Lorient, Monday, September 14, 2026. After a summer break dedicated to the installation of her V3 foils, Allagrande Mapei returned to the water on August 24 and has since been carrying out a series of offshore sailing sessions off Lorient.

© @Lorenzo Sironi / Allagrande Mapei racing

Winner of the Vendée Arctique in June, Ambrogio Beccaria is now entering the final stretch of his preparation for the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe. From September 15 to 20, the Défi Azimut – Lorient Agglomération will give the team its first real competitive test in the boat’s new configuration.

The return to the water marks a new stage in the development of the Allagrande Mapei IMOCA. During the Vendée Arctique, Allagrande Mapei was already equipped with new foil cases, but was still sailing with its V1 foils. The V3 foils are now installed. Larger and more powerful, they allow the boat to take off in conditions where it previously remained more heavily supported by the water. This development means that the team must methodically revisit the boat’s balance, flight and handling settings.

A more powerful, more airborne boat

“We are discovering an even more powerful, more airborne boat. There are phases where, last year, we simply couldn’t get the boat to take off, and now we can. We are working extensively on the balance, not only to get airborne but also to stabilise the flight. I am very confident: Allagrande Mapei has made real progress. And there is no better way to measure the result than racing.”— Ambrogio Beccaria

Since the boat was relaunched, the programme has deliberately been intense. The sailing sessions are mainly carried out in “false solo” mode: Ambrogio handles the boat as if he were sailing alone, while the team members on board observe, collect data and ensure the safety of the tests. After a summer largely characterised by light winds, the return of stronger conditions is finally allowing the team to fully put the boat through its paces and work on its reliability ahead of the November transatlantic race.

Every outing feeds into an ongoing process combining feel, analysis and technical modifications. The skipper’s feedback is translated into concrete work on shore, then validated during the following sailing session. This approach is made possible by the commitment of the entire Allagrande Mapei Racing team to the development of the IMOCA.

“We are entering a phase where it is essential to sail as much as possible and turn my feedback into technical developments. This requires a highly organised and methodical effort from the whole team. We sailed less than three days ago, have already made significant modifications to the boat, and are heading back out to check whether my feedback was right and validate the work that has been carried out.” — Ambrogio Beccaria

The next step is to put this collective work to the test in real competition. While training sessions allow the team to fine-tune the settings, only racing will truly reveal what this new version of Allagrande Mapei has gained relative to its competitors. The Défi Azimut therefore comes at exactly the right time.

Three formats to test the new configuration

A traditional fixture at the start of the IMOCA season, the Défi Azimut combines three very different challenges. This compact format provides an ideal laboratory for putting technical choices up against the competition, experiencing a wide range of sailing conditions and sharing the offshore racing experience with the project’s partners.

Wednesday, September 16 – The Runs, between Groix Island and Pointe du Talud, the IMOCA fleet will go head-to-head in a series of timed speed runs. A short and spectacular exercise, it will be particularly revealing of the boat’s ability to accelerate and make the most of its new foils. Ambrogio Beccaria will sail with Alberto Riva, Pablo Santurde Del Arco, Riccardo Apolloni and on-board reporter Lorenzo Sironi, joined by three guests.

Thursday, September 17 to Saturday, September 19 – The 48 Hours Azimut - The highlight of the event, this Atlantic loop starting and finishing in Lorient will be sailed solo, with on-board reporter Lorenzo Sironi as the skipper’s only passenger. Once again, Ambrogio will sail in “false solo” conditions, tackling a short, intense format that he will experience for the first time.

Sunday, September 20 – The Tour de Groix Time Trial This crewed coastal race will bring the week to a close with the IMOCA fleet racing in close quarters. Ambrogio Beccaria will be joined by Carlos Olsson, Pablo Santurde Del Arco, Riccardo Apolloni and Lorenzo Sironi, as well as three guests.
© @Anne Beaugé / Allagrande Mapei racing
A final rehearsal before the big start

For Ambrogio Beccaria and Allagrande Mapei Racing, the Défi Azimut will be the final competitive test before the final push towards the Route du Rhum. The Italian skipper therefore intends to approach it as a full-fledged competition. Short and demanding, the 48-hour race will require him to find the right pace immediately, without the settling-in phase that comes with major offshore races. A valuable rehearsal six weeks before the start, scheduled for November 1 in Saint-Malo.

“The Défi Azimut serves several purposes. First and foremost, it is a race and, as always, we want to perform as well as possible without being held back by any external factors. The team is working towards that goal. As for me, I have never competed in a short solo race before. I like taking on challenges that I don’t completely master, because they help me improve. And finally, it is almost a home race for me, here in Lorient, where I have lived for the past eight years. A lot of friends will be coming to watch us, so I really want to do well.”— Ambrogio Beccaria

For Allagrande Mapei Racing, supported by Mapei as the project’s main partner, the Défi Azimut represents the next sporting milestone ahead of the Route du Rhum — Ambrogio Beccaria’s first solo transatlantic race in an IMOCA and the major objective of his 2026 season.

Alongside the sporting programme, Allagrande Mapei will also take part in a moment of remembrance. On Tuesday, September 15, the IMOCA will join the fleet’s collective round trip between Lorient and Concarneau to pay a final tribute to Charlie Dalin. Alongside many other boats, the sailors will take part in the large-scale public and musical parade organised in the home port of the winner of the last Vendée Globe, in accordance with the wishes of the skipper, who passed away on June 10.

More information about the Défi Azimut: defi-azimut.net