After giving the start of the last race in July 2020, the Minister of the Sea, Annick Girardin, announced the opening of entries for the fourth edition of the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE, presented on the main stage of the Paris Salon Nautic. It looks like the 2022 (13-23 July) edition will once again be a success with over 100 boats expected, crewed, double-handed and solo-sailors, on the three courses between Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and La Trinité-sur-Mer.
40 at the start in 2016, 76 in 2018 and 95 in 2020, likely over 100 on 17 July in the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin outer harbour. Since the first edition five and a half year ago, the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE has grown steadily, becoming a highlight of the summer offshore racing scene, like the Rolex Fastnet Race, with which it will now share a port of arrival in odd years, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. This was highlighted by the President of the French Sailing Federation, Jean-Luc Denéchau, during his speech on the main stage of the Nautic: “In only a few years, you have managed bring the DRHEAM-CUP into the legend. It is now comparable to the Fastnet Race or Sydney-Hobart. This competition has found its place”.
Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier, Sam Davies, Yoann Richomme, Sam Goodchild, Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, Thomas Ruyant, Charlie Capelle and the heavyweights of the IRC circuit have all won this race, the DNA of which has remained unchanged since the first edition in 2016: Competition, sharing, celebration.
The fourth edition, taking place between the 13 and 23 July, will not be an exception to this rule, with once again a great fleet of boats from 6.50 to 30 metres, helmed by professionals and amateurs, women and men, old salts and youngsters, crewed, double-handed and solo-sailors. The Notice of race has just been published, opening entries to an event that will be a qualifier for the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe as it was two years ago. The latter will start just over four months later, on 6 November 2022.
Three 600, 1000 and 1500 mile-long courses will be organised, a mix of coastal and offshore sailing. They will take the fleet from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin to La Trinité-sur-Mer, passing through mythical locations such as the Isles of Scilly, the Fastnet, the Raz-de-Sein, across the Channel, the Irish Sea and for larger boats, the Bay of Biscay to Bilbao. “It is both a sprint and an endurance test, typically the type of race in which excellent amateurs can rival professionals”, explains the Race Manager, Hervé Gautier. This mix between offshore racing headliners and more occasional racers is truly the salt of the DRHEAM CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE.”
The race will start on Sunday 17 July and it will be preceded on 15 July by the DRHEAM-TROPHY, during which the Rêves de Large operation will be held. The latter, which has been held since the first edition, will enable children and teenagers from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin to immerse themselves for a day in the life of an offshore sailor: they will take part in this prologue on boats that will be in the DRHEAM CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE. It may even inspire future careers!
Inhabitants of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and the Cotentin conglomeration will also be welcomed to the celebration, as in 2018, with many events planned in the days running up to the start, including a firework display for the 14 July, on Bastille Day. “With the support of our partners, the cities of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and La Trinité-sur-Mer, the Normandy Region, the départements of Manche and Morbihan, the Cotentin conglomeration and the Auray Quiberon Terre-Atlantique council, that I wish to thank particularly, la DRHEAM CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE 2022 is looking very promising, rejoices the organiser, Jacques Civilise. We are excited to welcome the very diverse offshore racing community in July, and are certain that the celebration will be as great as during the three previous editions.”
In their own words:
Benoit Arrivé, mayor of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin: “From Cotentin to South Brittany, DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE is one of the most beautiful regattas that you could imagine, between two sea-going regions, two great French marinas: Cherbourg-en Cotentin and La Trinité-sur-Mer. One hundred boats were at the start in the last edition in 2020 and we are expecting the same number or more in 2022. Primarily, the spirit of the event has attracted skippers: a race between big names in international sailing and dozens of amateur crews in a festive and popular atmosphere. It is of course a great moment of sharing on the quayside of a town that will come alive with preparations until the start, between the outer harbour and the coast of La Hague. We all have great memories of the 2020 edition.We are impatiently awaiting 2022 and the start of the summer season.”
Yves Normand, Mayor of La Trinité-sur-Mer:“La Trinité-sur-Mer has welcomed regattas between amateurs and renowned professionals for decades. It isn’t surprising that the fourth edition of la DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE is part of this dynamic and has chosen La Trinité-sur-Mer as arrival port. The course between Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and La Trinité-sur-Mer brings together two regions that hold close the values of the sea, where competition and adventure mix and diversity enables amateurs to race with professionals. These diverse, high-level competitors will confront each other with tactical moves and endurance, and some will discover unusual and varied sailing conditions. The town, Compagnie des Ports and beyond, the entire Auray Quiberon Terre Atlantique area are proud and impatient to welcome the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE, which will once again reinforce their image of a seafaring land.”
Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, member of the Ocean Fifty class: “Since the first edition in 2016, the Ocean Fifty class, then known as Multi50, has worked with the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE. We have always been delighted to be there, particularly because the organisers have adapted to the different configurations that we needed, solo or crewed, while setting up great courses. In a Route du Rhum year, like in 2018, it is a precious race so qualify for some and to compete for others; it is the race we need to prepare. With a crew, it is always very pleasant to share with sailors from different backgrounds. With Solidaires en Peloton-Arsep, we are proud to have won both single-handed and crewed!”
Halvard Mabire, president of Class40: “La DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE is a race that starts at the ideal time in our 2022 season calendar, as it is held a few months before the Route du Rhum and the courses are adapted to each class. It will therefore be great preparation for all Class40 sailors who we are certain will come in numbers. Of course, I also have a special attachment for a race that starts in Cherbourg and I may compete in the Rhum Class, as my aim is to take part in the Route du Rhum.”
Jean-Bernard Le Boucher, President of the Figaro3 Bénéteau Class and President of the ULTIMS 32 / 23 Class: “LA DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE is a fantastic race that is now part of the offshore racing landscape for sailors, with many classes represented. The Figaro Class has written this race into its programme for the second time. The competition is open to double-handed crews which will encourage the participation of young sailors. LA DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE has been included in the youth “Figaro Académie” programme, that promotes offshore racing and encourages young people to race with the most experimented sailors. Once they have gained experienced, they will be able to race solo in the greatest races. LA DRHEAM CUP is in our programme for this reason, and the Class is delighted with it. The partnership will as always be beneficial for all.
Concerning the ULTIMS, the race is open to them, we have made sure that there are no ULTIMS events that clash with participation in LA DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE. Several boats have already announced their intention to participate. We hope that there will be 3 to 4 ULTIMS at the start of the race this summer.
See you from 13 to 23 July 2022!
THE MAIN DATES FOR LA DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE 2022
Thursday 1 July 2021: Publication of the notice of race on the official website
Saturday 4 December 2021: Opening of entries and launch of La DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE 2022
Saturday 14 May 2022: Entries close
Tuesday 12 July 2022: Last day of arrival for boats in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
Wednesday 13 July 2022: Boat checks; Village opening
Thursday 14 July 2022: Fireworks
Friday 15 July 2022: DRHEAM-TROPHY (prologue)
Sunday 17 July 2022: Start of LA DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE in front of the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
Wednesday 20 July 2022: Estimated arrival of the first boats
Saturday 23 July 2022: Prizegiving in La Trinité-sur-Mer