Event· Martinique· Windward Islands
Tour des Yoles Rondes de la Martinique
14° 26.9′ N · 60° 53.0′ W · approximate
Martinique's 'world cup' of traditional sailing: a week-long, eight-stage race round the island by about fifteen yoles rondes, followed by flotillas of spectator boats and huge beach parties at each stage town. The yole ronde tradition is on UNESCO's register of good safeguarding practices (2020).
Practical
Coordinates are approximate, at Pointe Marin, Ste-Anne, where the 2026 race started and finished. The 40th edition ran July 26 to August 2, 2026, with 15 yoles over 8 stages on the same course as the first Tour in 1985 (Outremers360). Stage 4 ran Trinité to Saint-Pierre (29 nm), stage 5 Saint-Pierre to Fort-de-France, stage 7 Anses-d'Arlet to Rivière-Pilote, and stage 8 Rivière-Pilote to Ste-Anne, finishing off Pointe Marin (RCI). Expect race courses with marker buoys across the south coast bays, crowded anchorages at stage towns and spectator-boat wakes. It falls in hurricane season, so keep a weather eye. Future dates are usually late July to early August; check the organiser's calendar. Watch from the seafront at stage starts and finishes, or follow on a spectator boat among hundreds of others (Martinique tourism).
Best for
Spectating from your own boat
Season
Late July to early August
Nearby
- Pointe Marin Beach (Ste-Anne)Right here
- Boucaniers Diving (Pointe Marin)0.1 NM away
- Kalinago Plongée (Pointe Marin beach)0.2 NM away
- Ti Jardin (Pointe Marin road)0.4 NM away
- Bao Beach (Pointe Marin)0.5 NM away
- Ti Mur and Ti Voilier (Marin bay mouth)0.5 NM away
- Le Marin Gas Bottle Refill / Exchange (butane only)0.8 NM away
- Ste-Anne Anchorage0.8 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).