SCHEDULE
The 2027-2028 Class40 race schedule offers significant potential
for training, competition, and partner engagement as McVickers Ocean Racing builds
toward the start of the Globe40 in October 2028.
2027 :: Partnerships : Class40 Sailboat Procurement : Outfitting : Training
2028 :: Training : Class40 Racing : Globe40 Circumnavigation Race
2029 :: Globe40 Circumnavigation Race : Class40 Racing
Rolex Fastnet Race
July 2027 :: Distance: 695 nm :: Route: Cowes, Isle of Wight → round the Fastnet Rock, Ireland → Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France :: The world’s largest offshore race, run by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The 52nd edition starts from Cowes on 24 July 2027, crosses the English Channel and Celtic Sea to round the Fastnet Rock off southern Ireland, then finishes in Cherbourg. More than 400 boats are expected.
40 Malouine La Trinquette
September 2027 :: Distance: ~150 nm :: Route: Saint-Malo → offshore course via Chausey, the Minquiers, Grand Léjon and Grand Jardin → Saint-Malo, plus coastal racing :: A 24-hour double-handed offshore race followed by two days of crewed coastal racing in the Bay of Saint-Malo, run by the Société Nautique de la Baie de Saint-Malo. Part of the Class40 Channel-Atlantic Trophy.
Rolex Middle Sea Race
October 2027 :: Distance: 606 nm :: Route: Valletta, Malta → anticlockwise round Sicily via the Strait of Messina, Stromboli, Favignana, Pantelleria and Lampedusa → Valletta :: The Royal Malta Yacht Club's 48th edition of this Mediterranean classic. It closes the Class40 Mediterranean Trophy and counts toward the RORC Season's Points Championship.
Transat Café L'OR
October 2027 :: Distance: 4,000+ nm :: Route: Le Havre, France → across the North Atlantic → Fort-de-France, Martinique :: The former Transat Jacques Vabre and the highlight of the 2027 Class40 Championship. Starts 31 October 2027, double-handed, with IMOCA, Ocean Fifty and Ultim classes also racing. Finish village in Martinique 12–21 November.
RORC Caribbean 600
February 2028 :: Distance: 600 nm :: Route: Antigua → clockwise loop of 11 Leeward Islands → Antigua :: The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Caribbean classic, which fields a Class40 group every year. 2028 dates not yet announced.
CIC Med Channel Race
Spring 2028 :: Distance: 1,000 nm :: Route: Marseille → Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics → Marseille :: The double-handed Mediterranean sister race of the Normandy Channel Race, organised by Sirius Événements. An annual Class40 fixture; 2028 dates not yet announced.
Spi Ouest-France Banque Populaire Grand Ouest
April 2028 :: Distance: ~150 nm :: Route: La Trinité-sur-Mer → Bay of Quiberon courses → La Trinité-sur-Mer :: France's largest Easter regatta and the Atlantic season opener for the Class40 fleet, organised by the Société Nautique de La Trinité. 2028 dates not yet announced.
Paprec 600 Saint-Tropez
April 2028 :: Distance: 600 nm :: Route: Saint-Tropez → Strait of Bonifacio and the Tuscan islands (Tyrrhenian Sea loop) → Saint-Tropez :: An annual Mediterranean 600-miler with a Class40 division, run by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. 2028 dates not yet announced.
The Transat CIC
Spring 2028 :: Distance: ~3,500 nm :: Route: Lorient, France → solo across the North Atlantic, east to west → finish TBA (New York in 2024) :: The classic solo transatlantic. Lorient is confirmed as the 2028 start and CIC is title partner through 2032. Class40s raced in 2024; a Class40 entry for 2028 is expected but not yet confirmed.
Round Ireland Yacht Race
June 2028 :: Distance: ~704 nm :: Route: Wicklow → circumnavigation of Ireland → Wicklow :: A biennial race run by Wicklow Sailing Club, with a dedicated Class40 division in 2024 and 2026. 2028 dates not yet announced.
Drheam Cup
July 2028 :: Distance: ~1,000 nm :: Route: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin → Channel and Atlantic offshore course (varies by edition) :: A biennial even-year offshore race. 29 Class40s started the 2026 edition, one of the largest Class40 fleets of the year. 2028 dates not yet announced.
Transat Québec Saint-Malo
July 2028 :: Distance: 2,950 nm :: Route: Québec City → ~400 nm down the St. Lawrence River → across the North Atlantic → Saint-Malo, France :: Held every four years by Voile Internationale Québec and on the official 2028 Class40 calendar for 23 July 2028 (dates to be confirmed by the organiser).
Globe40
October 2028 :: Distance: 30,000+ miles :: Route: Prologue on France's Atlantic coast, Grand Départ from Spain → South Africa → Australia → Chile → around Cape Horn to southern Brazil/Uruguay → finish in Lorient, France (5 stages; stopovers provisional) :: The only round-the-world race sailed exclusively in Class40s, double-handed. Starts early October 2028 in Spain and finishes April 2029 in Lorient. Course provisional as of 1 September 2026.