Back in the Water and First Major Challenge of the Season for the Class40 Hirsch Centrakor

Since last year, Hirsch has been proud to support skipper Mikael Mergui in his ambitious Class40 racing campaign. A human and technical adventure that perfectly reflects our values: performance, reliability and long‑term commitment.

After several months in the shipyard, the Hirsch Centrakor sailboat has just been relaunched. A key milestone symbolizing renewal and preparation, as it officially marks the start of the 2026 season — and the first major challenge is already underway.

La Trin 40: a Defining Race for the Season

Today, Mikael sets off on the La Trin 40, the first race of the year. Organized for the very first time by Class40, this solo offshore race of approximately 1,200 nautical miles starts and finishes in La Trinité‑sur‑Mer, with an estimated duration of around one week at sea.

Beyond the sporting challenge, La Trin 40 holds strategic importance:
it is a mandatory solo qualifying race for the Route du Rhum. Finishing the race is essential to demonstrate the reliability of the skipper‑boat duo and to meet the requirements of the Route du Rhum race committee.

A Highly Competitive Fleet and a Clear Objective

With around 30 boats on the starting line and all the major Class40 names competing, the level is particularly high. For Mikael, the objective is clear and fully assumed:

“Sail safe to secure the qualification, complete the race, and clearly identify the areas to work on during upcoming training sessions.”

La Trin 40 is also an opportunity to regain the reflexes of solo sailing, a demanding exercise that Mikael has not practiced for some time. Sailing alone means managing every aspect of the race:
sleep, physical effort, strategy and, of course, constantly changing weather conditions.

A Demanding, Structuring and Decisive Race

This race is a structuring milestone for the start of the season and a determining step for the rest of the program. Fully aware of the level of commitment required by solo racing, Mikael is now entering focus mode:
reviewing weather files, refining strategic decisions and mentally preparing for a long and intense challenge at sea.

At Hirsch, we are proud to support this adventure where anticipation, reliability and risk management are central to performance — both offshore and in our daily security missions.

👉 Follow the race live:
https://trin40.com/#course_actus

We wish Mikael fair winds and a successful first major race of the season!