It’s D-Day for the Drheam Cup. The departure of fourth edition of the offshore race is given this Sunday afternoon, off Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. The 118 boats entered will then take the direction of La Trinité-sur-Mer, in Morbihan. Courses, skippers and sailboats involved… Everything you need to know before departure.
118 boats finally at the start
They were more than 130 registered boats; they are finally no more than 118 to start this Sunday, in ten different categories, after several defections, mechanical or medical. 46 boats set off in the IRC category, including 20 double-handed and 26 crewed. 36 skippers set off alone aboard a Class 40.
In the other boat classes, there are eight Figaro 3s, one Imoca, seven Multi 2,000s, six Ocean Fiftys, three Open Grand Monohulls, four Rhum Multis, six Rhum Monos and one Ultime.
Great skippers involved in the race
The race, qualifying for the Route du Rhum, has attracted big names in sailing this year. On board Class 40, we can mention in particular John Galfionethe former Olympic pole vault champion, converted to a navigator in 2005; Corentin Douguettitle holder of the Drheam Cup in the Multi 50 category; Ian Lipinskywinner of the Transat Jacques Vabre double-handed in 2019; Aurelien Ducroz, former freeride ski champion; or the Granvillais Marc Lepesqueux.
The Cherbourgeois Louis Duke is the only one entered on an Imoca, these monohulls that go around the world. Loic Escoffier takes the start aboard a multihull, a Rhum Multis. On the other hand, no François Gabart, package after a positive test for Covid. His boat will still be at the start, with Tom Laperche at the helm.
Three slightly modified courses
Three courses of 600, 1,000 and 1,500 nautical miles were initially planned. Finally, that of 1,500 miles is cancelled. The only Ultime in the race runs alongside the Ocean Fifty on the 1,000 mile course.
– Dream Cup
The Class 40s, Open Grands Monohulls, Rhum Monos and Rhum Multi, set off on the start of a slightly reduced 1,000 mile course reduced to 890 miles. They will not go as far as the Gulf of Gironde, but as far as the Île de Ré, before reaching La Trinité-sur-Mer.
– Dream Cup
The 600-mile course, for the Figaro 3, the IRC and the Multi 2000, is unchanged. The crews will change tack at Wolf Rock, at the south-west tip of England, to go off the Île de Ré and reach the finish line.
Three departures given off Cherbourg
The boats leave Port Chantereyne from 11:40 a.m. to reach the starting line, east of the large harbor of Cherbourg, north of the Pointe du Heu. Three starts are then given depending on the categories of boats:
2:00 p.m. – Departure 1 for the Ultimes, Ocean Fifty, IMOCA, Large Monohulls, Rhum Monos
2:20 p.m. – Departure 2 for Rum Multi, Class40, Multi 2000
2:40 p.m. – Departure 3 for the Figaro 3, IRC and IRC Double
These departures are visible from land.
Once launched, you can follow the skippers almost in real time along the course, on the site of the Drheam Cup. The fastest should arrive Wednesday noon. The award ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, July 27.