Setting a course for the 18th CIC Normandy Channel Race
by Sirius Events 3 Oct 16:30 BST
May 30, 2027
Normandy Channel Race 2026 - Day 1 © Jean-Marie Liot / CIC NCR2026
After a record-breaking 2026 edition—marked by unprecedented intensity and speed—the event is set to launch its 18th edition on Sunday, May 30, 2027.
Following the victory of Guillaume Pirouelle and Jules Ducelier aboard SOGESTRAN / SEAFRIGO in 2026, and with the Class40 becoming an increasingly essential fixture in offshore racing alongside the renewal of the title partnership with CIC through 2028, all signs point to continued success as the event moves closer to its symbolic 20th anniversary.
A historic 2026 edition
3 days, 2 hours, and 20 minutes. 816 miles. An average speed of 11 knots.
The 2026 edition will go down as a standout year in the event's history. Never before had the race been so short, yet never had the course been covered so quickly. This performance illustrates the spectacular evolution of offshore racing and the crews' level of commitment. At the end of this extraordinary edition, SOGESTRAN / SEAFRIGO, skippered by Guillaume Pirouelle and Jules Ducelier, claimed victory, adding their names to the roll of honor of a fiercely contested race. People will long remember the remarkable day when the leading Class40 was off Land's End (at the southwestern tip of England) at 7:00 a.m., off the coast of Côtes-d'Armor at noon—having crossed the English Channel in just four hours—at the Raz Blanchard (off the tip of the Cotentin Peninsula) at 9:00 p.m., and in Dieppe (Seine-Maritime) at 3:00 a.m.!
The CIC Normandy Channel Race is not merely a speed race; it is a high-speed game of chess. In the English Channel and the Celtic Sea, crews must contend with currents, coastal effects, tricky passages, and weather conditions capable of completely reshuffling the deck in a matter of hours. On board, sailors must be able to accelerate when a window opens, slow down when the situation demands it, and—above all—make the right decision before their rivals do. In this race, you need to know how to attack, but also where and when to do so. The slightest poor choice can come at a heavy price. That is what makes the CIC Normandy Channel Race so thrilling and so demanding.
Class40: a key player in offshore racing
This momentum is part of a broader trend: the continued rise of Class40, which has become a central class in offshore racing, both in France and internationally. With 49 Class40 boats set to start the upcoming Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe on November 1st—making it the event's largest fleet—the class confirms its appeal and its ability to attract an increasingly competitive and international field of sailors. This sends a strong signal to the entire industry and to the future of offshore racing.
Setting sights on the 20-year milestone
With 18 editions now under its belt, the event has established a lasting legacy built over generations of sailors, technological advancements, and major shifts in the world of offshore racing. This trajectory is also bolstered by the loyalty of its partners. CIC, the title partner since 2021, is renewing its commitment through 2028, reaffirming its support for the event and its long-term development alongside the local authorities that have partnered with it since the very beginning.
Join us on Sunday, May 30, 2027, to write the next chapter of this story.
The 2027 Notice of Race is published today, and registration is now open: www.normandy-race.com - Competitor Area