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Normandy Channel Race 2014
Caen, 22.05.-01.06.2014
www.normandy-race.com - Übersicht
Press release No.9 – Normandy Channel Race 2014 – 28 May 2014.
The sailors from Lower Normandy leading at Tuskar Rock!
In this Normandy Channel Race 2014, GROUPEMENT FLO, representing Lower Normandy, is leading the way skippered by Brieuc Maisonneuve and Rémi Aubrun. The red and white boat has just rounded Tuskar Rock in first position. The two ‘amateur’ skippers have consolidated their place on the top spot, over 13 miles ahead of 5 pursuers, who are eager for revenge. Prior to their arrival at the Tuskar Rock mark, Race Management announced a course change.
Last night really grated on the nerves of the 32 skippers. Three or four boats even ended up going backwards for a few hundred metres and had to drop anchor on the flat calm seas with no wind. Patrice Bougard on KOGANE can testify to this: “It was a tough night, with no wind, punching tide with a zone of high pressure over our heads. The whole of what proved to be a great day yesterday was reduced to nothing. The boats at the front powered away without waiting for us and those behind caught up with us again and overtook us. After anchoring to avoid slipping backwards, we did get going again but without making much headway. "That’s the way it goes!” Briton Richard (Tolkien) tells me. I envy his composure”.
The skipper from Lower Normandy, Brieuc Maisonneuve, and his co-skipper Rémi Aubrun, on GROUPEMENT FLO, have been leading since yesterday evening at 1720 GMT: “We took a slightly daring option by only putting in a tack change off the island of Lundy, a long way to the east of the direct route, but it paid off! We’re having a ball. The boat’s going well and things are great. We were keen to take a slightly radical option and it appears to have worked! At the start, the aim was to hunt down a flow of air to our north-west, which was bringing pressure with it.” The duo has just rounded Tuskar Rock, a group of rocks surmounted by a lighthouse off the south-east coast of County Wexford, Ireland, which is famous for being the biggest risk to shipping along the Irish coast.
Astern of them, nobody’s giving an inch, “Rémi and Brieuc have really opened up a lead, but the race isn’t over yet and there are still some stunts to be pulled. It’s beginning to get difficult to play catch-up, but we’re powering along with the intention of doing just that,” says Thomas Ruyant on L’EXPRESS – TREPIA (4th some 25 miles or so shy of the leaders). CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE (2nd) and GDF SUEZ (3rd) are also in hot pursuit of the Normans and are eager for them not to steal too much of a march!
With the weather forecasts not enabling the fleet to get as far as the Fastnet, the Normandy Channel Race had its course modified this morning by Race Management and the Race Committee. After rounding Tuskar Rock, in Ireland, the Class40s will be able to switch onto a downwind section en route back to Wolf Rock (to be left to starboard) before diving further south to round the Lizen Ven Ouest mark, to the north of Aberwrac’h in Brittany. The island of Guernsey will then need to be left to port before they make their way along the Cotentin and cross the finish line offshore of Ouistreham on Saturday according to forecasts.
For the next stage of proceedings, the weather forecast is indicating a fairly steady northerly wind of between 10 and 15 knots, which augurs well for some great speeds in the Celtic Sea.
Quotes from the boats at the radio session:
CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE – Miranda Merron :
We were sailing alongside GDF SUEZ until they tacked. It was an intense night keeping an eye on GDF SUEZ and ERDF. We’re managing to keep them astern of us but we’re remaining vigilant. An hour ago we were enveloped by thick fog with some dolphins, which was pretty mystical! It’s fairly clear now, but we still don’t have glorious sunshine and it’s a bit cold. We have 10 knots of breeze and it’s pleasant sailing.
GDF SUEZ – Sébastien Rogues :
We saw some giant sea otters 10 miles from the English coast. It’s the first time I’ve seen any. In fact they’re seals, but that’s what we call them. We asked them to go and see if our bulb was damaged. They weren’t keen. Maybe they didn’t understand because they only speak English. We’re in hot pursuit of Brieuc and Rémi, who’ve sailed a great race so far. We’re having fun and it’s a great atmosphere! We’re sending you Tuskar via video, which will be nice now the fog has lifted.
SWISH – Roderick Knowles :
Things are going very well. The weather’s great and I think we have between 12 and 15 knots. We haven’t seen our rivals for 2/3 hours. However, we keep on seeing dolphins. We have a TSS ahead of us so we won’t delay in tacking to avoid it. All’s very well aboard and we’re eating chips. We’re trying to snaffle back some places but it’s not easy in these conditions. We’re sleeping and eating well. I hope all the other boats are doing well too!
LA BELLE EQUIPE 2 – Loïc Coudret :
It was a tough day yesterday, which nevertheless enabled us to hook up with the right group. We’re currently sailing close-hauled, right in the fray, bound for the next mark. We’re sailing within sight of three other boats, which is great. We have 12-13 knots of north-westerly so we’re advancing well. It’s a great atmosphere aboard!
L’EXPRESS - TREPIA – Thomas Ruyant :
Things are a little monotonous right now but we’re in the sunshine! We had tough times between the Lizard and Land’s End. We wanted to slink along the coast slowly but surely. In the light patches though, the deficits quickly open up. Rémi and Brieuc have really opened up a lead. The race is far from over of course, but it’s beginning to get difficult to play catch-up, though we’re powering along with the intention of doing just that. We’re working hard on the weather and we’ve made up some places since yesterday. We’re currently lying in fourth and we’re sailing a good race. Conditions aren’t easy, especially on the nerves. Slight differences of a hundredth of a metre can change everything.
ERDF – Des pieds et Des mains – Jeanne Grégoire :
It wasn’t a fantastic night, because we have a slight ‘fuel issue’ when we’re close-hauled and it’s not yet resolved… We’re not feeling very intelligent, not like Brieuc who’s taken a fabulous option. In the meantime, we’re doing a spot of tourism, passing by some sublime places. We’ve even seen some landlubbers gadding about on the beautiful, lush, green English coast. It may well be the first time that these landlubbers have seen the sea in fine weather like that. Back to the race, we’re not easing off the pace. We’re trying to remain coherent with our strategy. We’re feeling cheery in this beautiful weather in any case!
SERENIS CONSULTING – Jean Galfione :
It’s a great ambiance and we have a good following. Yesterday we pulled some good tricks out of the bag and got a taste for being at the front of the pack, but our day of calms has hurt us a bit. It’s hard to see our playmates making off without us. We saw them in a band of wind just 200m away from us and it never came our way once… We saw the course change. There are still some changes to be made and some stunts to be had, which is all part of the Normandy Channel Race’s charm. We’re really counting on Guernsey! Bilou is very well and he’s pleased as punch to have slept well and is just sipping his coffee!
CONCISE 2 – Juliette Pêtrès : Everything’s very good aboard. It’s time for lunch for Philippa. I’ve already wolfed down some Chinese noodles. We were just saying that we’ve never seen the Irish Sea looking so beautiful. We’re making headway with a light breeze; it’s idyllic. I’d only heard bad things about it. We’re in good spirits and everything’s going marvellously well!
Ranking: (at 1300 GMT)
1. GROUPEMENT FLO (Maisonneuve/ Aubrun)
2. CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE (Merron/ Mabire) + 13.4 nm
3. GDF SUEZ (Rogues/ Castelnerac) +15.9 nm
4. L'EXPRESS - TREPIA (Lautrou/ Ruyant) +27.1 nm
5. ERDF - Des pieds et Des mains (Seguin/ Grégoire) +31.7 nm
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Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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