Exhibition Run: Nice just warming up!

Christian Estrosi à bord d'IDEC SPORT; Nice Ultimed; le 30 avril 2018 © Jean-Marie Liot / ASO

The highlight of the Nice UltiMed is fast approaching. This Wednesday 2 May, at 1:02pm, Armel Le Cléac'h and Christian Estrosi, Mayor of the City of Nice, will give the start of the main event from the Rauba Capeù, which will see a straight fight between the Ultimes skippered by Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim'), Francis Joyon (IDEC SPORT) and Yves Le Blévec (Actual-Grand Large Emotion).

This week, the Promenade des Anglais will also be brought to life again with the Discovery Exhibition, which is accessible through until Sunday (free entry). Just metres from the Prom', the small yet spectacular flying boats (Jean-Pierre Dick's "Easy to Fly" and the OneFly) will be racing in the Nautical Stadium for the Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice. We give you the low-down on the events to note down in your diaries.

The Nice UltiMed has entered its final week, that of the major face-off between the crews of Thomas Coville, Francis Joyon and Yves Le Blévec. From Wednesday, 1:02pm, they'll be battling it out on a Mediterranean course spanning nearly 2,000 miles. The start and the finishes will make for unmissable viewing. Other events, at sea as well as on shore, will entertain the City of Nice through until Sunday 6 May.

Exposition découverte; Nice Ultimed; le 30 avril 2018 - photo © Morgan Bove / ASO

Wednesday 2 May, 1:02pm: kick-off of the Nice UltiMed!

The highlight of the Nice UltiMed is approaching. Following on from the Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region Prologue and then the Exhibition Run, the crews of the three giants are about to get right to the heart of the matter and size one another up in a more familiar exercise, offshore, in what are forecast to be steady conditions... With the fleet setting sail on Wednesday at 1:02pm, the start will be quite a 'showstopper' with a line stretching between a mark set up on the promontory of Rauba Capeù and the luxury ocean liner "The World". A marvellous spectacle in prospect then in front of a sizeable public audience.

ETA for the Ultimes scheduled for Saturday afternoon

Sodebo Ultim', IDEC SPORT and Actual-Grand Large Emotion will each complete two looped circuits (950 miles each passing through Corsica, Sardinia, the Balearics and the coastline around the Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region. The second loop may be shortened at one of these passage points with the target being a finish on the afternoon of Saturday 5 May. At that point, the outright champion of the first edition of the Nice UltiMed will be unveiled.

A Nautical Parade to round off the Nice UltiMed this Sunday

The day after their arrivals, on Sunday 6 May, the Ultimes will hit the waters of the Baie des Anges one last time during the Nautical Parade, which will gather together over a hundred craft of all types. With this fine escort, the giants will parade along the Promenade des Anglais from the airport to the Rauba Capeù headland. Kick-off at 2:00pm.

Grand Prix of the City of Nice: Flying boats in the Nautical Arena off the Promenade

Nice UltiMed is essentially a festival of sailing in all its forms. From this Tuesday, and through until Saturday 5 May, these small 'foilers' will put on a flying show in front of the 'cathedral tent' housing the Discovery Exhibition. Patron of the Nice UltiMed, local sailor Jean-Pierre Dick will be coming along to showcase the Easy to Fly, a 26-feet (8.10m) foiling catamaran that is both brusque and quick. We'll also see the OneFlys in action, these small flying sports dinghies from the foiling Moth family, which are sure to amaze the spectators with their outlines and their performance. The races will enjoy a live commentary, right beneath the gaze of the spectators to the great delight of Jean-Pierre Dick: "The sea front in Nice is a genuine grandstand geared towards the sea. I'm delighted to be able to participate in this maritime spectacle and share it with all the locals in Nice."

Programme Tuesday 30 April / Nice

• 10:00am: Opening of the Discovery Exhibition on the Quai des Etats-Unis, Promenade des Anglais
• 10:00am: Opening of the Port (Quai Infernet)
• 12:00-5pm: Easy to Fly training sessions with live commentary from the Promenade des Anglais
• 7:00pm: Port closes
• 7:00pm: Discovery Exhibition Closes