GLOBE40 2025/2026 – PRESS RELEASE No. 35 – April 15, 2026

CREDIT MUTUEL WINNER IN LORIENT

Belgium Ocean Racing – Curium, Magnificent Runner-Up

By crossing the finish line of the 6th and final leg of the GLOBE40 in Lorient today at 08:40 local time (6:40 UTC), Ian Lipinski and Antoine Carpentier on CREDIT MUTUEL not only secured another (and 5th) leg victory but also an overall victory in this second edition of the GLOBE40.

Right to the end, the two skippers remained under pressure from the BELGIUM OCEAN RACING – CURIUM team, with Jonas Gerckens and Benoit Hantzperg on board. It was only 48 hours before the finish that a technical problem on the Belgian boat (the gennaker, the large headsail, failed) allowed the French team to take a breather, cautiously, during this final push.

Having set off from Recife on March 19th, it took the winning crew 16 days, 13 hours, and 40 minutes to reach Lorient at an average speed over the ground of 12.4 knots; a complex leg involving crossing the Doldrums, a long detour around the Azores High, and arriving in a low-pressure system that again allowed for record speeds in the final stretch. For the past four days, the two leaders have been flirting with and exceeding 20 knots, and one can only imagine the strain on both the crew and the equipment.

Crossing the finish line, the French skippers undoubtedly had in mind the extreme effort they—Amélie Grassi and Alan Roberts—had to expend in this global race to win. Ian Lipinski himself admitted that he hadn’t expected such a high level of competition and the level of athleticism and self-discipline required to achieve victory. The impressive number of legs wins (5 out of 7, including the prologue), despite a third-place finish in leg 2 (Cape Verde/Reunion Island) and a tie in leg 4 (Sydney-Valparaiso), doesn’t fully reflect the intensity of the race and the fierce rivalry, as tough at sea as it was friendly on land.

This almost constant duel with the Belgian team enlivened the entire event, as did the excellent competition among the classic Class40 crews, known as “pointus,” who are expected in Lorient this weekend. After a double victory in the Mini-Transat, a victory in the Transat Jacques Vabre, and a victory in the CIC Normandy Channel Race, this new performance highlights Ian Lipinski’s exceptional competitive qualities. Beyond technical talent, he had to demonstrate the mental strength necessary to overcome moments of disappointment, such as in Reunion Island, and manage the duration of the race. Antoine Carpentier’s vast experience was also invaluable in reaching the top step of the podium, with support from Amélie Grassi and Allan Roberts on several legs.

Arriving in Lorient 2 hours and 43 minutes after Crédit Mutuel, the BELGIUM OCEAN RACING – CURIUM project is a remarkable story led by Renaud Dehareng, the head of Curium and also skipper, who more than lived up to expectations during the major leg victory between Cape Verde and Reunion Island, and Jonas Gerckens, who manages the project from a sporting and organizational perspective. The talents of the dynamic Benoit Hanztperg and the young and brilliant skipper Djemila Tassin have allowed them to assemble a high-quality team. And as with the French team (Sébastien Picault – Camille Seassau), one cannot discuss this performance without mentioning the team’s technical preparers (Albane Seassau – Pierre Guyader), who were always present at each port of call to repair their boat, often after it had been battered by the skippers, and to ensure its continued preparation. This technical aspect was fundamental to the teams’ success and therefore to the event’s success.

Congratulations to the winners, and congratulations to their Belgian rivals and friends without whom this performance would not have been possible. We also look forward to acknowledging the performance of all the skippers, from the eight crews that started the race, who should all be present this weekend in Lorient.