Trophée Laura Vergne – Équipage

A fitness test before the SPI — and much more

Twenty Figaro Beneteau 3s lining up in Quiberon Bay, a format blending tactical inshore racing and offshore navigation, late-March weather that will show no mercy: the Trophée Laura Vergne – Équipage 2026 stands as the unmissable pre-season fixture of the Figaro circuit. From 27 March to 6 April, La Trinité-sur-Mer will host a demanding competition — the final dress rehearsal before the 45th SPI Ouest-France.

Laura Vergne's legacy

The trophy bears the name of a towering figure in French sailing. A former president of the Classe Figaro Bénéteau, Laura Vergne structured and professionalized the circuit for many years, guiding the transition from the Figaro 2 to the foiling Figaro 3.

Organized by the Société Nautique de La Trinité-sur-Mer (SNT), the event is now in its fourth edition. What began as supplementary sea time for SPI competitors has gained its own autonomy, prestige, and distinct identity. The trophy now welcomes Figaro 3s in solo, double-handed, and crewed configurations — true to the inclusive spirit of the woman whose name it carries.

What awaits crews in 2026

The expected fleet is significantly larger: around twenty Figaro 3s compared to approximately fifteen last year. More boats on the line means greater density, tighter starts, and more intense racing.

An unforgiving hybrid format

The program combines two inshore races and one major offshore race — the event's centerpiece.

• Inshore courses: Raced in Quiberon Bay, between buoys and local effects. Perfect maneuvers required, tactical reading of every shift.
• Major offshore race:
  • 24 hours for crewed entries
  • 48 hours for double-handed and solo entries
  • Typical course toward Les Glénan and Île d'Yeu, approximately 230 nautical miles

Shifting from the intensity of close-quarters racing to managing sleep and offshore navigation within hours: that's the entire challenge of this format. Teams must excel in both registers — no room for specialization.

Tight schedule, zero downtime

• Saturday 28 March: measurement and safety checks, compulsory attendance
• Sunday 29 March: one to two inshore races, staggered starts between 10:00 and 10:20
• Monday 30 March: offshore race start
• Tuesday 31 March: crewed entries finish
• Wednesday 1 April: double-handed/solo finishes; inshore racing resumes for crewed entries

Crews go straight back into racing the day after finishing the offshore leg. Recovery will be a performance factor in its own right.

Profiles drawing attention

The final entry list is still being finalized, but several names already stand out.

• Ulysse David (double-handed) — Engineer at Mer Concept, Charlie Dalin's IMOCA team, and former Minitiste. He brings sharp performance analysis expertise and plans to use the race as a data laboratory.
• La Réunion Team (crewed) — Second in the previous edition, this emerging squad embodies the vitality of French overseas sailing.
• FAUN-Environnement Fleet (double-handed) — A proven Figaro 3 in the group's colors, entered for boat familiarization and performance analysis.

The requirement for winners to attend the SPI opening ceremony ensures the leading names will be showcased before the entire French sailing ecosystem.

The real stakes of this edition

Final rehearsal before the SPI

With the competition ending just days before the SPI Ouest-France (17-21 April) kicks off, this is the last opportunity to validate settings, test crew cohesion, and refine routines in real conditions. Those who shine here will arrive at La Trinité with a tangible psychological and technical advantage.

A technical laboratory

For profiles like Ulysse David, the event is a full-scale test bench: speed polars, boat behavior under autopilot or manual helming, foil optimization. The data collected over 230 miles offshore is worth its weight in gold before the season's major events.

A showcase for sponsors

The event benefits from the media reach of the Ouest-France group and its partners — Banque Populaire Grand Ouest, Saint James, Honda Marine, Garmin. A valuable pre-season visibility platform, amplified by the direct transition into the SPI.

Weather: ruthless arbiter

A late winter low-pressure system is expected around 25 March, just before hostilities begin. Strong winds, rain, leaden skies: the 230-mile offshore race could turn into a survival test for bodies and equipment alike.

The race committee, led by Gilles Bricout, will need to closely monitor weather windows and prepare contingency courses. The rapid succession of Tuesday's offshore finish and Wednesday morning's inshore racing leaves no margin for recovery.

Organization and logistics

The SNT is mobilizing its volunteers to manage a complex event that immediately precedes the massive influx of SPI participants. The port of La Trinité-sur-Mer, at Môle Éric Tabarly, serves as headquarters: competitor welcome, registration, weather briefings. The final prize-giving will take place at the SPI village, cementing the organic link between the two events.

Find the complete Figaro season calendar on spencer.club.

Key takeaways

Growing fleet, demanding format, uncertain weather, strong field: the Trophée Laura Vergne – Équipage 2026 confirms its status as a major pre-season fixture. See you on the docks at La Trinité from 27 March.