14 IMOCA boats, 500 nautical miles and weather conditions ranging from strong winds to calm. The Défi Azimut off Lorient is set to be a major test of form ahead of the Route du Rhum. Whilst established favourites such as Sam Goodchild and Jérémie Beyou are aiming for victory, for several skippers this will be their first solo race in the premier class of offshore sailing. Who will find the right route in the Bay of Biscay – and which of the new boats will be able to realise its full potential?
Follow the race on the live tracker
The race starts today in Lorient
The IMOCA yachts We set sail from La Base in Lorient at 1.30 pm. From 3.00 pm, the Live broadcastThe race will get underway at 3.30 pm. The solo skippers can expect a brisk start with a north-westerly wind and relatively calm seas, although the conditions are set to build up steadily over the course of the 48 hours. This means the foiling boats are likely to pick up speed shortly after the start, before facing more changeable conditions and challenging tactical decisions out on the Atlantic.
Three solo debuts in the IMOCA class
Pierre-Louis Attwell, Davy Beaudart and Masa Suzuki are competing in their first IMOCA solo race in Lorient. For Davy Beaudart, this race also marks an important step on the road to the Route du Rhum.
Sébastien Simon also deserves special attention. He is competing for the first time with the new “Groupe Dubreuil-Air Caraïbes”. The boat, designed by Guillaume Verdier, is a sister boat to the “DMG MORI Global One”. Simon is also contesting his first race since finishing third in the Vendée Globe 2024/25.
Jérémie Beyou is also returning to the competition with his “Charal”. The boat has undergone extensive modifications to the hull, particularly in the bow area. The race will show how the modifications perform under racing conditions.
Speed record in the speed runs
The speed runs on Wednesday 16 September gave a taste of what was to come in the high-speed race. With winds of 14–18 knots, Sam Goodchild won the sprint on the “MACIF Santé Prévoyance” in 1 minute 52 seconds, setting a new speed record for the speed runs. Over the one-nautical-mile course, Goodchild achieved an average speed of 32.1 knots.
Jérémie Beyou finished second, 1 minute 55 seconds behind, with Corentin Horeau following 2 minutes 1 second behind. Sébastien Simon and Ambrogio Beccaria both finished 2 minutes 2 seconds behind. The main race is therefore set to be a thrilling affair.
The speed runs were not conducted as a mass start. The boats completed several individual runs against the clock, with only the fastest time in each run being counted. In total, the 17 IMOCAs taking part in the runs completed 80 runs.
The favourites
Following his victory in the speed runs and as the winner of the Défi Azimut 2025, Sam Goodchild heads into the race in the spotlight and with the aim of defending his title. His “MACIF Santé Prévoyance” has already, at the season opener, the 1000 Race, demonstrated their capabilities.
With four victories to his name, Jérémie Beyou is one of the Défi Azimut’s most successful sailors. However, following the refit of his “Charal”, it remains to be seen whether the boat can live up to expectations.
Ambrogio Beccaria won the Vendée Arctique–Les Sables d’Olonne in June. Corentin Horeau and Élodie Bonafous are also among the wider circle of favourites. Sébastien Simon could spring a surprise as a dark horse. His new IMOCA has great potential, but has barely clocked up any racing mileage yet.
Seventeen skippers took part in the speed run with their boats. Fourteen IMOCA boats are entered for the 48-hour Azimut race. Fabrice Amedeo, Kojiro Shiraishi and Paul Meilhat will not be taking part in the solo race.
An overview of the skippers:
| Skipper | Boat |
| Pierre-Louis Attwell | Resilient |
| Corentin Horeau | MACSF |
| Masa Suzuki | Milai-Furuno |
| Armel Tripon | Les P’tits Doudous |
| Sam Goodchild | MACIF Health and Personal Protection |
| Sébastien Simon | Groupe Dubreuil-Air Caraïbes |
| Violette Dorange | Initiatives-Cœur |
| Manuel Cousin | A helping hand |
| Sébastien Marsset | Foussier |
| Jérémie Beyou | Charal |
| Nicolas d’Estais | Café Joyeux |
| Davy Beaudart | Bureau Vallée |
| Élodie Bonafous | Petits Princes-Quéguiner Association |
| Ambrogio Beccaria | Allagrande MAPEI |
Route through the Bay of Biscay
The Défi Azimut sets sail from Lorient into the Atlantic and returns to the port of departure via the Bay of Biscay. The route covers more than 500 nautical miles. Several virtual waypoints are set by the race organisers depending on the weather and wind conditions.
The race is sailed single-handed. In addition, there is an on-board reporter on the IMOCAS. He documents the race with photos and videos, but is not part of the sailing crew. He is therefore not permitted to interfere with the race.
Follow the race
The launch broadcast will begin on Thursday at 3.00 pm on YouTube. It will also be shown on France TV Sport. The programme will feature expert commentary, interviews and live links to the IMOCA yachts.
Once it has started, the the official website of the Défi Azimut an interactive map showing positions and standings. The onboard reporters’ contributions are integrated into the digital race tracker.
Estimated time of arrival
An average speed of around 12 to 13 knots is expected over the course of the regatta, although the foiling boats will reach more than double that in fast sections. The boats are expected back in Lorient on Saturday 19 September. The prize-giving ceremony and celebrations will follow in the evening.
On Sunday 20 September, the Tour de Groix – the third leg of the Défi Azimut – is on the programme. The start is scheduled for 12.30 pm. The IMOCA yachts will compete with full crews. The record, set in 2015, stands at 1 hour, 8 minutes and 10 seconds. It was set by Vincent Riou on the “PRB”.
Which of the 14 competitors do you think has the best chance of winning the 48H Azimut?
Janek Struchholz
Volontär