Skipper Achille Nebout, who will compete in his first Route du Rhum in 2026, highlights the economic fragility of Class40 racing.
The 2026 Route du Rhum, with the start set for Saint-Malo on 1 November, is already shaping up as a major event for the Class40 fleet. Among the entrants is Achille Nebout, skipper of the boat Amarris, who will take part in this legendary transatlantic race for the first time. Yet beyond sporting preparation, it is the economic question that is drawing his attention.
Asked about the ability of skippers to meet the costs of competition, the sailor believes that everyone in the sport must recognise the importance of paying sailors fairly. Sponsors, class organisations and race organisers, he argues, should become aware of this reality so that the discipline remains accessible and sustainable.
His assessment is blunt: in his sport, prize money does not truly exist in the sense that it could cover the full range of expenses incurred. To illustrate the situation, he claims that in the Class40, only the winner would be able to recoup the entry and participation costs of the race.
This statement highlights a recurring difficulty in offshore yachting: funding a racing programme relies largely on securing sponsors, private partners and institutional backing, in a context where direct financial returns remain limited for most competitors. Budgets devoted to construction, maintenance, logistics and physical and technical preparation can quickly reach considerable sums.
The debate raised by Achille Nebout therefore goes well beyond his own case. It questions the place granted to skippers within the economy of offshore racing, and how the discipline can attract new talent in the future without participation becoming reserved for a handful of profiles with substantial financial means.
Asked about the ability of skippers to meet the costs of competition, the sailor believes that everyone in the sport must recognise the importance of paying sailors fairly. Sponsors, class organisations and race organisers, he argues, should become aware of this reality so that the discipline remains accessible and sustainable.
His assessment is blunt: in his sport, prize money does not truly exist in the sense that it could cover the full range of expenses incurred. To illustrate the situation, he claims that in the Class40, only the winner would be able to recoup the entry and participation costs of the race.
This statement highlights a recurring difficulty in offshore yachting: funding a racing programme relies largely on securing sponsors, private partners and institutional backing, in a context where direct financial returns remain limited for most competitors. Budgets devoted to construction, maintenance, logistics and physical and technical preparation can quickly reach considerable sums.
The debate raised by Achille Nebout therefore goes well beyond his own case. It questions the place granted to skippers within the economy of offshore racing, and how the discipline can attract new talent in the future without participation becoming reserved for a handful of profiles with substantial financial means.
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Source: Ouest-France