One thousand nautical miles to be sailed solo, along a course that crosses some of the most iconic and demanding passages in European offshore sailing. From Sunday, 12 July, Maccaferri Futura, the Class40 yacht of Officine Maccaferri, will line up at the start of the DRHEAM-CUP / Grand Prix de France de Course au Large, with offshore skipper Luca Rosetti competing in the DC 1000 race from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin to Lorient.

Founded in 2016 and now in its sixth edition, the DRHEAM-CUP has established itself as one of the leading events on the French and international offshore sailing calendar. This year’s edition has attracted more than 120 entries across fully crewed, double-handed and solo categories, confirming the growing appeal of a format that brings together professionals and amateurs, different classes and a variety of racing configurations. The race is also particularly significant as it serves as a qualifying event for the Route du Rhum–Destination Guadeloupe, the major solo transatlantic race scheduled to take place in November.

For the Class40 fleet, the challenge will unfold along the DC 1000 course, starting in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and finishing in Lorient, over a route designed to test speed, endurance, weather analysis and tactical decision-making. The Class40 fleet will be one of the largest in the 2026 edition, with around forty boats expected on the starting line and a highly competitive fleet bringing together some of the category’s leading international sailors. For Maccaferri Futura, this will be a particularly significant race within the 2026 season: after the crewed and double-handed events, Luca Rosetti returns to solo competition in a major offshore race, where every decision will be crucial.

Maccaferri Futura heads into this race on the back of a particularly strong first half of the season. After five races, the team sits third in the overall 2026 Class40 Championship standings, just 20 points off the lead, and also third in the Manche-Atlantique Trophy standings, 14 points behind the leader. These results confirm the consistency of the project’s performance and reinforce confidence ahead of the final two major races of the season.

“Maccaferri Futura heads into this event following a very positive first half of the season, which has brought us to third place in the overall Class40 standings. It is a result that confirms the strength of the path we have taken and the value of a project created to take on ambitious challenges by combining method, determination and a long-term vision,” commented Sergio Iasi, Chairman of Officine Maccaferri.

“The DRHEAM-CUP combines technical coastal sections, long offshore legs and passages where timing and reading the sea can make all the difference,” said Luca Rosetti. “In solo sailing, you have to find the right balance between speed, boat handling and energy management. It will be an important test as we continue to build towards the Route du Rhum.”