25.07.2004
Faultless Victory for Crêpes Whaou !
It was at 09 hours 46 minutes and 34 seconds (GMT) on Friday 23 July 2004that the 50 foot trimaran Crêpes Whaou ! crossed the finish line of the 6th Transat Québec-Saint Malo. Franck Yves Escoffier, Kévin Escoffier, Bertrand Chambert Loir and Christophe Aillet thus inscribe their names in history books of the Transat Québec-Saint Malo, as winner of the Class 2.
Franck Yves Escoffier and his crew sailed a faultless race, a just revenge for their efforts in 2000 where they finished second, less than half an hour behind the winner Hervé Cléris. This time around, after heading the fleet at the start, they continued to open up the lead on Jean Stalaven initially and then on Bonjour Québec (Mike Birch). In so doing they have taken outright victory with over two days on their pursuers.
Their race time for their 2871 mile course was 11 days, 17 hours, 11 minutes and 34 seconds at the average theoretical speed over the course of 10.21 knots.
Portrait of Franck Yves Escoffier
Franck Yves Escoffier has always been an enthusiast of sailing and regattas, a vocation he forged very early on during the summer holidays in Saint Malo. At 18, he was the youngest skipper to participate in the Triangle Atlantique. At 21, the sea was everything to him. He was employed as a sailor before becoming a fishermen’s boss, an activity with which he continues to busy himself in conjunction with his nautical travels. He made a name for himself when he won the Défi des Ports de Pêche twice over (Fishing Port Challenge), followed by his four participations in the Solitaire du Figaro between 92 and 96. In 1998, he stepped up to a 50 foot trimaran originally designed for fast cruising. He took the start of the Route du Rhum for the first time and won his class, prior to a sequence of numerous other ocean racing successes and another victory in the Rhum 2002. After a 2003 season on the Figaro, he is back at the helm of his trimaran.
CREPES WHAOU !
Built in 1991 by an enlightened amateur who had set himself the target of fast cruising, this 15.25 metre wooden trimaran had sailed little considering its age. Franck Yves acquired it some weeks before the start of the Route du Rhum 98, and took it to class victory. Since then the boat has been boosted literally: extended centreboard and new appendages, a new carbon rig with a mast 2 metres higher, kevlar standing rigging, a new set of sails which have had the surface revamped in part… Very at ease in the breeze the boat is handicapped by its weight in light conditions. The recent modifications have lead to a weight saving of 500 kg which should make the boat more competitive.
Translation Kate Jennings
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