EDHEC Cruise Race

What EDHEC Cruise Race does

Course Croisière EDHEC (CCE, operating under the DBA 'EDHEC Cruise Race') is a French student association (loi 1901) founded in 1968 by three EDHEC Business School students with the mission of democratizing sailing. It organizes what it positions as Europe's first and largest student sporting event: a 9-day flagship regatta held annually in April, combining competitive monohull sailing (J80 and habitable classes, ~150 boats), three multi-sport Défis (Beach Soccer, Beach Rugby, Défi Terre), a 25,000 m² Day Village, and a Night Village centered on 'Le Chap'' (a 1,000 m² ephemeral nightclub). The 58th edition takes place April 18–26, 2026 in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Normandy, with 2,500+ participants from 120+ institutions and 23 nationalities, supported by ~50 student organizers (renewed by half each year) plus 50+ volunteer 'Roadies.'

CCE operates on an event-driven, community-led, direct-to-consumer GTM motion. Revenue streams include participant registration fees across multiple tiers (Classic Regatta €260/person, J80 Pack €5,500/crew of 5, Habitable Pack €5,300–€8,500, Défis at €150–€180/person, Pack Supporter €120), corporate sponsorship from 50+ partners across flagship/core/minor tiers (EY, Decathlon, Xerox, Oris, BNP Paribas, L'Oréal, Marine Nationale, Red Bull), evening/party ticketing via collect.io and Lydia, and Cap'CCE — a pre-season preparatory regatta launched in 2024 with editions in Marseille (2025) and Le Havre (2026). The technology stack is non-proprietary: WordPress for cce.fr, inscription.cce.fr as the registration platform, Hello Asso for FFV license sales, collect.io/Lydia for ticketing, and Wilout-Pay for cashless refunds. The underlying regatta governance runs on the French Sailing Federation (FFV) official systems. The association holds EcoFest and Fair Play for the Planet sustainability labels and operates a 'Grande Cause' charity program (Lazare association for the 58th edition), a Handi Day inclusion program, and a Journée Verte environmental awareness day.

Name

EDHEC Cruise Race

Legal name

Association Course Croisière EDHEC

Website

https://cce.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Course Croisière EDHEC is a French student-run association founded in 1968 that organizes Europe's first student sporting event — an annual 9-day regatta plus multi-sport challenges and nightlife village — serving 2,500+ participants from 120+ institutions and a 50+ corporate partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sailing Event Organization

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Student sailing regatta
• Multi-sport student events
• Corporate event sponsorship
• Sports event organization
• Student sporting competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Roubaix

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Participant Registration Fees: Registration fees from student participants across multiple event tiers: Classic Regatta (€260/person + €260/boat mooring), J80 Pack (€5,500/5-person crew), Habitable Pack (€5,300–€8,500 depending on crew size), and Défi sports packages (€150–€180/person). Replacers without FFV license incur additional per-person charges.
2. Corporate Sponsorship & Partnerships: Annual corporate sponsors (EY, Decathlon, Xerox, EDHEC, Oris, etc.) provide financial and in-kind support. Partner categories include official partners, institutional partners, prize partners, RSE partners, and media partners. Prize partners donate goods for award ceremonies. 'Concours plaquettes' supports crew-level sponsorship coaching.
3. Evening/Party Ticketing: Revenue from evening event access at the Night Village ('Le Chap'', the ephemeral nightclub). Ticket packs sold via collect.io/Lydia. Supporter packs (€120/person) include access to Village Jour activities and 7 evenings. Closing party sold separately at €20 for participants.
4. Cap'CCE Pre-Season Regatta: Pre-season weekend regatta (March, €875/crew of 5, i.e. €175/person) at Le Havre serving as a preparatory event for the main CCE. Includes boat rental, meals, dinner, and party access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EDHEC Cruise Race (Course Croisiere EDHEC, CCE) organizes Europe's largest student sporting event, an annual nine-day sailing regatta plus multi-sport challenges and entertainment villages. The core offering includes the FFV-affiliated sailing regatta for monohull and habitable boats, all-inclusive boat packages (J80, Habitable, Inter All-Inclusive), and supporting land-based challenges (Défi Terre, Beach Soccer, Beach Rugby). The event is anchored at rotating French host port venues (Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue for the 58th edition, 18-26 April 2026) and includes the Village Jour day village and Village Nuit with Le Chap', a 1,000 m² ephemeral nightclub.

Product overview

EDHEC Cruise Race (CCE) is a student sailing event and sports competition organizer offering a portfolio centered on 'La Régate,' a monohull sailing regatta affiliated with the French Sailing Federation (FFV). The product line includes specialized boat packages (Pack J80, Pack Habitable, Pack Inter All-Inclusive), pre-event preparation through CAP'CCE, and land-based sporting challenges (Défi Terre, Défi Beach Soccer, Défi Beach Rugby). The event infrastructure comprises Village Jour (day activities village) and Village Nuit (night party village with the Chap' nightclub). Supporting offerings include Pack Supporter, Course Solidaire charity run, Handi Day inclusion activities, and Journée Verte environmental awareness. An official inscription platform handles participant registration and FFV licensing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAP'CCE: A preparatory regatta weekend for the main CCE event, featuring J80 sailing competitions between student crews. Created in 2024 as a modernized successor to the Coupe de France Etudiants.

Products and services

• La Régate (The Regatta) Core FFV-affiliated monohull sailing competition for student crews of 5-10 people. Held annually at rotating French coastal venues. Participants register via inscription.cce.fr with FFV license integration. Includes port services, meal baskets, and access to all eight evenings including the closing party.
• CAP'CCE Pre-event sailing weekend serving as a preparatory regatta for the main CCE. Features J80 sailing, coastal courses, dinners, and networking with organizers. Costs 875€ per crew of 5 (175€ per person) including boat rental, regatta entry, meal packs, and Saturday party access.
• Défi Terre Multi-sport land challenge with 5 events including orienteering, canoe and coastal trail, laser run, charity run, and run-and-bike. Teams of 3-4 compete over 6 days. Costs 180€ per person plus 50€ deposit. Includes meal baskets, Day Village access, and 7 evenings excluding the closing party.
• Défi Beach Soccer 5-on-5 beach football tournament over 4 days with group stages, knockout rounds, and finals. Single-sex teams of 6-10 players. Costs 150€ per person plus 50€ deposit, including meal baskets, Day Village access, and 7 evenings.
• Défi Beach Rugby 5-on-5 touch rugby tournament over 4 days with up to 300 competitors playing up to 5 matches per day. Teams of 6-10 non-mixed players. Costs 150€ per person plus 50€ deposit, including meals, 7 evenings, and an exclusive Beach Rugby night (veillée).
• Village Jour (Day Village)

Quantifiable outcome

• €800,000–€900,000 local economic impact for host city (Arzon, 2022)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

42 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• DecathlonflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Official partner of the 58th edition. Provides sports equipment and apparel support for participants. Brand prominently featured on official partner sections.
• Ernst & Young (EY)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Official partner of CCE. In 2019, 90% of EY France internship cohort were CCE alumni, making the event a strategic talent pipeline. EY logo appears prominently on partner sections of the website.
• XeroxcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Official partner providing document and printing services for event operations, participant materials, and corporate communications.
• EDHEC Business SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Home institution of the organizing association. Provides student organizers (50 EDHEC Grande École students), institutional brand, and ongoing organizational support. Renews half its organizing team annually.
• OriscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Official timekeeper for the 58th edition. Swiss watch brand providing timing services and prize contributions for regatta winners.
• Saint-Vaast-la-HougueflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Host city for the 58th edition (April 2026). First CCE in Normandy/Cotentin in over 40 years. 'Station classifiée tourisme' municipality with a port certified 'Port Propre Actif en Biodiversité'.
• LazareflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Social charity partner for the 58th edition's 'Grande Cause.' Runs coliving between young professionals and homeless people. CCE supports through charity run, communications relay, and financial contributions. Tanguy Le Turquais (sailor, Vendée Globe competitor) is the 58th edition's patron.
• Tanguy Le TurquaisflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 202558th edition patron. Renowned offshore sailor (Route du Rhum, Vendée Globe, Transat Café l'Or) and former CCE participant. Associated with Lazare partnership and opening ceremony.
• SumeriaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Financial services partner. Listed among official partners supporting the CCE 58th edition.
• O2minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Personal services brand (O2 Domelec) offering a 'bon plan' discount to CCE participants. Listed in partner ecosystem.
• DeliveroominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Food delivery partner offering student discounts and meal delivery services during the event. Listed in official partner tier.
• MACSFminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Insurance and financial services partner. Listed among official partners for the 58th edition.
• SEADOO (BRP)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Personal watercraft brand providing motorized water sports experiences. Listed among official partners.
• L'OréalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Listed among official institutional partners for the 58th edition.
• Marine Nationale (French Navy)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Long-standing institutional partner. Navy presence at the event for maritime security and as a recruiting channel for naval careers.
• FFE (Fédération Française de Bridge)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Listed among official partners.
• SamBoatminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Boat rental and sailing platform partner. Listed in official partner tier.
• Le Cœur de l'Événement (LCE)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2025Medical event specialist providing first aid training to CCE organizers, medicalized event coverage, and repatriation services. Partner since at least 2019.
• Addictions FrancecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2025Public utility association providing prevention training on sexual violence and harassment (VSS) for organizers, and safety/prevention materials during the event.
• Ports ManchecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Regional maritime port authority for the Normandy coastline, supporting logistics and maritime infrastructure for the CCE.
• Normandie AttractivitécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Regional development agency collaborating on the CCE's territorial integration and local economic impact.
• Département de la ManchecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Local government department (Manche) supporting the event's regional integration and providing institutional backing.
• Société des Régates du Havre (SRH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Historic sailing club (founded 1838) providing technical briefing and local expertise for Cap'CCE at Le Havre.
• Sopra Steria Mission HandicapcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025RSE partner focused on disability inclusion. Supports the Handi Day program with interactive activities, wheelchair courses, and sensitization programs.
• KersiaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Agri-food biosecurity company. Listed among RSE partners with sustainability and environmental commitments.
• ClarinsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Beauty brand listed among RSE partners.
• Normandie ManutentioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2025Logistics partner for 58th edition. Handles installation of event infrastructure at Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue.
• FraikinminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2025Fleet management and logistics partner providing vehicle solutions for event operations.
• Brasserie Pinte de SaireminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Local Normandy brewery supplying beer for the Night Village. Part of CCE's local economic engagement strategy.
• Red BullcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Energy drink sponsor providing daily 'Aftersail' animation at the Day Village and energy sponsorship for evening events.
• YoplaitminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Dairy brand listed among official suppliers providing food products for participants.
• OatlyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Plant-based milk brand supplying vegan and vegetarian options. Listed in the official food supplier ecosystem.
• 24H du MansminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Prize partner contributing experiences (event tickets) as awards for top competitors.
• BexleyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Premium prize partner contributing luxury prizes for award ceremonies.
• BoseminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Audio equipment brand providing prize contributions for award ceremonies.
• L'ExpresscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Official media partner providing press coverage and editorial visibility for the CCE.
• France Bleu CotentinminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Regional radio media partner covering the CCE in Normandy/Cotentin area.
• StudyramaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Student media platform partner covering CCE news and events.
• HelloAssocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2025FFV license sales processed through HelloAsso platform. CCE uses HelloAsso infrastructure for participant licensing.
• Holistéa (École d'Ostéopathie)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2025Osteopathy school providing 5th-year student osteopaths for free on-site treatments at the Village Jour.
• ENKRE (Kinésithérapeutes)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2025Physiotherapy team providing strapping, recovery massages, and injury treatment for participants during the event.
• Monde des Grandes Ecoles et Universités (MGEU)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2024Official media partner for the Coupe de France des Associations. Student media outlet covering campus life, interviews, and video reports.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Fédération Française de Voile (FFV): FFV is the French Sailing Federation and CCE's governing body for the regatta. It is an ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, but its rules, licensing and event-sanctioning framework directly shape CCE's operating model and competitive landscape.
• Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO): ASO is France's leading sports event organizer (Tour de France, Dakar Rally). It represents the upper-bound benchmark for sports-event sponsorship packaging, broadcast rights and operational scale, and shares CCE's French base and multi-sport event expertise — though at a vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Student Yachting World Cup: The Student Yachting World Cup is an international student sailing competition that shares CCE's format of university-crew regattas. It is the most direct international analog and competes for the same international student-sailing audience.
• Spi Dauphine: Spi Dauphine is a long-running student sailing regatta organized by Université Paris-Dauphine. It mirrors CCE's core model — a French Grandes Écoles regatta with multi-day competition and student social programming — and competes for the same participant pool and corporate sponsors.

Broad incumbents

• SailGP: SailGP is a global professional sailing league with national teams. It targets the same corporate sponsor ecosystem (luxury, finance, technology) that supports CCE and provides a reference point for sponsor economics and broadcast-quality event production in sailing.
• Tour Voile: Tour Voile is a major French professional sailing tour that shares CCE's regatta-event format and French sailing ecosystem. While professional (not student), it competes for sponsor attention in the same French sailing-events category and provides a reference point for what scaled sailing tours can command commercially.
• Rolex Fastnet Race: The Rolex Fastnet Race is a flagship international offshore regatta. It represents a more professional, scaled-up version of CCE's competitive-sailing offering and benchmarks sponsorship economics, media reach and participant scale for sailing-event categories CCE occupies.
• Vendée Globe: The Vendée Globe is a solo round-the-world race. Iconic French offshore sailors (Gabart, Le Turquais) cut their teeth at CCE and now headline the Vendée Globe, illustrating the talent pipeline connection. It is a benchmark for the prestige of French sailing events and for sponsor appetite in the category.
• Kieler Woche (Kiel Week): Kieler Woche is one of the world's largest sailing events, combining Olympic classes, offshore races and a public festival. It is a comparable multi-format sailing festival and represents the upper-bound benchmark for village programming, sponsor activation and audience scale.

Emerging players

• Tall Ships Races (Sail Training International): Tall Ships Races are youth-focused sail-training events that share CCE's youth-sailing and education-driven positioning. They overlap in target audience (students/young adults) and sponsor interest (maritime heritage, training) but operate in a distinct experiential-education model rather than competitive regatta format.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CourseCroisiereEDHEC
• Facebookfr-fr.facebook.com/ccedhec
• LinkedInfr.linkedin.com/company/ccedhec
• Instagraminstagram.com/ccedhec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EDHEC Cruise Race