Team France retains eSailing Nations Cup Offshore after tense finish between teammates

In the Leg 3 finale, it was BlackPanther who took the honours in one of the tightest finishes ever seen in eSailing to seal a second consecutive eSailing Nations Cup Offshore title for France. 

“The courses were difficult, with irreversible route choices between the islands in uncertain weather. The idea was to not lose touch with the rest of the fleet, not take too many risks, and navigate cleanly,” said BlackPanther, Captain of Team France. 

The journey began with Leg 1, the longest of the competition, from Osaka to Perth which would prove to be a true test of endurance and strategy. It was Italy that set the early pace, emerging victorious by demonstrating their incredible skill and determination across the vast distance. 

“After finishing third last year behind France and Switzerland, this year we wanted to try to win it. Leg 1 put us in front of a very complex race, we knew from the beginning that there would be several options. Once the choices were made, there was only to wait for the updates on goodness or not. Winning it made us very happy. It was very open, fought, and fun. A nice experience for all of us,” said Cristian Raiteri (ITA 86 FIV), Captain of Team Italy. 

Leg 2 saw the fleet sail from Brest to Gdynia, where Swiss Sail showed why they were considered a team to watch. With impressive technical skills and great tactics close to the Swedish coast, they stormed to victory, showing resilience under pressure and securing the win to set themselves up for an overall podium finish. 

Swiss captain Helmer Schweizer (H of S) reflected: “The VRO Nations Cup is a great opportunity to bring together the best offshore e-sailors of each country. The 2024 changes (only four per leg, at least one with a female) were very positive. While leg three looked a bit boring for a long time, the final quarter of the race delivered a thrilling finish. The Swiss Sailing National Team was very pleased to have been able to defend its second rank from the previous edition. Overall, a great experience.” 

And then came Leg 3. 

Sailing through the Mediterranean from Siracusa to Toulon, the French team not only dominated the final race but made a stunning arrival on French soil, clinching the title in an electrifying finish. With a final-second win by Black Panther, the French team delivered a thrilling performance to successfully defend their title and record back-to-back victories. 

From the longest leg between Osaka and Perth, to the tactical showdown between Brest and Gdynia, and finally the epic finale in Siracusa, France proved worthy champions, proving once again they are the team to beat. Their performance across all three legs demonstrated remarkable consistency, resilience, and tactical brilliance. 

With an unforgettable journey full of twists, turns, and intense battles, the 2024 eSailing Nations Cup Offshore was a true showcase of the best in the sport. France has once again set the bar, but with fierce competition from Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Poland, the level keeps getting better and better with each edition.