Class40 Newsletter September 2026
by Class40 30 Sep 16:55 BST
Class 40 Pierreval-Fondation Good Planet, skippers Vincent Riou and Yann Doffin © Gauthier Lebec
Class40: Using offshore racing to support a cause
On the Class40 pontoons, some boat names are not chosen by chance. Beyond the sporting performance, several skippers have chosen to name their yacht after a charity organisation, turning every mile sailed into an opportunity to raise awareness, mobilise support and support a cause they care deeply about. Here are four examples.
Boats as ambassadors
"From the very beginning, the idea was never just to race for our own sake, but to give the race a purpose." This statement by Christophe Rateau (#133 - Gustave Roussy) sums up the approach of the four skippers gathered here. Behind every partnership with a charity lies, first and foremost, a personal experience.
"My partner, Pierreval, wanted to promote an environmental charity by using the boat's race name. He put out a call for tenders and chose GoodPlanet because it best matched what we both wanted to convey: an image, projects and a way of talking about the environment that doesn't make people feel guilty," explains Vincent Riou (#203 - Pierreval - GoodPlanet).
The story is different for Sophie Faguet (#175 - défi Solidaire pour Ellye and L'Arche). In 2025, she joined forces with Nicolas Jossier, also a Class40 skipper, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2015. "ELLyE supported Nicolas throughout his illness; it is this personal connection that gives the project its true meaning." She then brought in L'Arche, a charity she also supports.
With an unambiguous race name (#209 - SNSM Faites un don), Corentin Douguet highlights an organisation whose value often becomes apparent when you least expect it: "Like all sailors, I've never needed the SNSM... but the day you do need it, that's a different story."
Navigating more consistently with the values we uphold
Partnering with an organisation on one's boat also involves thinking about how to carry out one's project.
For Vincent Riou, supporting GoodPlanet involves making practical choices: "Being consistent also means avoiding unnecessary transport, buying only what is necessary and reusing as much as possible." Without claiming to be a perfect example, he advocates a gradual and shared approach: "It's never perfect, but we can improve little by little and share these values with the people around us."
This quest for coherence is also evident in Sophie Faguet, who combines sporting ambition with a spirit of sharing, inspired by the daily life she observes at L'Arche: "At L'Arche, daily life is shared: meals, cleaning, laundry... It's a transgenerational spirit that I really love, a bit like in racing."
Corentin Douguet, for his part, points out that sailing requires knowing and supporting those who ensure everyone's safety at sea, and recognises the extent of their commitment: "Depending on the size of the boat, a rescue operation can involve up to 56 people: that's a huge commitment. The SNSM is made up of volunteers who carry out a public service mission, available day and night." This recognition goes far beyond mere symbolism: "The SNSM is an organisation that is part of our world."
As for Christophe Rateau, he supports Gustave Roussy with a simple idea: to give meaning to the sporting aspect. As a passionate amateur, his professional career in medicine has naturally drawn him to this institute, which supports research for the benefit of cancer patients. For him, the link between the two worlds is clear: "Sport and physical activity have a vital role to play in prevention, treatment and improving patients' quality of life."
These four projects serve as a reminder that the Class40 is also a human adventure, where skippers can convey messages and raise awareness about causes - but they are not the only ones!
- Aina Bauza Roig: Fondation Alice Milliat
- Jules Bonnier: Plastic Odyssey
- Thomas Lurton: Sireco - Ose
- William Mathelin-Moreaux: Patapains - Les Invincibles
- Matéo Le Calvic: Fondation ARC
Simon Bailey: a project like no other
From the Oslofjord to Class40: Simon Bailey and Anna Wilson are new to offshore racing, but they have already set their sights on an extraordinary adventure.
From learning their Pogo 40 to sailing to the Caribbean and possibly Cape Horn, discover the story behind this young and ambitious duo.
Read the article...
This Months News
September 4: At the helm of Groupe Reel (#215), Alexis Loison and Pierrick Letouzé won the 40' Malouine - La Trinquette, ahead of Bleu Blanc Planète Location (#205 - Quentin Le Nabour and Thierry Chabagny). Centrakor Hirsch (#183 - Mikael Mergui and Richard Robini) completed the podium. Funae (#156 - Loic Féquet and Benoit Champanhac) was the first pointu to finish, taking an impressive fourth place overall.
September 6: Team Bleu Blanc Planète Location (#205) won the Trophée Lodigroup in the Bay of Saint-Malo after two days of racing, ahead of VSF Sports (#181) and Patapain - Les Invincibles (#204). Funae (#156) puts in an impressive performance, finishing ninth and leading the sharp-bowed boats.
September 7: Pep Costa (#181 VSF Sports) won the Trophée Manche-Atlantique for the first time, ahead of Robin Follin (#213 Solano) and Luca Rosetti (#212 Maccaferri Futura). Djemila Tassin (#153 Magenta) finished ninth and was the top pointu. The complete ranking.
September 8: Sophie Faguet showed her boat (#175 Défi Solidaire avec ELLyE et L'Arche) to CM1-CM2 pupils from Docteurs Lanos school in the port of Granville, where she grew up, and answered all their questions.
September 8: After a year of tuning, repairs and sailing, Lomano Takasi believes his boat
(#160 Réauté Chocolat) is ready for the start of the Route du Rhum.
September 8: Runners-up in the last edition of the Globe40, Jonas Gerckens and Renaud Dehareng are returning for the third edition, scheduled for 2028-2029, aiming to do even better. Sophie Delannoy will also be on the starting line after discovering offshore racing in the Mini Transat.
September 9: Djemila Tassin appeared in episode 92 of Sailorz's Navigantes podcast, where she looks back on the journey that brought her to the Class40.
September 11: The Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe published a full feature on the Class40, the race's largest fleet, with 49 boats set to start. Read the article
September 14: Class40 #188 is being delivered to Oslo, its new home port. Its new owner, Simon Bailey, plans to race double-handed on the "Nordic" circuit, then take part in the RORC Transat and the Caribbean 600 in 2027.
September 17: Kéni Piperol (#195 Drepavoile) will start his second Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe. The Guadeloupean sailor will aim to raise awareness of the fight against sickle cell disease. Read the article
September 18: Greg Leonard's Class40 Swift was crowned Class40 champion of the 2026 RORC Season's Points Championship. The ranking.
September 18: Alexis Thomas (#210 Wings of the Ocean), a recent arrival in the Class40, won the 2026 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship after six years on the Figaro circuit.
September 21: An agreement has been signed between Class40 and the organisers of the Transat Québec-Saint-Malo. The start of the season's premier race in 2028 will be on Sunday, 23 July 2028.
September 22: The Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe held its press conference at the Folies Bergère in Paris, presenting the 49 Class40 boats set to start on November 1.
September 24: In an interview with the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, Pamela Lee talks about her journey and preparations, and says that "Anything is possible." Read the article. Théa Khelif was also featured in an article, particularly about her Women of Course project. Read the article
September 26: On the occasion of the 2026 Grand Pavois in La Rochelle, the third edition of the Défi Atlantique was presented. The race will start from Guadeloupe on 7 March 2027, bound for La Rochelle. Informations.
September 27: Mikaël Mergui is the guest on Sailorz's Into The Wind podcast, where he talks about his unconventional journey and determination as he prepares for his second Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe.
September 28: Just a few weeks before the start of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, Matéo Le Calvic's Class40 #185 has been named Fondation ARC.
September 28: The Transat Café L'Or Normandie Le Havre has opened applications for the fourth edition of Cap pour Elles with ENGIE. Since 2021, the programme has supported women sailors looking to take the next step towards competing at the highest level and to line up for their first transatlantic race. In 2025, Aina Bauza and Axelle Pillain finished twentieth in the race, completing their first transatlantic crossing together. Informations.