The Transat Jacques Vabre is a yachting race that follows the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil. It is named after a French brand of coffee. The course was drawn up back in 1993 to follow in the wake of the clippers transporting coffee from Brazil to France. The Transat Jacques Vabre is a major date on the calendar, taking place every other year in odd years. It is a two-person race and the pairs of sailors are formed according to their complementary skills, what they have in common and how they get on. Boats leave from Le Havre, France's leading coffee importing port, going to Salvador de Bahia, in Brazil, the world's leading coffee grower and exporter (4335 miles). Le Havre, France

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is the name given to a week of sailing regattas together the most beautiful classic and modern sailboats Mediterranean in Saint-Tropez. More than 300 boats measuring up 60 meters are racing each day in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Traditionally these series of regattas take place from the last weekend in September. Saint-Tropez, France

A single-handed yacht race mixing professionals and amateurs, monos and multihulls without any restrictions on size or class specifications. The course ? The Rhum is raced out of Saint-Malo, in metropolitan France bound for Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe.

Since 1978, thousands of sailors have discovered the French coast, got pushed back by the Channel currents, asked their position to Brittany's fishermen and heeled under the Mistral wind. From a joyful racing-cruising event, the Tour de France à la Voile turned into a great offshore sailing school for many young and talented sailors, and then a high-level competition with great champions taking part.

An international competition that unites single-handed yachtsmen from all over the world who wish to test themselves in a non-stop round the world race. The course for the Vendée Globe illustrates the straightforward nature and simplicity of the idea behind this major event. You sail around the world from west to east via the three major capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn. There is a long slide down the Atlantic, the perilous voyage across the Southern Ocean with firstly the Indian Ocean and its crossed seas, then the Pacific Ocean, the world's biggest ocean. Finally, there is the climb back up the Atlantic to head back to Les Sables d'Olonne, France which marks the start and finish of the Everest of the seas. We take a look at each section of the round the world race course.