APCC Nantes Wins Fifth French J/80 Sailing League Title

(Pornichet, France)- On the eve of the 11th edition of the National Sailing League, Pornichet was preparing to host three days of intense competition. From October 16-18, eighteen clubs from across France gathered to compete aboard matched J/80 one-design sailboats provided by APCC Nantes. With a mix of event veterans, newcomers, and crews that qualified through regional “shared-fleet” circuits, the battle for the title looked wide open.

Following an anniversary edition held in La Rochelle in 2025, the National Sailing League returned to the Atlantic coast for a new chapter. Organized by APCC Nantes, the 11th edition brought together eighteen crews on the same stretch of water, all sharing a common goal: to defend their club’s colors and etch their names into the history of a competition that has become a major fixture in shared-fleet keelboat racing.

From Friday through Sunday, the crews battled in the bay of Pornichet, competing in short, fast-paced races. In this shared-fleet format, all participants use identical boats and face the same racing conditions; the outcome is decided on the water through precise maneuvers, expert wind reading, and mastery of head-to-head duels. On shore, camaraderie remains a hallmark of the event. The National Sailing League champions a collective vision of competition— one that promotes clubs, brings sailors together, and strengthens ties across the various regions of the French sailing community.

The 2026 lineup offered a perfect balance of returning participants and new faces. Several clubs were intimately familiar with the LN Voile, starting with APCC Nantes— the host club and one of the most decorated teams in the competition’s history. CV Arcachon, the Yacht Club de Granville, and La Rochelle Nautique have also been mainstays since the very first editions. These long-standing participants bring invaluable experience in this demanding format, where the situation can shift entirely with every race. Yet experience is no guarantee of success: in identically rigged J/80S, even the slightest tactical error or sloppy maneuver can prove costly.

Conversely, two clubs made their debut in the competition: the Club Nautique de la Marine in Brest (CNMB) and the Fun Club Joselière de Pornic (FCJ Pornic). Their arrival brought a fresh energy to this year’s event. FCJ Pornic, in particular, entered the fray with some momentum, having won the final of the “Circuit Atlantique Flotte Partagée”—a series encompassing the Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Pays de la Loire, and Brittany leagues.

Another team to qualify through a regional circuit is VADK Sports, representing the Hauts-de-France region after winning their local “Challenge des Clubs Flotte Partagée.” Though they hail from different circuits, both teams share the same ambition: to translate their regional success into a strong performance on the national stage.

At the LN Voile, success hinges primarily on a group’s ability to function as a cohesive team. Crews must quickly develop a natural rapport, delegate roles effectively, and maintain clear communication—even as the pressure mounts. The composition of these teams reflects this diversity; the crew rosters bring together a wide range of backgrounds and generations, blending young sailors with more seasoned competitors. CN Lorient, the Société Nautique de La Trinité-sur-Mer, EV Locquirec, the Société Nautique de la Baie de Saint-Malo, CN Pornic, and SNO Nantes are all part of this eclectic lineup.

This edition also introduced a significant change to the rules regarding team composition: at least 75% of the crew must be members of the club they represent. This flexibility encourages connections between local activities and regional circuits, while preserving the interclub nature of the competition.

Another notable feature of the lineup is the inclusion of the WLS Team, representing the women’s circuit after qualifying based on their performance in the 2025 WLS Trophy. Their participation highlights the role of all-female crews in developing shared-fleet sailing and extends collective momentum beyond the standard competitive circuits. Here is how it all went down over the long weekend.

Day 1
With changeable weather, the French J/80 League kicked off its 11th edition in Pornichet. After four full “flights”—meaning every crew completed four races—APCC Nantes had taken the lead in the provisional overall standings, ahead of SNBSM and SNO.

Weather conditions shake things up.
The Bay of Pornichet presented the 18 competing crews with a day of stark contrasts. Under a threatening sky, the morning’s opening races took place in light winds— a gentle warm-up for the fleet.

Around 2:00 PM, conditions shifted dramatically. The wind veered about 90 degrees—swinging from the west to the north— and was accompanied by rain and a significant increase in wind intensity. Gusts reached up to 31 knots across the race area, drastically altering sailing conditions and putting the crews to a stern test.

With boats luffing at the start, spinnakers trailing in the water, and several tense moments at the course marks, the Bay of Pornichet turned into a battlefield for a few frantic minutes. After this turbulent stretch, the wind eventually eased toward the end of the day, offering a respite after several demanding hours. By the time the four flights were completed, the event had already offered its first key competitive takeaways for this 11th edition.

APCC Nantes makes an ideal start on home turf
From a sporting perspective, the host club got off to a flying start. With just 5 points after four races, Tom Foucher’s APCC Nantes team took the lead in the provisional standings, securing 3 wins from 4 races. Close behind were the sailors from SNBSM (Saint-Malo), who sat on 6 points with 2 wins and 2 second-place finishes. SNO Nantes rounded out the top three with 9 points, ending the day on a high note with a 2-1 in the final two races. Behind this leading trio, CVSAE held fourth place with 10 points. CNMB and YCC were tied on 11 points, while VADKS sat in seventh place with 12 points. The margins remained tight: after four races, the top seven clubs were separated by only seven points.

Day 2
After an intense second day on the waters off Pornichet, SNBSM and APCC Nantes were tied at the top of the provisional standings with 10 points each. In a north-northeasterly wind ranging from 10 to 20 knots, the crews navigated a series of races in demanding, high-energy conditions—marked by numerous close-quarters encounters and several instances of contact between boats. On Sunday, the qualifying stage will conclude and give way to a four-team final to determine the winner of this 2026 edition.

A day defined by shifting winds
After an opening day marked by a major wind shift and gusts up to 31 knots, crews faced different conditions in the Bay of Pornichet on Saturday. The north-northeasterly wind, blowing between 10 and 20 knots, fluctuated throughout the day, forcing competitors to stay hyper-vigilant for changes on the water and constantly adapt their tactical decisions. The schedule saw five full flights completed.

SNBSM and APCC Nantes neck-and-neck
The provisional standings confirm the duel that was anticipated the previous day. SNBSM took the top spot with 10 points, tied with APCC Nantes—who sat in second place with an identical record of wins and second-place finishes —but were bested by their direct rivals in the head-to-head race during the final completed flight.

Led by Tristan Le Jeune, the SNBSM team enjoyed a flawless day, surging to the top of the leaderboard by securing 4 victories in the 4 races they contested. APCC Nantes also made its mark, racking up strong results, including three victories and a second-place finish.

YCC secures a spot on the podium, while CVSAE remains in striking distance.
Behind the two leaders, YCC made a significant move, now sitting in third place with 16 points. They are ahead of CVSAE—currently fourth with 22 points—who remain well-positioned heading into the final qualifying stages.

Day 3
It was a “5-star” victory for Tom Foucher and his teammates— Alexandre Declerck, Benjamin Pajusco, Damien Fleury, and Lucie Gout— who secured a thrilling win for their club, APCC Nantes.

Competing on home waters off Pornichet, Foucher’s APCC Nantes team clinched a 5th title for APCC in this unique, inter-club, shared-fleet keelboat competition. Following an epic four-boat final, they finished ahead of the SNBSM team from Saint-Malo and the YC Cherbourg team from Normandy.

Following two days of strong winds, conditions were somewhat lighter on Sunday, though still highly technical, with northerly winds disrupted by the “skyline” of the Pornichet waterfront.

The 10th and final flight of the qualifying phase determined the four clubs advancing to the “Final Four.” VADK Sports (from the north) and SNO Nantes narrowly missed the cut—falling short by just a single point—allowing the CVSAE team from Normandy to secure their spot.

The stage was then set for the four-boat final between APCC, SNBSM, YC Cherbourg, and CVSAE, who qualified in that order. For the former, a single race win was all it took to secure the overall title; however, it took until their second match point for Tom Foucher and his APCC Nantes crew to triumph in a spectacular four-way showdown.

In the first race of the final, the team from Nantes appeared to have the upper hand as they rounded the final leeward mark in the lead. But Noé Ackermann’s crew from CVSAE turned everything on its head, drawing a penalty against the Nantes team—while also incurring one themselves—before their fellow Normands from YC Cherbourg, led by Swann Pain, surged ahead to snatch victory by a mere meter at the finish line.

In the second race of the final, the sailors from APCC left nothing to chance, dominating from start to finish following a blistering opening. Three laps later, they let their joy erupt, taking time to salute the crowd gathered as close as possible to the action on the northern breakwater of the port of Pornichet.

On the final podium, the APCC Nantes team finished ahead of the crews from Cherbourg (YCC- Yacht Club de Cherbourg) and Saint-Malo (SNBSM- Société Nautique Baie de St Malo), claiming the LN Voile trophy for the fifth time in 11 editions! Next year, the 12th edition will be hosted in La Rochelle; they will undoubtedly be the team to beat!

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