CIC Med Channel Race 2025: a paradigm shift in Mediterranean offshore racing

Aerial view of Marseille pier - Vieux Port, Saint Jean castle, and mucem in south of France © Samuel Borges Photography

If you've enjoyed the CIC Normandy Channel Race, you're going to love the CIC MED CHANNEL RACE! Based on the concept of the famous Norman event, SIRIUS EVENEMENTS is partnering with the Class40 to create its Mediterranean equivalent.

The CIC is taking on the role of Title Partner for an event, which is also supported by the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis. Setting sail from Marseille on Sunday 27 April 2025, an extremely demanding 1,000-mile course around the Mediterranean is on offer to the skippers with the aim of creating a flagship event extending the scope of the Class40 in this region.

An innovative Mediterranean race model

The CIC MED CHANNEL RACE is taking on the fundamentals of its Norman counterpart: an exclusive, annual, double-handed Class40 event. A demanding 1,000 nautical mile course (1,852 km), it sets off from Marseille and takes the skippers on a week-long sprint amidst the islands of France's Var region, towards Calvi in Corsica, along the east coast of Sardinia and around the island of Mallorca, before returning to Marseille. Featuring a mixture of coastal hops and several long offshore sections, it inevitably embraces a series of stunning venues with some fantastic images guaranteed. The event is slotted in right at the start of the season, setting off from Marseille on Sunday 27 April 2025 when the weather is typically more favourable and integrates nicely into the existing event landscape. A course and a line-up such as this means that the leader board will likely be changing constantly.

The Aix - Marseille - Provence metropolis: an idyllic backdrop for a new race

For 4 days from Wednesday 23 April, the CIC MED CHANNEL RACE (CIC MCR) fleet will be berthed at the emblematic site of the MUCEM, a museum dedicated to the Mediterranean, in the port of Marseille. Like all the region's ports, it is managed by the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis and it will be open to the public. A race village will welcome visitors on the J4 esplanade right next to the racing yachts. 10 to 15 boats are expected for this debut edition. The CNTL, a major club in Marseille, which has developed several offshore racing events including the Massilia Cup, will take on the role of partner and local support to the competition. The start and finish lines will be set in the city's southern harbour, which will once again take on a competition vibe less than a year after the Olympic Games were hosted there. A sizeable media device has been set up with FRANCE TELEVISIONS involving a daily 1-minute report over the 12-day event broadcast across all the FRANCE 3 stations in Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur, Corsica and the Languedoc - Roussillon region.

Class40's Mediterranean ambition

Together with the IMOCA class in the Vendée Globe, Class40 is unquestionably the leading offshore racing monohull class on an international scale. Indeed, its success is evidenced by the fact that the 208th boat has just been launched. Controlled by a class measurement that is strict yet stable and open to a wide range of naval architects and yards, this 12 m thoroughbred of offshore racing is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Mainly concentrated in the English Channel and the Atlantic, today the Class40 has its sights on new areas of development to manage its success. Already, it boasts around fifteen boats in the south, with a strong presence in Italy and a number of events welcoming multiple classes that include the Class40. However, by creating the 1st dedicated Class40 event, the aim is to create a flagship event to spearhead the growth of a powerful global circuit.

Quotes:

Claude Koestner, Deputy CEO of the CIC: "Through its sporting commitments, the CIC is keen to contribute to the promotion of various regions and shine a spotlight on their dynamism. The love story between Marseille and the sea is a long one and economically it is coming to fruition in the most wonderful of ways with the global leaders being based in the Phocaean city. Supporting an event like the CIC MED Channel Race from its debut edition is a reflection of the CIC's commitment alongside those embarking on new adventures."

Cédric de Kervanaoël, President of the Class40: "I'm thrilled to be able to announce the launch of a new race in the Mediterranean, which is exclusively for the Class40 and organised in collaboration with Sirius Evènements. Scheduled to take place in April, this event setting sail from Marseille is the Mediterranean counterpart of the famous CIC Normandy Channel Race. This brand-new sporting and strategic event heralds a key stage in the development of the Class40 in the Mediterranean, a region full of promise for offshore racing. Boasting a demanding and spectacular course, this competition is designed to appeal to both skippers and enthusiasts, whilst extending the Class40's sphere of influence. It's an initiative, which once again highlights the class's commitment to championing a dynamic and varied circuit in partnership with one of the class's historic organisers, Sirius Evènements."

Manfred Ramspacher, manager of SIRIUS EVENEMENTS: "I'm particularly pleased to be returning to Marseille and to Provence after having organised a dozen or so major sailing events around the city since the noughties: Tour de France à la Voile stages at the Vieux Port, the J80 Worlds in 2013, the America's Cup GC32 circuit from 2014 to 2017... It's a region with a big personality and some fantastic maritime spaces so it's a fabulous setting for hosting this new project, which has real potential as a sports and media platform."

The Notice of Race is published today and registration is now open: www.med-race.com

CIC Med Channel Race 2025 route - photo © Sirius Events