Class40 holds Annual General Meeting 2026
by Class 40 27 Jan 10:47 PST
Class40 holds Annual General Meeting 2026 © Class 40
Before celebrating the 2025 champions, the Class40 held its Annual General Meeting, a key moment to review the past season and plan for the future. Discussions provided an opportunity to share sporting results, technical advancements, and projects for the 2026 season, while emphasizing the importance of solidarity and individual commitment within the Class.
The Class40 Annual General Meeting was held in Paris on 17 January 2026, chaired by Cédric de Kervenoael. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss a number of topics, including environmental commitments, growing media visibility, the sporting calendar and changes to measurements, with constructive discussions kicking off the new season.
To order the Class40 book: www.class40.com/en/livres-guides
2025 carbon footprint: very encouraging results
One of the highlights of the general meeting was the presentation of the 2025 carbon footprint, carried out by Green You Up. Class40 recorded an overall reduction of 6.7% in its carbon footprint compared to the last study carried out for the 2023 season.
This result is mainly due to a 21% reduction in emissions linked to team travel, thanks to more sustainable management of air travel. Today, the average annual footprint of a Class40 project stands at 8.6 tCO2e, confirming the class's trajectory towards more responsible practices.
Visibility and appeal: Class40 continues to grow in popularity
The Kantar Media study (based on press, TV and radio) conducted from 15 December 2024 to 15 December 2025 highlights the appeal of Class40. In France, there were 7,800 media exposures valued at €2.9 million. While the Transat Café l'Or Le Havre-Normandie is the main driver of this coverage, the Route du Rhum destination Guadeloupe, despite taking place at the end of the year, already ranks second in terms of media coverage. The other races are not to be overlooked, with very good results, particularly in the CIC Normandy Channel Race. The Class40 has a significant international presence, with more than 1,300 articles published in 41 countries, each reaching an average of 250,000 people.
On social media, 2025 marked a new milestone in Class40's communication, with the arrival of a dual-study student a year ago. The class has accumulated over 4.5 million views and gained more than 7,000 additional followers. On average, the audience has grown by +34% on Facebook, +1600% on Instagram, +100% on TikTok and +787% on LinkedIn.
2026 sporting calendar: a promising year
The major event of the season, the Route du Rhum to Guadeloupe, will start on 1 November. But before this major event, there are many other highlights, including the six races of the Mediterranean Trophy, the six races of the Channel-Atlantic Trophy and, of course, the new Trin'40, the first race of the Solo Trophy. Not to mention the traditional RORC Caribbean 600 next month, which will open the 2026 Class40 season.
That makes a total of 16 races for the coming season!
Discussions are already under way to establish the 2027 programme, including a new project led by the Yacht Club Italiano for an offshore race exclusively for Class40 boats, starting and finishing in Genoa.
Technical developments and internal affairs
The Technical Committee took advantage of the General Assembly to clarify the changes to measurement and safety rules that had already been agreed upon and to discuss future projects, particularly with regard to the surface area of certain sails.
Finally, internal developments within the class include the renewal of the Board of Directors and the preparation of a new eco-designed website, which will be more fluid and adapted to mobile devices, and is scheduled to go live in May 2026.
Following the meeting, the traditional Champions' Evening honoured the key players of the season. The evening featured live interviews with skippers currently at sea, including Djemila Tassin and Benoît Hantzperg on the Globe40, Sam Manuard and Antoine Magré from the RORC Transatlantic Race, and Guillaume Pirouelle and Pierre Leboucher from Sodebo Ultim 3, currently attempting to break the Jules Verne Trophy record.
The winners and their performances:
- Benoît Sineau (Ekinox): First rookie & first amateur
- Pierre Leboucher (Legallais): First crew member
- Alexandre Bellangé & Louis Mayaud (Belco CEC): Skippers of the first pointed BELCO CEC
- Pamela Lee (#EMPOWHER): First woman of the championship
- Mikaël Mergui (Centrakor-Hirsch): Winner of the Mediterranean Trophy
- Guillaume L'Hostis (Alternative Sailing - Constructions du Belon): Third in the 2025 Class40 championship
- Fabien Delahaye (Legallais): Second in the Class40 championship
- Cédric Château & Guillaume Pirouelle (Seafrigo-Sogestran): Winners of the European Trophy and of the 2025 Class40 championship
Reactions during the champion's evening
Pamela Lee, first woman of the championship, shared her emotion: 'My goal for 2026 is, of course, to compete in my first Route du Rhum and be the first Irish woman to take part in this race. I have learned so much this year working alongside you.'
Guillaume L'Hostis, third in the championship, looks back on his season: "A great year without any podium finishes or victories, but with consistent performance that enabled us to secure third place in the championship."
Fabien Delahaye, second in the championship, emphasises: 'A great season, with lots of variety. We were consistent, even though I would have liked to finish better. I really enjoy sailing on this circuit. My goal for 2026 is to complete the Route du Rhum.'
Winners of the 2025 Class40 Championship, Cédric Château and Guillaume Pirouelle praised the evolution and richness of the Class:
'The Class40 now offers an exceptional line-up. There were 17 boats in 2017, and despite this growth, the Class continues to welcome amateurs and professionals alike. That's what makes it so strong.'
Guillaume Pirouelle also confirmed the future for his programme:
'I'll be back in 2026 aboard Sogestran-Seafrigo with the Route du Rhum at the end of the season as my goal. We'll have to work hard to keep up with the competition.
Cédric de Kervenoaël (President of Class40) pointed out the high standards and quality of the Class40 line-up:
'The level of this championship is extremely high. Our mission is to continue to develop it and promote Class40. You are its best representatives.'
NEWS OF THE MONTH
The Class40 was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sylvain Gagné, former president of Voile Internationale Québec and organizer of Québec-Saint-Malo. The Class40 extends its deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and the entire Québec sailing community.
It is with immense sadness that Class40 learned of the death of Rosalba Di Cuffa, an iconic figure and the heart of the Drheam Cup.
January 1: Start of stage 4 of the Globe 40, which connects Sydney to Valparaíso in Chile. (cartography)
January 3: The RORC's Seahorse Sailing Magazine has published an article by Merfyn Gwen about his influence on the Class40 and his key role in the future development of racing boats.
January 7: Pierre-Louis Attwell, skipper of Vogue Avec Un Crohn, took part in discussions with people suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases, following a screening of the film Une aventure de malade (An Adventure for the Sick).
January 7: Sophie Faguet, a member of Class40, is currently participating in the final of the World Match Racing Tour in Shenzhen, China.
January 9: The Class40 Belgium Ocean Racing - Curium, with Benoît Hantzperg and Djemila Tassin, covered 459.78 miles in 24 hours, averaging 19.16 knots, thus beating its own record and setting a new historic performance.
January 13: Alexis Loison is the guest on the Sailorz podcast. He discusses his 2026 season and the construction of his Class40. (podcast)
January 15: Belgium Ocean Racing-Curium and Crédit Mutuel have crossed the mythical Point Nemo, the point in the ocean furthest from any land on the planet.
January 15: The Round Ireland Yacht Race 2026 is now open for entries; instructions and the notice of race are available online on the race website. (link)
January 16: The Class40 Free-Dom (#139) has resumed its voyage, leaving Sydney for Valparaíso for the 4th stage of the Globe40, after being repaired following damage caused by lightning at the start, and after a forced return to Sydney due to a rudder problem.
January 17: The Class40 Barco-Brasil is the first pointu to cross point Nemo during the 4th stage of the Globe40.
January 17: The Class40 celebrated its champions at the traditional Champions Evening, an opportunity to present awards and to honour the season's performances.
January 19: Thomas Lurton is aiming for the Route du Rhum and announces that he is arriving with a new boat and new ambitions.
January 20: The notice of race for the SPI OUEST - FRANCE BPGO is now online. Registration opens on January 22nd. (link)
January 20: Victory for two of our members Antoine Magré and Pablo Santurde Del Arco on the RORC Transatlantic Race aboard PALANAD 4 in the IRC Overall category.
January 21: Two Class40s participated in the SORC Lauderdale-Key West Race, with a 5th place for Privateer (#102) and a 7th place for Velocity (#145).
January 23: Leg 4 of the GLOBE40 will go down in history: 6,228 miles from Sydney and an absolutely incredible finish in Valparaiso. The two Class40s, Belgium Ocean Racing-Curium and Crédit Mutuel, arrived in Chile in a dead heat. Incredible.
January 25: Congratulations to our two Class40 members for their participation in the Jules Verne Trophy record aboard Sodebo Ultim 3. A round-the-world trip completed in 40 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes and 50 seconds, an exceptional performance.