Ocean Fifty Series – Act 4

Ajaccio, last collective dance before the Atlantic

Eleven 50-foot trimarans blasting past 25 knots through the Bay of Ajaccio, tricky wind effects around Corsican relief, and five crew members per boat knowing this is their final rehearsal together before the big solo leap: Act 2 of the 2026 Ocean Fifty Series concentrates all the ingredients of a pivotal stage.

Scheduled around 15 June, this Corsican stopover is anything but a comfort regatta. After the season opener in Sainte-Maxime at the end of April, it serves as the genuine Mediterranean crash test for a fleet in full transition—three boats return from major reconstructions, fleet density hits a record high, and the Route du Rhum already hangs over every tactical decision.

A class that's hit its cruising speed

Heir to the Multi50, renamed in 2021, the Ocean Fifty class fields 15.24-metre trimarans regularly capable of exceeding 30 knots. Strict class rules limit costs and guarantee sporting fairness—a balance that has convinced sponsors and skippers to commit for the long haul.

A voluntary cap on numbers preserves fleet value while attracting new entrants. Result: 11 boats expected on the starting line in 2026, versus 9 the previous season. The class has never been so deep.

The 2026 calendar: five acts, mounting intensity

The season follows a logical progression, from crewed to solo sailing, with the transatlantic crossing to Guadeloupe as its climax.

After Ajaccio, each skipper will take sole responsibility for managing these powerful machines. Act 2 is therefore the last chance to fine-tune manoeuvres with five aboard, test new sail inventories, and validate aerodynamic modifications emerging from winter yards.

Find the complete calendar on spencer.club.

The Bay of Ajaccio, a demanding playground

The choice of Corsica is no accident. The programme blends inshore racing in the bay—'banana' courses, contact starts—with a major offshore course exploiting the island's rugged geography.

In the afternoon, thermal breezes animate the race area. But if the Mistral shows up, conditions flip: sudden gusts, wind shadows behind the relief, brutal accelerations off the headlands. Tacticians will have their work cut out.

With 11 multihulls on a relatively compact course area, traffic management becomes a challenge in its own right. A 50-foot trimaran charging at 25 knots doesn't forgive hesitation at the start. Every crossing will be a high-tension moment.

The 2026 fleet: favourites, returnees and rookies

The summit duel

Baptiste Hulin and his Viabilis Océans crew arrive wearing the defending champion's bib with 71 points from 2025. Facing them, Thibaut Vauchel-Camus on Solidaires en Peloton—just 7 points back last season—embodies the permanent threat. The man knows these multihulls inside out.

But the game is wide open. Luke Berry is gaining momentum race by race. Erwan Le Roux on Koesio has the means to return to the top of the standings if reliability holds.

Returnees under pressure

For Lazare, Koesio and Inter Invest, this Act 2 serves as judgement day. All three teams emerge from major yard work—float reconstruction, deck and mast for Lazare after a capsize, "major structural files" for the other two. The question isn't just performance: it's whether these boats can withstand a week of intensive racing without breaking.

The new faces

The arrival of talent from the Figaro and Mini circuits broadens the spectrum. Basile Bourgnon on Edenred and Pierre Quiroga will use this crewed Act to rack up time on the helm before switching to solo. Léonard Legrand on the Sodebo Fifty is also expected, though the skipper splits his time with the Jules Verne campaign on Sodebo's Ultim.

The UpWind by MerConcept project, skippered by Anne-Claire Le Berre, reinforces the image of a class that's modernising and opening up.

The technical keys to Act 2

Light-air configuration

When the thermal breeze blows between 8 and 10 knots, the Ocean Fiftys' lightness is an asset—but demands extreme concentration to maintain foiling or planing. The slightest wind hole costs dearly in the standings.

Heavy-air configuration

If the Mistral rises, risk management takes over. These trimarans can capsize. For teams fresh from the yard, the temptation to "ease off" will be strong—but Acts are also won in the wind.

Five-person coordination then becomes vital. Every manoeuvre must be surgical to avoid immediate penalty: a float digging in, a deck buckling, and the season can tip.

What to watch

• Reliability of rebuilt boats—mechanical retirement in short format costs irretrievable points
• The starts—11 fast multihulls on tight courses, collision risk is real
• Crew cohesion—last opportunity to nail onboard communication before going solo
• Overall standings gaps after two Acts—who will seize psychological advantage before the Drheam Cup?

A pivot toward Atlantic solitude

Ajaccio closes the collective chapter of the 2026 season. From July, with the Drheam Cup sailed solo, skippers will be alone aboard these 15-metre machines capable of hitting 30 knots. What they've learned, validated or broken in Corsica will determine their confidence level for what follows—notably the Route du Rhum start in October.

For the favourites, it's time to confirm. For the returnees, time to reassure. For the rookies, time to learn fast.

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