Publication date: 17/09/2026
Presentation of the trophy and its organising team, programme on and off the water… In this article, Port Adhoc outlines the key highlights of the 2026 edition.
In summary: Port Médoc hosts the Trophée Estuaire Rose 2026
On 3 and 4 October 2026, Port Médoc and Le Verdon-sur-Mer will welcome sailors, associations, families and visitors around a shared commitment: supporting those affected by cancer and their loved ones.
For this 8th edition of the charity sailing event in the Gironde, the dinghy arrivals, cruising rally, regattas, fishing competition and numerous onshore activities will allow everyone to take part in their own way. On the water and along the quays, the Trophée Estuaire Rose will stay true to what has defined it since 2019: bringing a community together around sailing, sharing, solidarity and prevention.
Port Médoc is proud to host this new edition and to make its facilities available to the organisers and participants. Join us at Le Verdon-sur-Mer to follow the racing, meet the associations supported by the Trophée and contribute, over the course of a weekend, to this collective effort!
A charity regatta on the Gironde estuary, fighting against cancer
“The Trophée Estuaire Rose was created in 2019 following the passing of our eldest daughter, Margot, at the age of 11, after a brain tumour,” say Christophe and Vanessa Chavanneau. Sailors on the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic coast, particularly from Port Médoc, the couple wanted to create a charity sailing event to raise awareness of cancer.
Since then, beyond sporting performance, the Trophée Estuaire Rose aims to raise funds to support the associations that stood by Christophe, Vanessa and their family during their fight, and more broadly, associations working to combat paediatric, female and male cancers.
Since the first edition in 2019, the trophy has supported 3 different associations each year. Nearly €40,000 has been donated to all the associations supported over these 7 years.
The Trophée Estuaire Rose 2026 edition: 3 and 4 October
In autumn 2026, the event will support several associations helping children and families facing illness or disability: Rose Médoc, Eva pour la Vie and Parentraide. The Gironde estuary will come alive on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October with several charity regattas and a cruising rally for keelboats.
For the first time in the history of the Trophée Estuaire Rose, the event will be held at Port Médoc, Le Verdon-sur-Mer, in partnership with Cercle Nautique du Verdon, Les Croiseurs Médocains, the town of Le Verdon-sur-Mer and the Médoc Atlantique Community of Municipalities. The port team has agreed to make several facilities available to the event organisers for the weekend and will contribute to welcoming participants and the public during both days.
This change of venue allows the Trophée Estuaire Rose to increase its capacity and open up further towards the Atlantic coast: the waters off Le Verdon-sur-Mer will allow several race courses to run simultaneously and offer new routes to competing crews. This new location will support the expansion of the nautical programme and the range of sailors able to take part, with the addition of dinghies, including adapted sailing for people with disabilities, alongside keelboats and the cruising rally.
On-water activities at the Trophée Estuaire Rose 2026
Over two days, the Gironde estuary will host several sailing formats, with courses tailored to the different types of boats entered. The goal will be the same for all participants: to sail, share a collective moment and contribute to the cancer awareness and prevention efforts carried by the Trophée Estuaire Rose.
Regattas and a cruising rally on the Gironde estuary
On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October, crews will be on the water between 9am and 5pm. Keelboats will take part in regattas and a cruising rally, while dinghies will feature in the programme for the first time since the event was created.
Partner Cercle Nautique du Verdon will host dinghy crews at La Chambrette and keelboat crews at Port Médoc.
The cruising rally, led by Les Croiseurs Médocains, will complete the programme for crews wishing to participate in a different format to the regatta, one more focused on sharing and conviviality. On this occasion, the Petits Guerriers (Little Warriors), children with cancer, illness or disability, and the Ladies Roses, women with cancer or in remission, will be able to enjoy a special day out with their families.
Over 100 keelboats and dinghies are expected at the event!
A fishing competition promoting inclusion
The 2026 nautical programme also opens up to fishing, with a competition organised on Saturday 3 October in partnership with local fishing club Sport Fishing Port-Bloc.
The event will bring anglers into the collective effort and, where their health allows, give the Petits Guerriers the chance to go out on participating boats with their parents.
The on-water activities will extend the mission that Christophe and Vanessa have pursued since 2019: “to bring together sailors, associations and local stakeholders around a charity nautical event on the Gironde estuary.”
Onshore activities at Port Médoc and Le Verdon-sur-Mer
The Trophée Estuaire Rose will also come alive onshore, with several events open to sailors, supporters and the general public. Port Médoc, the port esplanade and La Chambrette beach will host a large part of the weekend’s activities.
The programme will allow everyone to enjoy the event on the estuary, even without taking to the water:
- On Saturday 3 October, a longe-côte (coastal walking) session will be offered at noon on La Chambrette beach, followed by shiatsu introductions and a yoga session on the beach in the afternoon. In the evening, the Gala Rose will bring together participants and supporters of the Trophée Estuaire Rose at the Palais des Congrès in Soulac-sur-Mer, for a dinner, Bordeaux wines, entertainment and dancing.
- On Sunday 4 October, a Marche Rose will set off from the Port Médoc esplanade at around 10am. The associations’ village will be set up for the day, with cancer awareness activities and wellness sessions. A flea market (organised with the local pétanque club) will complete the programme. The draw for the “Grande tombola solidaire” will precede the prize-giving and closing drinks.
“Work is also being done for the CHU de Bordeaux through the association Les Petits Doudous,” say Christophe and Vanessa. “Soft toys are collected each year as part of the event and distributed to hospitalised children. Over the last 2 editions, more than 3,000 soft toys have already been donated.”
This year again, visitors can take part by bringing soft toys to donate. It will also be possible to meet the associations at Port Médoc, find out about their work and explore how best to support them.
Taking part in the Trophée Estuaire Rose 2026
Sailors, anglers, local residents and visitors can all take part in the Trophée Estuaire Rose in their own way. Crews can register for the keelboat regattas, the cruising rally or, for this 2026 edition, the dinghy regatta.
The keelboat regatta and rally are free to enter. For dinghies, entry fees are €15 for solo and €20 for double-handed.
Onshore, visitors can join the Marche Rose, take part in activities, book a place at the Gala Rose, bring a soft toy for the collection or simply come and meet the associations.
All funds raised at the Trophée Estuaire Rose 2026 will be donated to the partner associations, to support children, patients and their families throughout the year.
