on Wednesday, April 29th. After skirting the Atlantic coast and passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, the crew sailed up the Mediterranean to the French Riviera. This long and invaluable 2,237-mile delivery trip allowed them to experience a variety of conditions, sail day and night, practice routines, and test all the onboard systems. Part of the delivery was undertaken alongside the Ultim SVR-Lazartigue to compare their performance and optimize their boat settings. This long-term collaborative effort provides a sense of calm before one of the season's main objectives: the attempt to break the crewed round-the-world record this December.

The importance of "sharing our passion"

Alongside their sporting preparations for the end-of-season events, the entire team is delighted to be able to visit ports where offshore racing is less frequent than on the west coast of France. "It's important to share our passion with as many people as possible, to explain what we experience on a daily basis and during races," emphasizes Armel. " We're fortunate to have a spectacular boat, which gives an impression of gigantism when you see it for the first time." One thing is certain: the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, with its dimensions (32m long, 23m wide, and a 38m mast), will not go unnoticed in the various ports it visits.

Maxi Banque Populaire XI on a tour from the Mediterranean to the Gironde - photo © Easyride / BPCE

Exclusive experiences await you at Banque Populaire Méditerranée

The journey will begin in La Seyne-sur-Mer on Saturday, May 9th, followed by stops in Saint-Tropez on Monday, May 11th and Tuesday, May 12th, before returning to La Seyne-sur-Mer on Wednesday, May 13th and Thursday, May 14th. The boat will be hosted by Banque Populaire Méditerranée, a bank that has made its connection to the sea a defining characteristic of its identity. Committed at all levels, the bank supports sailing clubs and the elite athletes of its Team Voile Banque Populaire Méditerranée. With a focus on passing on knowledge and experience, a dedicated day will be organized on May 9th for young people from sailing schools: discussions with a Team athlete about the demands of performance and the values of sailing, followed by educational tours of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI. With this in mind, Banque Populaire Méditerranée will offer more than 700 clients, institutional and young people from sailing schools the opportunity to live exclusive experiences, at sea and on land, as close as possible to this exceptional boat, thus reaffirming its role as the reference bank for sailing and the sea.

With Banque Populaire Sud, discoveries, conviviality and sharing

Then, the Maxi Trimaran Banque Populaire XI will resume its westward journey with a stop in Port Camargue. This exceptional presence will offer a unique platform for members, clients, and partners of Banque Populaire Sud to meet and connect. The Port Camargue site will host an exhibition dedicated to the epic journey of the Maxi Trimaran Banque Populaire XI, retracing its history, its technology, and Banque Populaire's passionate commitment to sailing. A welcoming space, "The Banque Populaire du Sud Village," will also offer activities for all ages and will welcome school groups and the general public. Those fortunate enough will have the opportunity to meet Armel Le Cléac'h for an autograph or a tour of this extraordinary trimaran.

With Banque Populaire Aquitaine Centre Atlantique, an event that brings people together

Next, the sailors will set sail again for another delivery voyage. After returning to the Atlantic, they will sail down the Garonne River to Bordeaux where, on Monday, May 25th at 3:45 pm, the trimaran will offer a breathtaking spectacle as it passes under the Chaban-Delmas Bridge, its 38-meter mast passing beneath the raised deck of the largest bascule bridge in Europe. The Maxi Banque Populaire XI will then be moored in front of the headquarters of Banque Populaire Aquitaine Centre Atlantique.

From May 26 to 28, a free Banque Populaire Village, open to all, will welcome the public at 10 Quai des Queyries. The program includes workshops on ocean conservation with Water Family and Save La Mermaid, virtual reality surfing on the Teahupoo wave with Nomads Surfing, and winch training to hoist the trimaran's mainsail. At the foot of the trimaran, a photographic exhibition retracing the epic journey of the Maxi Banque Populaire will complement the activities on the quayside.

The Programme: