A tight-knit group of sailors from the Arcachon Basin is heading back to Tour Voile, one of France’s most prestigious offshore racing events for the Figaro Beneteau 3 class. The crew, racing under the Takhys association, is approaching 2026 with fresh momentum and expanded backing.
The team has kept most of its lineup from last year while welcoming new crew members ready to test themselves on one of European sailing’s toughest circuits. What started as a group of friends racing beyond their home waters has grown into a structured project with real competitive teeth. They’re no longer just participants—they’re coming to fight for results.
Building something that lasts
Takhys was created to give Aquitaine sailors a platform for ambitious racing programmes like Tour Voile. Rather than competing as scattered individuals, they’ve organized themselves as a collective, designed to support top-level campaigns while developing talent within the region.
Continuity matters here. For the second straight year, the crew benefits from mentoring and logistical support from Quentin Vlamynck and Neo Sailing Technologies. Vlamynck, now embedded as the crew’s mentor, brings the kind of experience that cuts through the noise when you’re racing at this level. His presence has been crucial as they’ve learned to navigate Tour Voile’s demands.
SEIKO’s backing this year shows the event’s real commitment to nurturing emerging talent. Tour Voile understands that supporting grassroots initiatives like this is how the sport builds its future.
Rooted locally, thinking bigger
The Takhys crew remains firmly connected to Arcachon Basin sailing. Temporis and the municipality of Arcachon back them, while individual crew members sail with three local clubs: the Cercle de Voile d’Arcachon, the Club Nautique d’Arès, and the Cercle de Voile du Pyla-sur-Mer. This web of local support shows how regional sailing networks are becoming increasingly serious about chasing elite competition.
They’ve now completed one Tour Voile campaign, so they know what’s coming—the brutal offshore legs, the tactical chess match of inshore racing, the pressure on crew coordination and technical skill. This time around, they’re not just looking to finish. They want to compete across both the offshore and inshore races that make up the event.
Stable crew, sustained coaching, real partnerships, and clear competitive goals: the pieces look solid. Whether they can translate regional pride and local support into strong results on the water is the question everyone will be asking when Tour Voile 2026 gets underway.
