40 in 2016, 76 in 2018, 95 in 2020 after the start of the pandemic. The eclectic DRHEAM-CUP 2022 fleet has grown day by day and reached to 125 entries, with just over a third talented IRC Corinthian Sailors, who will fight hard on the start line on Sunday 17 July in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, alongside the Class40 who have come out in force, the Rhum Mono, Figaro 3, Ocean Fifty, Rhum Multi, Multi 2000, Open Large Monohulls, Imoca and last but not least, the Mini 6.50!
« A round of applause to the harbour masters of port Chantereyne and La Trinité-sur-Mer who have managed to accommodate the 2022 French Offshore Racing Grand Prix. A long-term undertaking, masterfully executed by the managers so that the port users, racers and race organisers can cohabit and share their passion! » underlines Jacques Civilise, the creator of the DRHEAM CUP.
With less than two months to go before the main race, 125 competitors have entered and a few are on the waiting list. « The team’s greatest pleasure is to bring together all those classes, showcase the diversity of our sport and its ability to assemble professionals and amateurs to the wider public. Competition, sharing and celebration are written into the DNA of the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE », explains Jacques Civilise, a former « Innovation Captain » in industry, to whom the quality of Human Relations is at the heart of all initiatives and a key factor for success. « This success demonstrates that racers have adopted our event. Despite its relative youth, the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE DE COURSE AU LARGE brings people together. With only 3 previous editions and this 4th one that promises to be great, with French, British, German, Dutch, Belgian, Italian, Croatian, Swiss, Monegascan and Australian crews, the race is now fully part of the international offshore racing circuit. »
The DRHEAM-CUP on land:
This varied and high-level fleet can also count on the support of the partner local authorities that have embraced this communal spirit. « Our city of Cherbourg is impatient to meet skippers and crews, as well as the public. Everything is in place to enable visitors and sailors to mingle and share experiences. After two anxious years keeping our distance from others, we wanted to present our fellow citizens, visitors and crews with a festive and fun experience in a race village with many activities*. It will be open from 13 to 17 July on the « plage verte » in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. At THE DRHEAM-CUP competition, sharing and celebration come together, we 100% support it! » Muriel Jozeau-Marigné, deputy in charge of tourism, marinas, watersports and nautical activities at the Cherbourg town hall.
The DRHEAM-CUP at sea:
Multihulls, monohulls of all sizes, solo sailing, double handed and crews. The diversity and openness in the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGEattract the greatest names in French and international offshore racing, as well as anonymous but passionate racers.
In the Ultime category, Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3), Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) as well as Yves Le Blevec (Actual Ultim 3) will be at the start.
The Ocean Fifty fleet is almost complete with Sam Goodchild (Leyton), Erwan Le Roux (Koesio), Quentin Vlamynck (Arkema), Eric Peyron (Komilfo), Sébastien Rogues (Primonial), Thibaud Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton Arsep) and Armel Tripon who is working relentlessly with his team to complete repairs on his boat, as well as Gille Lamiré, who is repairing his own.
In Class40, 36 boats have entered, a record! The field has never been this open between the class regulars such as Ian Lipinsky (Crédit Mutuel), Antoine Carpentier (Redman), Simon Koster (Banque du Léman), newcomers or sailors returning from the Mini Transat or the Solitaire du Figaro: Amélie Grassi (La Boulangère), Corentin Douguet (Groupe Quéguiner), Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea), Xavier Macaire (Groupe Snef), and even former ski champions Aurélien Ducroz (Crosscall) and Ivica Kostelic (Croatia Full of Life) as well as athletes, with Jean Galfione (Serenis Consulting).
The IMOCA class with Louis Duc’s Fives – lantana Environnement will be on the start line with the Figaro 3, Rhum Multis, Rhum Monos, Mini 6.50s and the best represented class, IRC. « IRC is an international rule developed by the Union Nationale Nationale pour la Course au Large and the RORC – Royal Ocean Racing Club, to enable different size and design keelboats to race together and be ranked fairly, thanks to a performance rating system » explains Jacques Civilise, « Anyone’s yacht, of almost any size and shape can enter and race with a chance of winning. Our enthusiastic amateurs, who have been with us since 2016 are in this category and are delighted to see each other and race together in the summer. Some even take their annual leave to come and race… Real addicts!”
The DRHEAM CUP will also welcome prestigious large monohulls such as Pen Duick VI skippered by Marie Tabarly, as well as Lionel Regnier’s L’Esprit d’Equipe, Eric de Turckheim’s Teasing Machine, Catherine Chabaud’s Le Cigare Rouge, KUKA 3 from Italy and many others.
See you from 13 to 24 July!
In their own words:
Jean Galfione, skipper of Class40 Serenis Consulting, former Olympic pole-vaulting champion at the 1996 Atlanta games: « This is my second participation in LA DRHEAM-CUP. I did it to qualify for the Route du Rhum in 2018. This year, it is once again a super important meet for me as I need this race to qualify for my third consecutive Route du Rhum. There is nothing worse than having to qualify in cruising mode. Here, we will be racing, not watching the miles tick by. In addition, there is an impressive field and it will be my first time solo on this new Class40. It goes without saying that this is really important. And the course is really fun, very technical. I can’t wait.”
Yves Le Blévec, skipper of Actual Ultim 3, and deputy in charge of nautical activities in La Trinité-sur-Mer: « It is a great challenge and a super course that we will negotiate with a crew, to use the fabulous full potential of our boats and be at 100% of our game. And LADRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE arrives in my home town, in the summer holidays in La Trinité-sur-Mer, where my trimaran is based. It is always a fantastic party! »
Sam Goodchild, skipper of the Ocean Fifty Leyton: « It is my second time. Two years ago, I won in Figaro. I like La DRHEAM-CUP and its format, particularly because there are many classes racing together, and it isn’t all that common. In addition, it is good solo training for the Route du Rhum, even though sailing in the Channel between the container ships is quite a different exercise.”
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Find the list of participants on the official website: https://en.drheam-cup.com/menu-participants/list-by-class-of-boat/
Details of accommodation/Public Relations offers on: https://en.drheam-cup.com/public-relations/