Banque Populaire Sailing Team: casting off for the 2023 season!

The 2023 season promises to be particularly intense for both the Maxi Banque Populaire XI and the Figaro Banque Populaire.

A long winter refit made it possible to optimize the aerodynamics of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI. Armel Le Cléac’h began his preparations in May and has already sailed more than 5,000 nautical miles, the equivalent of two transatlantic races. 

What does the skipper’s agenda look like? The Rolex Fastnet Race in July, the 24H Ultim in September, the Transat Jacques Vabre with Sébastien Josse, and the first solo round-the-world race in an Ultim to kick off 2024. 

Banque Populaire is also returning this season to the Figaro circuit with Corentin Horeau, who joins the Sailing Team as a skipper with great sporting ambitions but also as a crew member on the Maxi Banque Populaire XI with a view to taking part in the forthcoming crewed events. 

Here is the detailed program of upcoming races: 

• July 22: Rolex Fastnet Race (Maxi Banque Populaire XI, crewed) 
• July 23: Solo Guy Cotten (Figaro Banque Populaire, single-handed) 
• August 27: the Solitaire du Figaro (Figaro Banque Populaire, single-handed) 
• September 28: 24H Ultim (Maxi Banque Populaire XI, double-handed) 
• October 5: National Figaro (Figaro Banque Populaire, crewed) 
• October 29: Transat Jacques Vabre-Normandie Le Havre (Maxi Banque Populaire XI, double-handed)  
• January 7, 2024: Arkea Ultim Challenge (Maxi Banque Populaire XI, single-handed).