The New Offshore Race, in Pairs, 100% Mediterranean

With the MEDMAX Occitanie | Saïdia Resorts, the navigator Kito de Pavant and CEO of VOGO sport Christophe Carniel have realized their dream of creating an offshore race in the Mediterranean that connects the continents bordering the Great Blue. The race is scheduled to begin on September 29 from Port-Camargue to Morocco and end at the Marina of Saïdia. Thirty racers signed up for this innovative event three months ahead of schedule, indicating that sailors are already excited about it.

July, 9th in Casablanca, Kito de Pavant, his partners, and his staff gave the Moroccan media a tour of the Med Max. In the company of captains Mikaël Mergui (Class 40) and Christopher Pratt (Ocean Fifty), they discussed this discipline with the guests, bringing attention to the fact that it is still relatively new in Morocco. At the Saïdia village, there will be a big, free celebration to mark the crews’ arrival.

The Med Max Race: A Sprint in Pairs Between Two Shores

This unprecedented Mediterranean race stands out for its lineup, course, and destination. The Med Max Occitanie – Saïdia Resorts will challenge thirty duos, competing in monohulls (Class40) and multihulls (Ocean Fifty). Starting from Port-Camargue, the course includes several obligatory checkpoints and obstacles. After leaving the buoy in front of the Théâtre de la Mer in Sète, the teams will navigate through the Bouches de Bonifacio, between Corsica and Sardinia. The course then involves rounding Sardinia, with the Ocean Fifty teams descending to Stromboli Island, before heading west towards the Balearic Islands, between Ibiza and Formentera, and finally aiming for Morocco via the Zaffarine Islands, leading to the Saïdia Marina.

Class40: Beware of the Italian Armada!

Five Italian teams are participating in the first edition of the Med Max, promising fierce competition between the “Italian armada” and the French fleet. Competing against Mikael Mergui (Centrakor), Achille Nebout (Amarris), and Aurélien Ducroz (Crosscall), other notable participants include Ambrogio Beccaria (Alla Grande – Pirelli), Alberto Riva (Acrobatica), and Andrea Fornaro (Influence 2), all sailing the latest generation Class40 yachts.

Veterans like Mathieu Foulquier-Gazagnes (Sotraplant TRS), Matthieu Claveau (Prendre la Mer – Agir pour la Forêt), and François Verdier (Phare40), navigating older yet competitive boats, will also target their Italian rivals, including young talents like Matteo Sericano (Tyrolit) and Marco Guerra (Imagine Act). Additionally, noteworthy participants include amateur sailors like Benoît Garibal (Altair-Maiia), Laurent Camprubi (Glaces Romanes), and Goulven Marie with Nasser Arrais from Nador, on Qwanza Bexa. Special attention will be given to the inspiring projects of visually impaired sailor Joël Paris (Rêve à perte de vue) and rookie Nicolas Toury (Hydra).

Ocean Fifty: Intense Battle on Three Hulls

A thrilling contest is also anticipated among the 50-foot multihulls, competing in the Ocean Fifty Series, with the Med Max being the fourth event of the season. Leading the pack are Erwan Le Roux (Koesio) and Thibault Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton). Young talent Baptiste Hulin (Viabilis Ocean) and veteran Fabrice Cahierc (Realities) are also strong contenders. Ambitious skippers like Luke Berry (Le Rire Médecin) and local Marseille-based Christopher Pratt (Wind of Trust – Fondation pour l’enfance) are determined to dominate the race. Newcomers such as the all-female crew of “Upwind by Merconcept” (Anne-Claire Le Berre and Elodie Jane Mettraux), Laurent Bourguès and Clément Giraud (Mon Bonnet Rose), and Matthieu Perraut (Inter Invest) will also be ones to watch.

Insights from Kito de Pavant

Were you expecting such success for a first edition? Kito de Pavant: “We thought, ‘We’ll offer a great show, a beautiful race, so it will attract people.’ We aimed for thirty boats, knowing it was very optimistic, even ambitious. Today, we’re not far from that. It means we worked well, got the concept right, and presented compelling arguments to attract so many sailors.”

Are you satisfied with the level of competition? Kito de Pavant: “Yes, it’s high-level. In Ocean Fifty, there will be ten multihulls that make up the class. In Class40, there’s both quantity and quality, notably with these Italians dominating, but the French have strong responses too.”

What about the so-called ‘enlightened amateurs’? Kito de Pavant: “On the Med Max, we have a delightful mix of people with day jobs taking a sporty vacation alongside pros who spend the year optimizing their boats to make our races beautiful.”

And the aspect of travel and discovery? Kito de Pavant: “Racing to another country, another continent, is significant, especially today with what’s happening in France. This project is timely to reconnect with other peoples and communities living in the Mediterranean.”

For a glimpse of the excitement, watch the teaser here: YouTube Teaser.