The Drheam-Cup, Grand Prix de France de Course au large over 120 boats entered, a record
The press conference presenting the DRHEAM-CUP/GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE AU LARGE 2026 (9 - 18 July) was held on Thursday 18 June in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, an opportunity to present the fleet. It promises to be exceptional for the tenth anniversary of the race, as already over 120 crews have entered, will leave Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on Sunday 12 July to sail on the two courses that will lead them to Lorient, a record since the race's first edition in 2016.
Hervé Gautier's successor as race director of the DRHEAM-CUP-GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE, Francis Le Goff sets the tone when speaking of the sixth edition: "Over 120 boats have already entered, in the crewed, double-handed and solo categories. It shows that the format is popular, with a mix of professionals and amateurs, different classes and crew configurations. We must commend the work of Jacques Civilise and his team, who, over the past ten years, have succeeded in making the race an unmissable event, as this line-up confirms.”
Indeed, there is a particularly outstanding line-up, particularly with the entire Ocean Fifty fleet, eleven trimarans. The DRHEAM CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE is for the first time this year included in the Ocean Fifty series (third of five races), proof of its importance to the class and owners.
"We are attached to it for several reasons, explains Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, skipper of Solidaires en Peloton, two-time winner of the race (2018 solo, 2020 crewed) and vice-president of the class. Mainly because it is a great 1000 nautical-mile course, and also because we don't only come for the race, but also to take part in an event. The welcome in Cherbourg is exceptional, with many popular activities on the Plage Verte, not many races can boast of such a close proximity between competitors, amateurs and professionals and the public. That in itself is remarkable and it also pleases our partners, which is why we like being there.”
This year, the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE is a qualifier for the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, the 11 Ocean Fifties will race single-handed on the DC 1000 race (which passes the Fastnet and goes south to the Gironde estuary before heading North to Lorient), with the Class40s which will be well represented, since around forty will be on the start line in the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin outer harbour on 12 July!
"After the solo race Trin'40 in April, which was already a great success since 30 boats took part, the DRHEAM-CUP is part of our planned preparation for the Route du Rhum, explains Cédric de Kervenoaël, the president of Class40.Beyond the sporting aspect, we are loyal to the race because it is always very well organised, with activities for the public so that they can see the boats and be entertained.»
Similarly to the Ocean Fifty class, all the leaders will be there, from Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran Seafrigo), this year's winner of the Trin'40 and the CIC Normandy Channel Race, to Corentin Douguet (SNSM Faites un don!), Ian Lipinski (Crédit Mutuel), who won the Globe40 in April, Jonas Gerckens (Belgium Ocean Racing-Curium), second of the Globe40, Achille Nebout (Amarris), Fabien Delahaye (Legallais), Pierre Leboucher (Penfret), Vincent Riou (Pierreval - Fondation Good Planet), Robin Follin (Solano), Pep Costa (VSF Sport) and Alexis Loison, who will be presenting his new Lift V3 (by Lombard), Groupe Réel. "I think she will still smell of paint, I will be on a steep learning curve, but there is no better way than racing to really learn to get the best out of a boat", explains the Cherbourg native. He is particularly attached to the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE, "because I will be at home at the start and at the finish! (he lives in Lorient)"
The competitors in the Rhum Mono Vintage and Multi Vintage categories will also race on the DC 1000 course. It will be an opportunity to see some of the boats that have made offshore-racing history: former Orma Oceans (Francis Joyon), Arkéa-Handicap International (Damien Seguin), the Open 50 Groupe Cogedis pour Enfants du Mekong (Patrick Isoard), Eurvad (Tanguy Caradec), the historic 52 footer ex-Café Joyeux helmed by Titouan Pillard, who will be the youngest skipper of the DRHEAM-CUP, as well as the mythical Walter Greene trimaran Acapella-Proludic-La Chaine de l'Espoir skippered by Charlie Capelle, who has been loyal to the race since its first edition (he won the Multi 52 class in 2016 and 2018).
The IMOCA fleet will also be on the line, with Pierre Louis Attwell who will take the start on the daggerboard IMOCA Résilient and Arnaud Boissière on the foiler April Marine - Recherche Co-Partenaire.
A large part of the fleet will be IRC boats (crewed and double-handed); some forty boats, often led by experienced amateurs, "who race with family or friends, side by side with the most determined", according to Francis Le Goff. With once again loyal teams who come back at each edition, such as the crews of Fastwave 7 (Eric Fries) or the classic Faiaohae (Oscar Guérin) and Stamina Sailing Team (Charlie Ageneau), as well as some favourites, since this year we have entries from Sidney Gavignet helming the famous Cigare Rouge, Swiss skipper Alan Roura on the Volvo 70 Ocean Breeze-Majorica and the Esprit d'Equipe crew, the Philippe Briand design that won the 1985-1986 Whitbread.
"It is cheering to see such a fleet, with very different boats that will all be on the start line to celebrate the spirit of sailing" explains race director Francis Le Goff.
