An edition synonymous with maturity

So much more than just a simple regatta, it has managed to find the winning formula amidst sport, public relations and themed conferences to really put the offshore racing ecosystem in perspective. 

Contested in summery conditions, this 2024 edition provided a window into the level of commitment required by the skippers and their level of control as they tackled a demanding course less than two months before the start of the Vendée Globe. The success was all-encompassing.

Runs Azimut: champagne sailing

Having fun in complete safety may well be the baseline of the Runs Azimut. Kicking off the action in the Défi, they once again stirred up more than their fair share of sea spray and smiles. The reward for all this effort by the IMOCA skippers was evident in the flying starts, which gave them a chance to flex their muscles with the help of a crew to grind the winches and get the very best out of the IMOCAs.

With a well-marked race zone, helmeted guests so they could foil in safety, two pools and one grand finale, the show was both spectacular and breathtaking… albeit with some slight confusion at the points tally since final victory actually went to Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) rather than Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE).

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A recap of the speed runs

48H Azimut: a mighty challenge for the skippers

A Figaro leg in IMOCA! The Solitaire du Figaro analogy of the course concocted by Race Director Yann Eliès (he won it three times), really made quite the impression. However, an IMOCA is twice as long as a Figaro 3 and nearly ten times more powerful! As a result, the skippers’ arms really got a workout with six marks to round and an intense sequence of manoeuvres. For the third time in his career, Charlie Dalin was the runaway champion, but the podium as a whole was hotly contested between six boats, which seemed to be a cut above the rest of the fleet.

Astern of them, a fantastic match between the daggerboard boats saw the event youngster, Violette Dorange (DeVenir), take victory. There was just one retirement to lament in this race and Romain Attanasio is already embroiled in a race against the clock to find the financial and technical means to step a new mast on his Fortinet - Best Western so he can take the start of the Vendée Globe on 10 November.

Rebroadcasting of the live coverage

Lorient La Base: the buzz of offshore racing

A major partner to the Défi, Lorient Agglomération really made its presence felt in this 14th edition. Competing in today’s Tour de Groix round island race aboard Malizia Sea Explorer, the Mayor of Lorient, Fabrice Loher, notably confirmed “virtually double the pontoon spaces compared to that at Lorient La Base two or three years ago”, to accommodate an ever expanding IMOCA fleet. This is very much in line with the Défi Azimut’s high hopes for the event having signed a new, four-year partnership with the Class as part of the IMOCA Globe Series.

The cradle of the Défi, the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly was once again the venue of choice for numerous exchanges. Commencing on Tuesday, these notably included a conference where Damien Seguin described a unique programme involving the biometric sensors, which will equip Groupe Apicil during his Vendée Globe. These sensors will make it possible to carry out a detailed study of how his body and health evolve on his IMOCA.

On Friday, no fewer than eight conferences took place on topics ranging from green sail technology to the recycling of carbon, new developments in automatic pilots and alternative models of sailing sponsorship. Incredibly valuable sources of information, the podcast about them will be available from next week on the Bretagne Sailing Valley blog.

A golden B to B ticket, the Défi Azimut has today established itself as a platform for unmissable offshore race meets, a status which its creator, Jean-Marie Corteville, fully intends to defend and expand on: “We need to continue to bring in experts, combine skills and champion their knowledge. This year a video recording of all the conferences was made in this spirit of sharing. Lorient has already made a name for itself as a composite valley. We need to do the same thing in the field of electronics, onboard computers, data and the environment, which are hot topics of the future and the Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération will continue to play its brainstorming role.”

Verbatim:

Yann Eliès, Race Director

“We’ve been lucky to have some exceptional conditions and this prevailing NE’ly wind. The racers are happy to have had a chance to get in some practice. This exercise is obviously completely different to the Vendée Globe, but it provides a route to get back into the swing of things with two months to go until the event.

It was my first experience as part of Race Management in IMOCA and it’s been an absolute pleasure to share it with Francis Le Goff and Clara Fortin. IMOCA racers are top drawer but they remain kindly sailors. It was a very pleasant experience.”

Antoine Mermod, President of Class IMOCA

“My primary takeaway from this 14th Défi Azimut is the exceptional weather conditions and the thrilling course for the 48H, which proved to be particularly challenging for the skippers with a match at every stage of the leader board. The downwind section making an average of over 26 knots was a first for IMOCA and will go down in the history books. All that augurs well for a fantastic Vendée Globe with the sailors really on their game with a whole new standard of competition. The opportunity to organise extensive live coverage of the start of the 48H Azimut this year was unquestionably a bonus for the many fans who follow us. In fact, we may well make it bilingual next year as we have had a lot of requests from overseas fans who are passionate about IMOCA.”

Fabrice Loher, President of Lorient Agglomération and Mayor of Lorient 

“For the fourteenth time, the Défi Azimut has been the meeting point for the start of the autumn season. It was here before Lorient became the hub we know today and it attracts the top IMOCA skippers who come here to compete. It’s also a social occasion and today I was fortunate enough to climb aboard Malizia Sea Explorer and, as we circumnavigated Ile de Groix, to get a glimpse into the commitment required by the skippers on these extraordinary machines.

I am also very proud that the children from the city of Lorient and the region are able to come onto the pontoons and meet with the skippers to inspire them about future vocations. Over the past 25 years, Lorient has become the place to be; the world’s number one offshore racing hub. Beyond the sporting aspect, there are considerable economic benefits to this with a thousand jobs focused around Lorient La Base alone.”