© Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE

In one week, the Course des Caps – Boulogne-sur-Mer – Banque Populaire du Nord will bring together eleven boats manned by exceptionally high-level crews. For this new event on the IMOCA Globe Series calendar, the top sailors on the circuit have surrounded themselves with teammates who are as skilled as they are diverse, forming teams that are experienced, complementary, and bold.

In just one week, the Course des Caps – Boulogne-sur-Mer – Banque Populaire du Nord will bring together eleven boats manned by crews of exceptional calibre. For this new event in the IMOCA Globe Series calendar, the circuit’s top sailors have surrounded themselves with teammates who are as skilled as they are diverse, forming crews that are experienced, complementary, and bold.

Onboard, we’ll find winners of major offshore races, iconic figures of the sport, and rising stars eager to enrich the collective dynamic. Olympic racers, offshore specialists, and international hopefuls — the variety of backgrounds only adds to the strength of these carefully assembled teams. This wealth of human and technical talent, a true force at sea, promises a top-tier competition. At the crossroads of high standards, innovation, and knowledge-sharing, these teams embody some of the most inspiring values in sailing today: excellence, driven by collective adventure.

Building an IMOCA crew is a bit like putting together a top football team. You combine talents and stack up skills, but that’s only the beginning: the real challenge is making them connect, play together, find fluidity, coherence, and trust. For this Course des Caps, each skipper has shaped their team like a full-fledged project. And what a line-up of skippers! Almost all of them have competed in the Vendée Globe. Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE), Jérémie Beyou (Charal), Justine Mettraux (TeamWork – Team Snef), Nicolas Lunven (Holcim – PRB), Sam Davies (Initiatives Cœur), Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance), Benjamin Dutreux (4CAD – La Mie Câline), Fabrice Amedeo (FDJ United – Wewise), Szabolcs Weöres (New Europe)… All of them have proven their strength offshore, their project-driven mindset, and their stamina. Their ability to lead, decide, and rally a team around them is one of the cornerstones of this first edition. Alongside them, Élodie Bonafous (Association Petit Prince – Quéguiner) and Will Harris (Malizia – Seaexplorer), though not yet veterans of the Vendée Globe, represent a brilliant new generation of sailors, fully legitimate thanks to their talent, technical mastery, and team spirit. Their presence only adds to the strength and depth of this exceptional line-up.

CREW MEMBERS WITH STELLAR TRACK RECORDS

What also stands out is the composition of the crews. Several teams include legends of offshore racing in supporting roles. Franck Cammas, Yann Eliès, Pascal Bidégorry, Morgan Lagravière, Damien Seguin, Arnaud Boissières… All of them lead high-level projects elsewhere, yet here they’ve chosen to play a supporting role. It’s a mark of humility — but above all, a sign of ambition. When leaders like these step into a race without taking the helm, it means only one thing: they’re in it to win. This ability to mix top-tier talent is one of the major strengths of the format. Xavier Macaire (TeamWork – Team Snef) sees it as a breath of fresh air: “Offshore racing often comes down to solo or double-handed formats, which is great and very specific to France. But it also means we tend to see the same faces. With this crewed format, there’s more diversity: new philosophies, new profiles, and sailors we wouldn’t have expected to race together.”

© © Pierre Bouras

THE NEXT GENERATION IS HERE TOO

Among the teams, you’ll also find Tom Dolan, reigning Solitaire du Figaro champion, Carlos Menera Pascual, winner of the 2023 Mini Transat, Charlotte Yven, fresh off her Transat Paprec victory, along with Julien Villion, Loïs Berrehar, and Ambrogio Beccaria, runner-up in the 2022 Route du Rhum (Class40)… Already impressive sailors, now gaining rare experience alongside the best. There’s also a distinctive rule: each boat must include a female sailor, an international sailor, and an OBR — an onboard reporter responsible for bringing the race to life for the public. A forward-thinking choice, promoting inclusion and transmission. Marie Riou, four-time Nacra 17 world champion, recalls: “When I left Olympic sailing, I had the chance to join Dongfeng Race Team for The Ocean Race in 2017-2018, thanks to this kind of format. Now, women like Lou Berthomieu, Manon Peyre and others can also take their first steps in the offshore world. It’s fantastic to see those doors opening.”

Onboard Charal, Lou Berthomieu is indeed discovering a highly structured universe, far removed from dinghy sailing: “It’s impressive. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I think I can bring something too. There’s a real exchange.”

A similar spirit prevails on Holcim – PRB, where Nicolas Lunven highlights the importance of strong group dynamics: “A good crew isn’t just a bunch of individual skills. It’s a group that can make decisions together, and react at the right time.”

© Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / Charal

A DEMANDING COURSE THAT REVEALS COHESION

That cohesion will be put to the test. The 2,000-nautical-mile course around the British Isles is a tough one: variable conditions, tricky coastal sailing, unpredictable weather, and the often unforgiving North Sea... Even the most seasoned sailors know: this route will leave no room for error. And that’s exactly where the Course des Caps – Boulogne-sur-Mer – Banque Populaire du Nord will reveal its true value. It will push teams to go beyond their limits, and sailors to reinvent themselves. At the crossroads of experience and audacity, this race promises to open a new chapter in offshore sailing. And while it may be a brand-new event, the intensity it promises already places it among the most anticipated of the season!

Translated by IA.