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Normandy Channel Race 2014
Caen, 22.05.-01.06.2014
www.normandy-race.com -Übersicht
23 May 2014
Two days till the start!
Just 48 hours remain until the 17 CLASS40s competing in the Normandy Channel Race take the start! We give you the low-down on the opposing armies!
Raring to go, the thirty-four skippers will have to sit it out for a further two days prior to knocking their boats into shape in the English Channel and then the Celtic Sea. Considered to be a tough event, racers compare the Normandy Channel Race to a cycle race consisting only of mountain passes!
This year the Normandy Channel Race 2014 has a top-level competitive line-up! We view the runners and riders from this edition:
Yannick Bestaven, winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2011 and 4th in 2013, is sailing with none other than last year’s winner of the event, Pierre Brasseur, aboard the Class40 LE CONSERVATEUR in her brand new livery. “I haven’t yet had the opportunity to add the Normandy Channel Race to my list of accomplishments and, as usual, I make no secret of the fact that I’ll be heading out with some not so secret great ambitions,” he admits.
Bertrand Delesne and David Raison (winner of the Mini Transat 2011), two experienced mini sailors, will be competing aboard TEAM WORK. Eager to get going, this will be their first life-size confrontation against the rest of the fleet of 40 footers.
Former Olympic champion Jean Galfione, skipper of TEAM SERENIS CONSULTING, will be teaming up with an exceptional sailor, who needs no introduction: Roland Jourdain, double Route du Rhum champion in 2006 and 2010 with a plethora of other renowned races to his credit… Objective: to be in the top 5!
Competing for the 3rd time, Sébastien Rogues, winner of the last Transat Jacques Vabre and Class40 2013 champion, will naturally be part of proceedings on GDF SUEZ. He will be accompanied by Bertrand Castelnerac, who also boasts a formidable track record. Competing in their first double-handed race of the season on a boat built in 2013, the duo very much hopes to secure a podium spot.
CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE wouldn’t let a Normandy Channel Race go by without her and she’ll be skippered by the now famous Franco-British couple, Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron. “This race is an event that is dear to us given our respective pedigrees, Anglo-Norman to be specific. We hope to make the podium once again, but the standard of the Class40 is continually progressing”.
The Class40 ERDF – Des Pieds et des Mains will also be helmed by a mixed duo, this one comprising Damien Seguin and the talented Figaro sailor Jeanne Grégoire. “To discover the Class40 circuit alongside a high performance skipper, who knows his boat inside out is a fantastic opportunity. It’s also excellent training for the Route du Rhum, which he covets. The podium is clearly a target,” says Jeanne.
Jean-Christophe Caso and Aymeric Chappellier on TEAM PICOTY – LAC DE VASSIVIERES are back after their first Normandy Channel Race and a 5th position in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2013. They won’t be standing on ceremony in their bid to vie with this year’s firm favourites!
Pierre-Yves Lautrou is sailing with Thomas Ruyant, winner of the 1st edition as well as the Route du Rhum 2010 and the Mini Transat 2009. Together they’ll be racing on L’EXPRESS - TREPIA, the class’ most recent addition and a Finot/ Conq 2014 design. Making the boat reliable and racking up experience with a view to the upcoming Route du Rhum is Pierre-Yves’ primary focus.
A native of Lower Normandy, Louis Duc is bringing along a highly enthusiastic sailor and seasoned accident and emergency doctor, Damien Rousseau on ADVANCED ENERGIES – Carac. The plan is to rack up the race miles and continue to develop the boat with a view to the Route du Rhum/ Destination Guadeloupe.
Having previously secured fourth in the Normandy Channel Race, South African Philippa Hutton-Squire is co-skippering with vet Juliette Petres aboard CONCISE 2: “There’s nothing like a Normandy Channel Race as training for the Route du Rhum and with Philippa as co-skipper, I’m going to learn a lot!”
Brieuc Maisonneuve, company director, has chosen a Belgian with experience in the Class40 and the Mini class to “beat Halvard Mabire” he says gleefully. Rémi Aubrun, master sailmaker, is very much hoping to help Brieuc succeed in his ambitious challenge aboard the Lombard design GROUPEMENT FLO.
Aboard KOGANE, the 59-year old Franco-British duo wants to appreciate the sea and sailing as well as outdo the youngsters! Patrice Bougard and Richard Tolkien are hoping to prove that an amateur crew bordering on their sixties is capable of battling it out for an honourable place.
Ah LA BELLE EQUIPE 2! The boat may not be the youngest of the Normandy Channel Race 2014 fleet but one of her crew is! At 26 years of age, Loïc Coudret is getting some miles under his belt in readiness for the Mini Transat 2015. He’ll be alongside Bruno Rzetelny, 58, whose aim is to continue preparing the boat and take up the challenge to be in the top 10 of this edition!
Another duo with a few years between them, Maxime Sorel, 27, and Pascal Quintin, 54, both highly experienced Multi50 sailors, will be competing in their first Normandy Channel Race aboard MS-SAILING TEAM. In Maxime’s line of sight is the Route du Rhum/ Destination Guadeloupe!
The Lorraine-based sailors are back again this year on OBPORTUS 3! Olivier Roussey and Philippe Burger are seemingly stuck to one another: “After two years finding their way around the Class40 and a Transat Jacques Vabre full of lessons, the Normandy Channel Race is an opportunity to extend the adventure and battle it out with the most seasoned crews!” explains Olivier.
It’s also the second Normandy Channel Race for the Norwegian duo Rune Aasberg and Simen Lovgren. The race’s Vikings fully intend to finish in the top 5 with their 2006 Owen Clarke design
ROMERIKE ELEKTRO AS as “a new boat isn’t everything in the Normandy Channel Race, strategy prevails!” according to Rune.
Finally, this isn’t the first attempt for Paul Peggs and Roderick Knowles on SWISH either, but this time they hope to complete the race in a good position, whilst learning some tricks and having fun along the way!
There’s no doubt that the quality of this line-up bodes well for some fine battles in the English Channel and the Celtic Sea! See you on Sunday 25 May at 1400 hours local time when hostilities commence!
Discover the Normandy Channel Race 2013/2014 on:
Facebook (LINK) https://www.facebook.com/normandy.channelrace
Twitter (LINK) https://twitter.com/NormandyRace
YouTube (LINK) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA0f4JTJGXhFRvuzJUst8g
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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