There 17th edition of the CIC Normandy Channel Race delivered its verdict this Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 4:20 p.m., in Ouistreham: Guillaume Pirouelle and Jules Ducelier, aboard SOGESTRAN – SEAFRIGOcrossed the finish line as winners, after a thrilling race of 3 days, 2 hours and 20 minutesA historic achievement, since it is only the second time in 17 years that a Norman crew will win this demanding race, following the victory of Fabien Delahaye and Pierre Leboucher in 2024. This edition will also go down in history as the faster of the history of the race, with an average of 11 knots over the 816 nautical miles of the course.
To remember
- Norman victory Guillaume Pirouelle and Jules Ducelier (SOGESTRAN – SEAFRIGO) win the 17th edition, only the 2nd time in 17 years that a Norman crew is the obvious choice.
- Speed record : 816 nautical miles covered in 3 days, 2 hours and 20 minutes, at an average of 11 knots – the fastest edition in the history of the race.
- Iconic course : Passing by the D-Day landing beaches, the Solent, the Cornish coast, the Cap de la Hague and the cliffs of the Pays de Caux.
- Tight podium : 2nd place for Pep Costa and Pablo Santurde (VSF SPORTS) at 34 minutes, 3rd for Luca Rosetti and Pierre Brasseur (MACCAFERRI FUTURA) at 40 minutes.
- Exceptional level 22 crews at the start, only 4 abandonments (compared to 16 in 2025), proof of a more experienced fleet.
A spectacular and demanding course
The CIC Normandy Channel Race is much more than just a simple Class40 race : it’s a tribute to maritime historyA human adventure and a technical challenge. The 2026 route took the crews through iconic landscapes:
- THE D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, filled with emotion.
- THE Solent, renowned for its treacherous currents and heavy maritime traffic.
- THE Cornish coasts, up to the mythical Lizard Point.
- THE Cape of La Hague, in the Cotentin, and the cliffs of the Pays de Caux, after Dieppe.
This race, cradle of offshore sailingIt is also a training ground for sailors, where managing currents, wind, and maritime traffic is crucial. The weather conditions were particularly changing, with a violent grain on the finish line which reshuffled the cards at the end of the race, offering suspense until the very end.
The winners: a duo on the rise
Guillaume Pirouelle: an already impressive track record
Only 32 years oldGuillaume Pirouelle confirms his status as rising figure of French sailing. Its record in 2026 is already exceptional:
- Winner of the Jules Verne Trophy in January 2026, alongside Thomas Coville, in 40 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes (world speed record for a non-stop circumnavigation of the globe by sailboat)
- Winner of the Transat Café L’Or 2025 in Class40, with Cédric Château
- Winner of the Trin’40 2026, first race of the Class40 circuit of the year
- 2nd in the Solitaire du Figaro in 2022
- Winner of the Tour Voile in 2019
His experience gained during his 2nd place in 2025 on that same race allowed him to climb to the top step of the podium this year. Pirouelle, an engineer by training, combines tactical rigor And physical endurance, essential qualities to face the challenges of the English Channel and the Celtic Sea.
Jules Ducelier: the revelation of the edition
HAS 29 years oldJules Ducelier participated for the first time at the CIC Normandy Channel Race. Yet, his career is already marked by remarkable performances:
- 4th in the Solitaire du Figaro in 2025
- 2nd in the French Solo Offshore Racing Championship in 2025
His association with Pirouelle allowed him to capitalize on experience from previous years, with a crew young but seasonedDucelier, who is from the region, was able to adapt to changing conditions and contribute to the winning strategy.
An extremely close podium and a record level of competition
The victory was decided in the last minutes, under the effect of a violent grain which disrupted the order of arrival. Here is the final ranking:
| Place | Crew | Boat | Arrival time | Gap with the 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| one | Guillaume Pirouelle / Jules Ducelier | SOGESTRAN – SEAFRIGO | 3 days 2 hours 20 minutes | – |
| two | Pep Costa / Pablo Santurde | VSF SPORTS | 3 days 3 hours 4 minutes | +34 mins |
| three | Luca Rosetti / Pierre Brasseur | MACCAFERI FUTURA | 3 days 3 hours 10 minutes | +40 mins |
| four | Axel Trehin / Antoine Carpentier | CUSTOPOL | 3 days 3 hours 45 minutes | +1h 25min |
Only 4 withdrawals were recorded this year, compared 16 in 2025evidence of a fleet more prepared and more experiencedAmong the favorites were also Fabien Delahaye (winner in 2024) and Corentin Douguetwho kept the race lively until the very end.
The CIC Normandy Channel Race: an unmissable event
Created in two thousand tenThe CIC Normandy Channel Race has become a obligatory passage For Class40 skippers. Some key figures:
- 1,000 nautical miles (approximately 1,852 km) to travel between Normandy, England and Ireland.
- 22 crews starting in 2026, compared to 32 in 2025 (record year).
- A race in duplicatewhich mixes endurance, strategy and technique.
- A international level, with crews from all over Europe.
This 2026 edition confirmed the race’s reputation: demanding, spectacular and unpredictableSailors have to deal with:
- Of the powerful currents (particularly in the Solent and the Raz de Sein).
- A heavy maritime traffic (The English Channel is one of the busiest areas in the world).
- Of the changing weather conditions, with violent squalls and thick fog.
Why is this victory historic?
- Only the second Norman victory in 17 years : After Fabien Delahaye in 2024, Pirouelle and Ducelier bring the trophy back to Normandy.
- The fastest edition 816 miles in 3 days and 2 hours, for an average of 11 knots – a record.
- A duo on the rise Pirouelle, already crowned with the Jules Verne Trophy, and Ducelier, the revelation of the season, form a crew promising for the coming years.
- A 100% international podium With Spanish, Italian and French crews, the race confirms its European influence.
And after?
For Guillaume Pirouelle, this victory is part of a 2026 season already exceptional :
- Next step: the Drheam Cup (June 12, 2026).
- Major objective: Rum Route (November 1, 2026), where he aims for victory in Class40.
As for Jules Ducelier, this performance could open doors for him. new opportunities in pairs or alone.
The CIC Normandy Channel Race, for its part, remains a ideal laboratory for the future champions of offshore sailing. See you in two thousand twenty-seven for a new edition, still as intense and spectacular.