2nd Edition - 2027

EUMETSAT Sailing Cup

The continuation of a tradition that was started on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of EUMETSAT in 2026

Organised by “Gone with the Wind” Club

Illustration of a sailing boat heeling through the waves in front of the setting sun and the Marseille skyline

The Event

Location
Îles du Frioul, Marseille
Dates
22 – 25 April 2027
Boats
Archambault Grand Surprise
Number of boats
Minimum is 4
Maximum is 10
Crew
Crews are 5 to 7 members

Newcomers are welcome. Introductory course will be organised

Safety, Fun, Learning, Practicing and Racing

A Grand Surprise sailing with a yellow spinnaker
On-boat training to enjoy the race
Boats racing under yellow spinnakers off the Frioul islands
Plates of food on a restaurant table
Dinner all together
The Marseille sign in front of the cathedral

The Location

L’Archipel du Frioul
Marseille, France

Château d'If and the Frioul islands seen from the sea
Château d'If Island of Count of Monte Cristo Novel
View over the entrance of the old port of Marseille
Vieu Port
Aerial view of the Frioul archipelago and its harbour
Team Winds Base
Satellite map of Marseille and the islands off its coast Marseille
Racing Area

The Boats

Archambault Grand Surprise

  • Performance racing sailing boat
  • Length 9.54m - Beam 2.98m
  • Draft 2.05m – Displacement 2.650Kg
  • Traditional main sail
  • Hank-on headsail
  • Symmetrical Spinnaker
  • Crew 5 to 7 (recommended)
  • No possibility to sleep on the boats

Specifications:
Grand Surprise Boat Specifications

Grand Surprise boats moored in the Frioul marina
A Grand Surprise sailing upwind
Watercolour cartoon of a boat with two spinnakers: “Now we have two spinnakers”
A fleet of Grand Surprise boats under spinnaker

The Race & Trophy

22 to 25 April 2027

  1. Thursday 22Check-out at 9:00 and practice day
  2. Friday 23Race day 1
  3. Saturday 24Race day 2
  4. Sunday Morning 25Race day 3
  5. Sunday AfternoonClosing and Prize giving ceremony
The EUMETSAT Sailing Cup trophy surrounded by participant medals

Important Information

The registration includes

  • Boat charter for 4 days
  • Race organisation, race committee and safety boat
  • Lunch boxes for 4 days
  • Medal for all participants
  • Berthing on the Îles du Frioul
  • The winning team has the honour to keep the Trophy until the next edition in 2028
  • The Trophy remains property of the Gone with the Wind Club
  • The check-out and check-in of the boats take place on the Îles du Frioul
  • The closing and prize giving ceremony takes place on the Îles du Frioul
  • Event will not take place with less than 4 boats
  • Insurance for skipper and crew is mandatory
  • Insurance for deposit is managed by each boat individually
  • Traveling and overnight staying are managed individually by each team

What is not included

  • Traveling to / from Marseille
  • Overnight staying (not possible on boats)
  • Ferry to / from Îles du Frioul
  • Evening meals
  • Coffee and water
  • Damage deposit insurance
  • Berths in Vieu Port
  • Mooring in Vieu Port: to be decided among the skippers and subject to additional cost
  • Morning briefing will take place on the Îles du Frioul, unless decision is taken to moor in Vieu Port

For the overnight staying: only few options are available on the Îles du Frioul. It is recommended to stay in Marseille and use the ferry. Alternatively, a decision may be taken among the skippers to moor in the Vieu Port. This option will be decided at later date and it is subject to additional cost (circa 20-30 Euro per night)

Price Information

The price per boat is 3.600 Euro
  • Payment schedule is
    • 600 Euro until 15 December 2026
    • 1.000 Euro by 15 January 2027
    • 2.000 Euro by 15 March 2027
  • This price is without subsidy
  • Each participating entity will manage their own subsidy
  • All paid amounts are non-refundable
  • Registration is open until 15 December 2026
  • Registration of one or more complete boats is preferable for non-EUMETSAT participants i.e. ECB, ESOC, ESTEC, etc.
  • If this is not possible, a CrewFinder database will be made available

Come and have fun

Register or ask a question:

eumetsatcup at sunnybay dot me
EUMETSAT Sailing Cup artwork: a sailing boat in front of the setting sun