Transat Jaques Vabre 2007 von Le Havre nach Bahia - Start 3. November 2007 www.jacques-vabre.com - Übersicht 10/28/2007 Transat Jacques Vabre 2007 http://www.jacques-vabre.com Scouring the seas The multihull fleet was unable to put on the show that was planned this afternoon (Sunday) due to the wind getting up. The 61 boats registered to take part in this eighth edition of the race therefore wisely reindexed moored up, thus offering a delightful sight for the crowds of people out for a stroll around the Paul Vatine Basin. Clearly each yacht or each machine, as we should probably say, deserves more than a passing glance. The advances in terms of technology have continued, enabling the boats to achieve ever-higher potential speeds. On the Atlantic between Le Havre and Salvador da Bahia, we can be sure of an exciting race. Die Multihulls warten auf ihren Start «During our delivery trip to Le Havre last Wednesday, we managed to get an average speed of 35 knots for almost two hours.» Lionel Lemonchois's eyes (Gitana 11) sparkled just thinking of gliding along like this, where the trimaran hardly touches the water, resembling a bird rather than a boat. Moored behind ‘Gitana 11', ‘Banque Populaire', like the three other ORMA class boats, is capable of a similar performance. «The look may not have changed, but if I was to tell you about all the changes that have been made over the past two years, be they minor or major, we would be here for a while, said Pascal Bidégorry, the title holder with a certain Lionel Lemonchois. There may not be many of us, but we all have a joker up our sleeves. We have already seen this year that ‘Sopra Group' has made a lot of headway. ‘Brossard' is a similar boat to mine. As for ‘Groupama 2', we don't need to do any adverts for her!» The weather will be the ultimate judge, but the race record set in 2003 by Franck Cammas (Groupama 1), a year, when there was as this time no detour via Ascension Island, is likely to be smashed. From 11 days and 23 hours, we could well see it fall to a little over ten days, or maybe even under ten days… As for the little sisters, the latest shiny new boat is Lalou Roucayrol's Class 50' Open (Lalou-Multi.com/NIM Interim Management). Only recently launched, it will offer a tough challenge to Franck Yves Escoffier's ‘Crêpes Whaou'. In the company of Karine Fauconnier, the yachtsman from Saint-Malo will have to work that little bit harder, while before it was all down to pacing himself in the race. His race time of 12 days and 6 hours, set two years ago, is also likely to be bettered. «We haven't yet reached the top speeds of 30 knots, but the boat is certainly capable of achieving that.» Charles Caudrelier, the winner on Saturday of the « Transat Jacques Vabre – Laguna Trophy » prologue on ‘Safran', has even spoken of a perfect sail to cut through the waves in 25/30 knot winds. With seven brand new yachts lining up, the 60-foot IMOCA class is today experiencing the boom that the ORMA class went through at the turn of the century. In terms of potential speed, the gains have been huge, with boats capable of swallowing up 450 miles a day with no problem. «From her very first outing, ‘Groupe Bel' reached 26 knots with disconcerting ease,» explained Kito de Pavant. A large majority of the skippers in this class have experienced for themselves the thrills of multihull racing. They all recognise that being in charge of a 60-foot monohull is much more demanding in terms of the physical effort required, but is nevertheless much less stressful. The result is that they must work extremely hard to have the right sail up for the weather, but without the underlying fear of going over. Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron's time of 13 days and 9 hours (2005) is also likely to be come under threat, especially if the weather continues to offer high-pressure conditions (easterly winds meaning downwind sailing) for next weekend. «If what I have just seen on the weather charts is confirmed, we should be down off Cape Finisterre in a day and a half, said Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) rubbing his hands. And then after that, it looks perfect too.» The 30 Class 40 boats have no time to lose. However, this young class is also going through a period of rapid growth with a framework of rules that designers are making the most of, as they are encouraged by ambitious skippers. While the weather last year for their first appearance during the Route du Rhum – La Banque Postale was highly unfavourable, the gap between them and the 60-foot IMOCA boats may not be as great as all that. They too have the potential of achieving an average speed of more than ten knots over this 4340-mile voyage, which would mean it would take them 18 days to complete the journey. EVENTS SCHEDULE IN LE HAVRE FOR MONDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2007 Throughout the day Sea sports in the Eure, Vauban and Barre Basins 9h 1st meeting between the skippers and 200 children from leisure centres around Le Havre, followed by a snack and the handing out of signed posters Conference Hall – Coffee Docks 15h 2ne meeting between the skippers and 200 children from leisure centres around Le Havre, followed by a snack and the handing out of signed posters Conference Hall – Coffee Docks 15h Public meeting and autograph session with the HAC Handball team Docks Pavilion – City of Le Havre stand 17h Free concerts with the following groups : Kanigwe, JUPO on stage, Black Jack, The JUPO Big Band & guests, and a Jazz Club around the Luc Le Boisselier Trio at the Docks Pavilion Docks Pavilion – City of Le Havre stand From 27th October to 2nd November in the open air: The Berimbo de Ouro School is proposing Brazilian dance, music and singing classes, as well as capoeira lessons and classes on making a berimbau. Veronique Teurlay +33 (0)6 23 09 34 33 › vero_teurlay@yahoo.fr mailto:vero_teurlay@yahoo.fr http://www.jacques-vabre.com www.jacques-vabre.com Transat Jacques Vabre 2007 http://www.jacques-vabre.com © RivaCom Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE