Press Release No. 5 – CIC MED CHANNEL RACE 2026 – May 5, 2026
MATHIEU CLAVEAU AND FRANÇOIS VERDIER (PHARE 40 – HA PLUS PME) LEAD IN BONIFACIO
Today at 07:02:51, Marseille-based skipper Mathieu Claveau and his co-skipper François Verdier, aboard their Class40 No. 142, crossed the second “gate” of the rankings in the Strait of Bonifacio in first place. Since departing Marseille on Sunday, they have covered 225 nautical miles at an average speed of 7.14 knots over the surface. They are followed 17 minutes later by the Swiss project STELLA NOVA (No. 134) and 28 minutes after that by the French Class40 No. 149 LES AILES DE CHARLOTTE. The two skippers of PHARE40 sailed well throughout Monday as they sailed south off the coast of Corsica, staying close to the leader, STELLA NOVA. They then found the best course approaching the Strait of Bonifacio, choosing a route closer to the Corsican coast than their Swiss competitor. After passing through light winds in the Strait of Bonifacio, the leading boats will begin their descent down the east coast of Sardinia, a leg that will take place largely offshore due to the activation of a firing zone in the south of the Sardinian peninsula. The next ranking gate is located at the southern tip of the island.
Tacticians put to the test
Monday was therefore spent sailing down the coast of Corsica, staying well offshore given the area of calms in the northwest quarter of the island. With the prevailing wind from the south, it was necessary to sail upwind to gain ground, as a direct route was not possible. Therefore, they had to sail close-hauled, a very tactical maneuver where they had to constantly assess their position to find the best tack, the one that would allow them to cover a few miles less than their neighbors. Throughout the day, the fleet oscillated between a more easterly position towards the coast, shortening the route, and a more southerly one, seeking the wind. In this game, STELLA NOVA, skippered by Omar Naas and Louis Torreilles, excelled during the day, but as they approached Bonifacio, PHARE 40’s more inshore tactics took hold in increasingly lighter winds.
A new tactical step towards south Sardinian
Five competitors will have passed the Strait of Bonifacio by 8:30 a.m. today, with a light breeze still allowing for good speed; the next four are expected to cross this line this morning. They will then all begin the second leg south, this time east of Sardinia. They will again be sailing close-hauled against a steady southerly wind of around 15 knots. The activation of a large firing zone south of Sardinia forces the racers onto a very offshore course, which already seemed to correspond to the routing choices. We should again witness tactical maneuvering before rounding the southern Sardinia gate, and finally a return to downwind sailing on the route towards the Balearic Islands and the island of Menorca. In this game, the latest generation scows (No. 179 GLACES ROMANE – No. 168 RDT LOGISTIC – OCEAN CONNECT) will most likely be more comfortable than they are in this first part of the race. The “pointy” Class40s are putting up a good fight!
To access the crew presentations: https://www.med-race.com/les-equipages/
To follow the race on the map (a position update every 15 minutes): https://www.med-race.com/suivre-la-course/
Website: www.med-race.com
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Contact: SIRIUS EVENTS
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contact@sirius-events.com – +33 1 47 04 61 14
