National Figaro 3 en équipage

Four days, a coefficient 5, and the Lorient roadstead as arena: the National Figaro 3 Crewed returns October 8–11, 2026, for its sixth edition. A deep dive into an event that's become unmissable in the French offshore racing landscape.

The race that closes the Figaro season

While most of the Classe Figaro Beneteau calendar is sailed solo or two-handed, the Crewed National offers a radically different dynamic. Here, you sail with four, five, or six aboard the foiling monotype, and the choreography of maneuvers changes everything.

Positioned at season's end at Lorient La Base, the event plays a dual role. Sporting first: with a coefficient 5 in the French Elite Offshore Racing Championship (CFECL) — as much as the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec — a misstep here can cost the title. Educational second: it's the ideal playground for young talents discovering the Figaro 3 under the guidance of seasoned skippers.

For partners, it's also one of the rare chances to experience racing from the inside, in close proximity to the Lorient coastline.

Sustained growth

The crewed format re-emerged in 2021, after years of absence. The Class seized the opportunity of an invitation to Spi Ouest-France to relaunch the dynamic. Immediate success: 19 crews at the start.

Since the permanent installation in Lorient in 2022, organized in partnership with the Centre Nautique de Lorient (CNL), the fleet has continued to grow:

• 2021 — 19 crews (format relaunch)
• 2022 — 18 crews (victory for Fred Duthil)
• 2023 — 20 crews
• 2024 — 24 crews (record)
• 2025 — 23 crews (very strong fleet: Cammas, Bidégorry…)
• 2026 — Entry list to come

The trend is clear: the format meets a real need to sail at high level in a spirit of camaraderie. The 25-boat barrier could be broken this year, which will raise questions about harbor logistics at the Lorient base.

Built and coastal courses: versatility as the ultimate test

The 2026 edition introduces an explicit mix of formats that will test crews' adaptability:

• Built courses (bananas) — Short, intense races. Knife-edge starts, close-quarters tactics, pure speed. Every meter counts.
• Coastal courses — Longer navigation, like a Tour de l'île de Groix, where geographic strategy and tidal current reading make the difference.

This alternation forces teams to shift gears several times in a day. Recruiting a pure regatta tactician is no longer enough; you also need a navigator capable of reading the complex site effects of the Lorient roadstead and the Groix channels. Versatility becomes the primary selection criterion for crew members.

Schedule: four days without downtime

The event is concentrated in a compact, dense format:

Four days, zero respite. In October, conditions on the Lorient roadstead are often muscular — unstable wind, rough seas, powerful currents. Physical preparation will be as decisive as tactical reading.

Measurement control, guarantor of the strict one-design nature of the Figaro 3, goes through a system of cross-checks between skippers, with the draw broadcast on the race's official WhatsApp channel.

The forces at play

The final 2026 entry list hasn't been published yet, but analysis of recent fleets reveals three well-defined blocks.

The circuit bosses

Professional skippers playing for CFECL ranking or coming to sharpen their level. Fred Duthil (2022 winner), Pascal Bidégorry, Franck Cammas (on Skipper Macif), or Alexis Loison have marked previous editions. Their presence raises the bar and guarantees sporting intensity.

Academies and young talents

The Figaro 3 remains the ultimate training platform for French offshore racing. Several structures field young, sharp crews:

• DMG MORI Academy — a breeding ground aiming for performance from the first seasons
• Région Bretagne - CMB — Espoir and Océane programs with profiles like Victor Le Pape or Gaston Morvan
• Centre Excellence Voile (CER) — Swiss crews often formidable on technical courses

The appeal of the crewed format is precisely this cohabitation: "masters" face their "students" on equal terms, on a one-design that forgives nothing.

Sponsored projects

Boats like Hellowork or Auray Quiberon by Orlabay (skipper Yvon Larnicol) prove that corporate projects can compete with the pros. Race wins in 2025 confirmed it.

Find the complete calendar and entry list on spencer.club.

What's at stake in this sixth edition

Crewed foiling: spectacle and performance

Solo, foil use often remains conservative to preserve equipment. Crewed, with hands available to trim constantly, the Figaro 3s are pushed to 100% of their potential. Maintaining stable flight on a built course, in close contact, a few boat lengths from a competitor — that's the technical challenge that makes this event spectacular.

The proving ground for future solo sailors

The Class explicitly positions this event as an entry point. It's here that sailors from training centers or development programs validate their year's work before contemplating a first Solitaire. For Team Vendée Formation or regional structures, the Crewed National is a rite of passage.

An economic lever for Lorient La Base

More than 20 crews, meaning 100 to 120 sailors plus shore teams: in October, the event extends the season for the Lorient "Sailing Valley." An asset for the local economy and for partners who can activate their presence in an intimate setting.

An edition reaching maturity

Six years after its relaunch, the National Figaro 3 Crewed has found its rhythm. Proven format, maximum coefficient, constantly growing fleet: the event has established itself as the technical and human culmination of the Figaro season. Rendez-vous October 8–11 at Lorient La Base.

Compare the entered boats and follow race news on spencer.club.