After 49 hours and 56 minutes of intense sailing around Corsica, the Channel Sailing Racing Team crossed the finish line first in its class. A victory that goes far beyond numbers — the entire crew is rightly proud. What an experience!
🧭 Thursday: the start of a tactical chess match at sea
Thursday morning: final boat check. Only the essentials were loaded, with light wind forecasted, every kilo mattered. The crew was split into three groups with a rotation: 2h ON (active), 2h OFF (rest), 2h Standby (on deck, ready but resting).
At 11 AM, we left the harbor. A light breeze was blowing, and our plan was clear. But four minutes before the start, the wind vanished. At noon, the fleet was drifting. Our competitors got away faster — we started behind, but morale stayed high.
🌩️ Night 1: taking risks pays off
We chose to sail further offshore, hoping the thunderstorm would disrupt coastal breeze. It worked: after a lull, we found wind and overtook several boats. Back in the top 3.
But rounding the northern tip of the island, our wind died. Others offshore fared better. In one hour, we lost everything we’d gained.
💨 Day 2: speed and spirit
After rounding, we enjoyed a beautiful spinnaker run with 16–18 knots of wind, hitting 15 knots speed. But our gap to the leader grew to 10 miles. Spirits dipped, but we kept pushing.
🌙 Night 2: all or nothing
We gambled on thermal breeze near the coast. The first hours were tense: no wind, drifting near cliffs, while the fleet sailed away. Then the breeze arrived. Our navigator rallied the team, calling constant sail changes. Every wind shift was used, we clawed back to the front.
By 8 AM, no more OFF shifts. Everyone was active. We were leading and determined to stay there.
🧭 Final leg: focus and finesse
Just before the last upwind leg, we spotted big boats stalled in a windless patch. Thanks to our vigilance, we sailed through quickly and started the final 5-hour leg with a 2.5-mile lead.
We rotated helm and mainsail trimmer hourly, giving our navigator a well-earned rest. The mood soared as the finish line approached
🥇 Finish: euphoria and pride
After nearly 50 hours, we crossed the line first. A well-earned victory built on strategy, endurance, and passion.
Quick docking, a cold beer, and the joy of sharing an unforgettable adventure.
