7.Transat Quebec Saint-Malo 2008 www.quebecsaintmalo.com - Übersicht Thursday, 7th August 2008 Final meeting Everyone knows that sailors love to get together and share their impressions once back ashore. That is why a round table was organised today (Thursday) with the different class winners, Jacques Fournier, President of Class 40 and Claude Renou, President of the Saint-Malo Bay Sailing Club (the SNBSM)… An opportunity to draw up a preliminary report about the two classes, which are really taking off: the 50’ multihulls and Class 40. © DR / Mer et Media «It is clear today that there are some great opportunities ahead for 50’ multihulls. Yves Le Blevec is currently building a new boat, ours reindexs competitive and we intend to build a new prototype.» For some time now Franck-Yves Escoffier has been fighting to get this class of ocean racing multihull recognised as being easily accessible from a financial perspective and now the racing possibilities of these boats have been confirmed. «I agree that I have been a pioneering figure, but it hasn’t always been easy being referred to as the winner even before the start of a race.» An argument supported by Pierre Antoine and Hervé Cléris, who saw in this Transat Quebec Saint-Malo an occasion to set out on a new boat in this category. Winner in the FICO rankings, Christophe Bullens could only add to this by saying that he was planning to continue to take part in ocean races, but probably on three-hulled boats. Do we see a future rival for Franck-Yves Escoffier? The Class 40 competitors were equally positive: Jacques Fournier, the class president stressed how this series was today attracting sailors form very different backgrounds: the list of winners in this transatlantic race confirms this. Halvard Mabire, the race winner has a long list of successes under his belt, while the runner-up, Oliver Krauss, raced for a long time in one-design boats in the Tour de France and the Figaro circuit, while Tanguy de la Motte, who finished third, combines his talents as a designer with a long experience in the Mini-Transat circuit. Everyone emphasised how important it was to preserve the open and friendly spirit of this class. «We all reached Quebec by sea,» Tanguy pointed out. «When you have to do the last few odd jobs before setting sail in a race, it’s only natural that you lend your tools and offer friendly advice. That creates a particular spirit, as well as a very warm, friendly atmosphere… » Halvard Mabire added: «In this class you can find the same vitality that used to exist in ocean racing before economic imperatives took over from the joy of sailing.» Oliver Krauss hammered the point home: «This Transat also offered us an opportunity to sail with a crew. Spending a long time at sea together with a few others in a confined space is also an excellent way to learn about other people, but also about yourself… » In Saint-Malo, with the arrival of Délirium, the whole fleet is now safely in port with the exception of Team Saint-Malo, which is still at sea. Class 40, FICO monohulls and multihulls are on display to passers-by in the Vauban Basin. One thing is certain, the Transat Quebec Saint-Malo has taken a new turn in this 2008 edition. The road has been opened up and the future lies straight ahead.