The PHARE 40 team (No. 142), consisting of Mathieu Claveau and François Verdier, has claimed victory in the 2nd edition of the CIC MED CHANNEL RACE, finishing with a margin of 10 minutes and 15 seconds after 5 days, 23 hours, and 19 minutes of racing. They overcame the STELLA NOVA (No. 134) team of Omar Naas and Louis Torreilles, who had been leading until the final hours. The Swiss team executed a strategic move during the last night that proved crucial for their win, marking a remarkable comeback. “Winning here, after such a hard-fought race, on this new boat, and with such a committed duo… it has a very special flavour,” declared Claveau upon reaching Marseille.
A podium in less than an hour.
STELLA NOVA finished second, 10 minutes behind PHARE 40, while RDT LOGISTIC – OCEAN CONNECT (No. 168) secured third place, finishing 45 minutes after the winners. The race showcased the challenging nature of the Mediterranean, completing a 1,000-mile offshore course in under a week. Following a successful first edition won by Ian Lipinski, this event continues to grow in significance within the offshore racing calendar.
Intensity in all aspects of the race.
AQUAMARIN (No. 135) finished 4th, just 19 minutes behind 3rd place; FLAMINGO ROSSO (No. 155) came 5th, 3 minutes and 18 seconds behind; and LES AILES DE CHARLOTTE (No. 149) took 6th, finishing 9 minutes and 37 seconds after 5th. The southern harbour of Marseille witnessed a parade of arrivals this afternoon, with the women’s team of MER CONNEXION (No. 89) completing the race later in the day, marking a strong performance on the oldest boat in the fleet. Only QWANZA (No. 98) remains at sea, contending with unfavourable weather conditions and expected to arrive in Marseille shortly. This journey will be remembered as a significant challenge in the western Mediterranean, and the race is poised for further growth, similar to its Norman counterpart, which began with 10 competitors and is set to feature 32 boats in 2025, making it the largest exclusive Class40 event in its history.
For crew presentations, visit: https://www.med-race.com/les-equipages/
To follow the race on the map (updates every 15 minutes), please check the Race Tracker
Website: www.med-race.com
Facebook page: CIC MCR
Instagram page: cic_med_channel_race
More Offshore Sailing stories: Click here
