This Sunday morning, under bright sunshine and a lovely tailwind, the WIND Force Sailing Club in Le Robert kicked off a competition that’s a first for the Caribbean: the Martinique Wing Adventure 2026, the first official edition of an international wingfoil event in Martinique.
The weather was perfect for the occasion. On Sunday, February 22, starting at 9 a.m., riders, officials, elected representatives, and the media gathered at the WIND Force Yacht Club in Le Robert to attend the official launch of an ambitious sports project—one that had been in the works for a long time and has now become a reality. The clear sky and steady breeze blowing across Le Robert Bay—ideal conditions, with a very good breeze to boot—seemed to have been tailor-made for the occasion.
Following a press conference to kick off the event, an introduction of the riders, and the race committee’s general briefing, the sixteen selected athletes set off for the inaugural prologue in Baie du Robert, treating the Martinican public to its first major international wingfoil competition.
A project born of passion and driven by ambition
The Martinique Wing Adventure is the brainchild of the WIND Force Sailing Club, led by its president, Sylvain René-Corail, and its technical director, Bruno Lecomte. The idea took shape in 2025 during the Martinique Cata Raid, where the inclusion of wingfoiling in the program sparked immediate enthusiasm among both riders and the public. Building on this experimental success, the club decided to take the plunge: to create a structured, challenging, and credible competition on an international scale.
The chosen concept is deliberately ambitious. Unlike traditional wingfoil events focused on marked courses or wave freestyle, the Martinique Wing Adventure is based on a long-distance format—an extremely rare specialty worldwide, offered regularly by only one or two clubs. Endurance, strategy, weather forecasting, physical conditioning, and adapting to conditions: long-distance racing draws on every aspect of an athlete’s abilities and gives the event a strong identity that is immediately recognizable on the world circuit.
Sixteen riders, seven days, an island to cross
From February 22 to 28, sixteen carefully selected riders will compete on a circuit that will take them around much of Martinique. The schedule alternates between an opening prologue, five long-distance stages, and a final open regatta on Saturday, February 28, in Robert Bay.
Starting tomorrow, Monday the 23rd, the first major leg will take the competitors from Le Robert to Grand-Rivière, passing through La Caravelle and Sainte-Marie. On Tuesday, they’ll have to sail upwind—the leg dubbed «the mountain» is already feared—before heading back down toward Le Marin via the Îlets du François on Wednesday. On Thursday, they’ll head for Rocher du Diamant and return to Le Marin; on Friday, they’ll sail back up to Le Robert before the closing regatta on Saturday. Each leg is a showcase: from the northern to the southern coast, from the bays to the islets, Martinique reveals itself from the sea in all its splendor.
An exceptional lineup
The caliber of the field reflects the credibility the event has already earned. Among the international players are Bastien Escofet, 2025 Slalom World Champion, Julien Rattotti, long-distance world runner-up and Big Air world champion, Kylie Belloeuvre, 2025 GWA Slalom World Championship runner-up, or even Alan Fedit, European runner-up and third in the world in freestyle. Thomas Proust, The winner of the Martinique Cata Raid and an expert on the local waters rounds out a top-notch international field.
The Caribbean is also in the spotlight with the Martinican Oscar Leclair, winner of the experimental #0 event, accompanied by riders from Martinique and Guadeloupe selected from among the best licensed riders. The young Enoha Laurent, the U16 world runner-up, symbolizes the rising stars of the new generation.
Race management is entrusted to Didier Flamme, a well-known figure in French sailing with more than thirty years of experience as a national and international referee, while the jury is chaired by Martin Iquet.
An event that goes beyond sports
The Martinique Wing Adventure isn’t just a competition. It’s also a regional development project. With its traveling format, it passes through several municipalities—Le Robert, Grand-Rivière, Le Marin—and generates direct economic benefits: lodging, dining, and local businesses. It incorporates a distinct cultural dimension, featuring Creole meals for the racers, interactions with locals, and the celebration of maritime heritage. And it acts as a catalyst for the local sport: over the past three years, wingfoiling has seen steady growth in Martinique, with more than 80 regular participants.
A competition consisting of 6 stages
For this #1 edition, the Martinique Wing Adventure will feature a format combining a long-distance race and coastal regattas. The event will consist of six stages and a prologue, with the prologue not counting toward the overall standings.
- Sunday, February 22, 2026 Press briefing followed by the Prologue in Robert Bay, open to all licensed athletes on the island
- Monday, February 23, 2026 Step 1: Robert – Grand-Rivière
- Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Grand-Rivière – Robert
- Wednesday, February 25, 2026 Robert – Sailor
- Thursday, February 26, 2026 Navy – Diamond – Navy
- Friday, February 27, 2026 Marin – Robert
- Saturday, February 28, 2026 Regatta in Robert Bay Open to All Licensed Sailors
This route will take runners through several towns along the Martinique coast.
The Martinique Tourism Committee and the towns of Le Robert, Le Marin, and Grand-Rivière provided institutional support for this inaugural event. Private partners and volunteers round out an initiative that is firmly rooted in the local community.
The goal is clear: to make the Martinique Wing Adventure a premier annual event in the Caribbean and, eventually, to have it officially included in the international wingfoil calendar. This Sunday morning, under the sunny skies of Le Robert with the wings unfurled in the breeze, this story has just begun.
Philippe PIED
