There is a lighthouse on the westernmost tip of Finistère, battered by the currents of the Bay of Biscay, that gives its name to one of the most beloved offshore sailing races in Europe: it is called Ar-Men, and it is the heart of the Armen Race. Tomorrow, for the sixteenth edition of the great classic organised each year by the Société Nautique de La Trinité-sur-Mer, Maccaferri Futura, our Class40, will line up at the start with ocean skipper Luca Rosetti.

Joining the Bologna-born sailor in the crew will be boat captain Yaël Poupon and Checco Bruni, the latter competing in his second race of the season aboard Maccaferri Futura after the Spi Ouest-France in April, which concluded with a podium finish. A close-knit trio, with backgrounds and skills that complement one another. Once again, Bruni will bring with him the experience of someone who has built his career on precision: reading the racecourse, managing the start, and keeping the boat in the right place during the most tactically intense moments.

Founded in 2011, the Armen Race has steadily built a strong reputation within the international offshore sailing calendar. Its strength lies in a unique format: a non-stop loop of approximately 310 nautical miles starting and finishing in Trinité-sur-Mer, passing by the Ar-Men lighthouse, Belle-Île and Île d’Yeu, with spectators able to experience both the start and the finish directly from the docks. It is a course that combines fast stretches in open ocean with technical passages between lighthouses, islands and currents, where weather conditions are often unpredictable and the ability to adapt while sailing matters just as much as outright speed. Around 200 boats across different categories are expected on the starting line, from Ultimes to Class40s, from IMOCAs to several IRC classes, confirming the event’s ability to continue bringing together the elite of professional sailing and the very best of amateur sailing.

“Following Maccaferri Futura race after race is always a confirmation of how dynamic and steadily growing this project is. The Armen Race is a competition of great calibre, with a fleet bringing together the very best of European offshore sailing, and seeing us compete in this context with the crew we have assembled is a source of genuine enthusiasm,” said Sergio Iasi, Chairman of Officine Maccaferri. “The season is still long, but every race we take on provides us with valuable insights and brings us closer, with greater awareness, to the ocean events that matter most.”

“The Armen Race has something special about it: the course takes you into open waters, far from the coast, in conditions you can plan for but never fully control. That is exactly the kind of challenge that helps you grow,” added Luca Rosetti. “Having Checco and Yaël with me again is a huge advantage. At the Spi Ouest-France we already found a great rhythm together, finishing on the podium, and in this second challenge as a team we are aiming to take another step forward, both in terms of teamwork and results.”