Entries open on 2nd January for the DRHEAM-CUP / Grand Prix de France de Course au Large 2026
by Drheam Cup 21 Dec 2025 03:28 PST
9-18 July 2026
DRHEAM-CUP © Alexis Courcoux
Entries for the 2026 edition of the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary from 9 to 18 July, will open on 2 January.
High participation is once again expected, firstly because the race between Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and Lorient, its new finish port, has established itself as a true classic since its debut in 2016, and secondly because it will once again be a qualifier for the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe.
There will be something for everyone! The DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE 2026, held every even year, will bring together a fleet reflecting the full diversity of ocean racing on its three courses between Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and Lorient: DC 1500 for the Ultim class, DC 1000 for IMOCA, Ocean Fifty, Class40, Vintage Multi, Vintage Mono and Open large monohulls, DC 600 for IRC (crewed and double-handed), Multi 2000, Sun Fast 30 One Design, Figaro Beneteau 3, and Classic Yachts.
In 2026, the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE will once again be a qualifying race for the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe. It will therefore be a solo race for Ocean Fifty and Class40 boats, as well as IMOCA, Vintage Multi and Vintage Mono boats. This will undoubtedly guarantee a large fleet in these classes, as was the case four years ago.
Proof of its growing importance over the years, the race launched in 2016 by Jacques Civilise, who will celebrate his 80th birthday at the same time as the tenth anniversary of his "baby", is now included in the calendar of many classes, including professional ones. This will be the case in 2026 for the Ocean Fifty class, as the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE 2026 will be one of the Acts of the Ocean Fifty Series, the annual circuit for 50-foot trimarans.
"From the very first edition, we were immediately hooked," comments Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, one of the pillars of the class. "Its timing in July is particularly interesting, because the boats are well prepared at this time of year, which makes for a great race on a course that is essentially the French Fastnet. What's more, alternating between crewed and solo racing from one edition to the next is particularly well suited to the challenges of our class." The skipper of Solidaires en Peloton adds: "The welcome in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is very special, it's a really popular and festive event, with entertainment, art and fine dining. People come to see more than just boats in the port. It is the best format to get the public interested in our sport. Even we the sailors love to stroll around the village and savour the moment."
For the Class40, the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE "has become an unmissable event," according to its director, Vanessa Boulaire, so much so that in 2026 it will be one of the four events in its annual World Championship, as well as one of the three events in the new solo trophy, alongside the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe and a new event in La Trinité-sur-Mer. "The DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE has been one of the major races on our calendar for several years now. It plays a hugely important role, and the welcome we receive in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is always magical," she adds.
The welcome promises to be just as magical in Lorient, the race's new destination, where an event village will also be set up from 14 to 18 July.
The President of the Association Multicoques Habitables (Racing Multihull Association), Jean-Paul Juguet, also emphasises the importance of the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE for Multi 2000 owners, who have been loyal participants since the first edition: "Our class brings together a very diverse fleet, ranging from 6-metre multihulls to MOD70s. The DRHEAM-CUP meets a real need for skippers of 12-metre boats, who have the opportunity to express themselves more fully in an offshore race."
Yves Ginoux, Vice-president of the Yacht Club de France in charge of its racing division, which has included the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE 2026 in its Channel/Atlantic championship, agrees: "It is one of the major events in the IRC crewed and double-handed championships, all the more so because it is the French Offshore Grand Prix. There are not many 600-mile races for IRCs, so the DRHEAM-CUP is a highly appreciated event, offering a demanding course and we pay particular attention to it. The 2026 edition will be particularly interesting, with the arrival of new boats, especially scows."
All class winners - in real time and corrected time - will be rewarded, but to ensure that as many people as possible can join in the celebration - one of the three pillars of the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE alongside competition and sharing - the organisers have created special trophies. The first pointy Class40 and first daggerboard IMOCA will be distinguished, and in the IRC class, double-handed, mixed, women's and youth crews will be presented with trophies. Yet another way to celebrate the diversity that is so important to Jacques Civilise and his team!
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