The Tour des Yoles is the most popular event of the year, along with Carnival. Every year, between 13 and 20 round skiffs compete for the title of Tour de la Martinique. Stages are held in towns announced in advance. The rivalry between the boats is fierce. Not only do they represent the companies they display prominently on their sails, but each one is also associated with a commune of Martinique. However, several yawls can represent the same commune, and some communes - most often those that are not coastal and therefore have no access to the sea - are not represented. So it's a question of local honor to win the Tour.
It usually takes place in late July or early August. There is usually a prologue on the start day and 7 stages over 7 consecutive days. The prologue does not count towards the overall classification and is only used to award the various jerseys. It's a sort of warm-up lap. It's rarely a harbinger of things to come on the Tour. At the same time, wouldn't it be a good idea to concentrate one's energies on a race that counts for nothing, and tire oneself out when 7 long, physical stages will be at stake the very next day? This year's edition has dispensed with a prologue and will start directly with the race.
Unlike the Tour Cycliste de la Martinique, the entire length of Martinique is covered, except in cases of force majeure (bad weather).
This year, the start will be in Le Diamant. The 40th edition will take place from Sunday, July 26, 2026, to Sunday, August 2, 2026.
The "Mapipis" (favorites in yawl parlance) will once again be UFR / Chanflor, Ets Rosette / L'Appalooza, Joseph Cotrell / Leader Mat, and, of course, SARA Énergies Nouvelles / Autodistribution.
It was UFR/Chanflor, whose leader is Marc-Daniel Labourg, who came out on top in 2025. In this 40th edition, 15 crews will take the start.
Yawls which took part in the 39th edition:
- Bimini
Association: Aprant
Yawl name: Ti-Louis
Boss: Isaac Lafleur
Municipality: Le Marin
- Cottrell - Leader Mat
Association: Athon
Yawl name: Le dernier jugement
Boss: Loïc Mas
Municipality: Le François
- Élyzé Restaurant – Madiana Cinéma
Association: Ay Douvan
Yawl name: Express
Boss: Marc-Emmanuel Florian
Municipality: Sainte-Anne
- Prixe - Westpoint
Association: Baie des mulets
Yawl name: L'ambéli
Boss: Mike Melidor-Fuxis
Municipality: Le Vauclin
- GFA Caraïbes - L'Univers du Pneu - Mc Donald's
Association: Bwa viré
Yawl name: Tornade
Boss: Christophe Dédé
Municipality: Le Robert
- UFR – Chanflor
Association: Caracoli
Yawl name: Caracoli
Boss: Marc-Daniel Labourg
Municipality: Le Robert
- CFA UMIH Formation
Association: Chabin'an
Yawl name: Chabin'an
Boss: Philippe Daquin
Municipality: Le François
- SNEM - Solar Inox - Groupe Limitless
Association: Fem & Hom à la barre
Yawl name: Ti boug- Énergie
Boss: Steve Jacqua
Municipality: Le François
- CDTM - EDF - Fraikin
Association: Gommier et Tradition
Yawl name: Sa pa zafe'w
Boss: Mario Malfleury
Municipality: Lamentin
- Royal - Fruits de Martinique - ADEP
Association: La yole trinitéenne
Yawl name: Fayo
Boss: Philippe Attely
Municipality: Trinité
- Rosette – L'Appaloosa
Association: L'Arme fatale
Yawl name: L'Arme fatale
Boss: Kenny Exilie
Municipality: François
- Mr Bricolage
Association: Las Palmas
Yawl name: La révélation
Boss: Jimmy Bellune
Municipality: Le Robert
- Pli bel Price - Pneus Cash
Association: Vini wè sa
Yawl name: Lanmè2Bodé
Boss: Laurent Mas
Municipality: Le Vauclin
- Sara Énergies Nouvelles – Autodistribution Martinique
Association: Yole Net 2000
Yawl name: Spica
Boss: Diany Rémy
Municipality: Le Marin
- CMA-CGM
Association: Alizés Yoles
Yawl name: Pasé lanmen
Boss: Georgy Lamont-Lagier
Municipality: Le Marin
The program is as follows:
- Sunday, July 27: Stage 1: Diamant ► Rivière-Pilote
- Monday, July 28: Stage 2: Rivière-Pilote ► Sainte-Anne
- Tuesday, July 29: Stage 3: Sainte-Anne ► Le Vauclin
- Wednesday, July 30: Le Vauclin ► Le François
- Thursday, July 31: François ► Sainte-Marie
- Friday, August 1: Marin ► Sainte-Marie ► Saint-Pierre
- Saturday, August 2: Saint-Pierre ► Fort-de-France
- Sunday, August 3: Fort-de-France ► Le Diamant
If you want to get there, prepare well in advance. In fact, for a stage starting at 9:00-10:00 am, the welcoming beaches are taken by storm as early as 7:00 am!
