ISTANBUL EUROPA RACE Übersicht - www.istanbuleuroparace.com Istanbul Europa Race - Arrival in Brest Tuesday 22nd September 2009 FONCIA takes Europe Victorious in Brest after a complicated third stage, Michel Desjoyeaux and Team FONCIA won the first edition of the round Europe, Istanbul Europa Race, in the early hours of this Tuesday morning. We look back at the images as well as looking to the future... Foto: Jaques Vapillon FONCIA and her crew have spent nearly a month at sea coloured by clockwork regularity. Second in Nice (stage 1), second in Barcelona (stage 2) and finally first at the end of the longest stage between Spain and Brest (via Wolf Rock lighthouse in Cornwall), Michel Desjoyeaux and his men have earned a much deserved victory in this very first edition of the Istanbul Europa Race. In light airs, right on the limit of the turning tide and under the constant threat of their closest rivals, they arrived in Brest at 0350 hours this morning, exhausted but delighted with this unique and refreshing collective experience. The delights of the racing and the lessons learnt... Michel Desjoyeaux: "I feel a sense of delight and happiness for several reasons. Initially because our crew, or rather our crews, were superb over the three stages. Secondly, because we went to places we didn't know, yet we sailed cleanly. It's a well deserved victory. Finally, because I have a Jérémie Beyou (his future co-skipper for the Transat Jacques Vabre) who is flat out, delighted to be here and everything is working well between us in a simple and effective manner. Added to that we were battling the whole time, the weather and strategy were very interesting, and we learnt lots. I also have confirmation that FONCIA is a good boat; that she's very agreeable to drive and even though there are a few points of sail we need to work on (wind on the tail in light conditions for example), her versatility hasn't been called into question." A brisk race Michel Desjoyeaux: "Jérémie and I were still in Figaro mode. On the third stage with Gildas Mahé, there were three of us onboard who were Figaro sailors, so we just kept our foot down. Absolutely nothing broke on the boat and we encountered no technical problems, which would have forced us to ease off the pace. As such we were always highly available for strategy and we never had to think twice about what manoeuvres to make." A hint of returning Michel Desjoyeaux: "The fact that we were in crewed configuration on a totally unique course meant that the racing gave us a great deal of freshness and that is very positive. In two years time, I think that Cumali Varer (race organiser) is concocting us an even nicer course. Personally I believe there needs to be even more of a spectacle and we need to have guests onboard. The races like those in the Bosphorus could count towards the ranking, which would be good for the show and the media coverage. Finally, the event is going to have to be more dynamic so that there are more than six boats at the start. That said, those that didn't make it this time may regret it..." The schedule for the next few weeks with 46 days to go to the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre... Michel Desjoyeaux: "As the boat is in perfect condition she's going to stay in the water. There are a few odd jobs to do, but nothing much. Personally I'm going to make the most of a few days of well earned rest before I tackle the next stage. On Saturday and Sunday we have a closure race in Brest followed by the prize-giving. After that, we'll take the boat back to Port La Forêt to participate in the two double-handed training sessions at the start and midway through October. The boat has to be in Le Havre on 30th October (start on 8th November). Time will just fly by so we'll have to watch that we get some rest. Right now I'm still wrapped up in the euphoria, but when the pressure eases..." Words from Team FONCIA... Jérémie Beyou: "With Michel and everyone else, we had a great laugh. We all tried to share our skills and our feelings about the trimming, how to make headway and the strategy. Yet the weather on this last stage wasn't at all simple. It was important not to flare up and to try to reindex logical whilst staying as cool as possible. In this respect Michel is really calm, the upshot of which is that everything is suddenly easier. Even though we didn't think about the Transat Jacques Vabre for a second, it was very good to be here to discover the boat's subtleties in a race context, with rivals that occasionally go twice as fast as you". Marc Liardet: "Being a native of Brest, it was really fun to return to home waters in first place. It's not something to be sniffed at. Following that it was my first ocean race and I'd never sailed for more than four days in a row before. To start with it seems like a long time and then, little by little you get a taste for it! In fact everything happens very quickly, it's very interesting. To see Michel (Desjoyeaux) position the boat in the right weather systems, at the right pace... it's fabulous! You really get a sense of the true extent of his talent! Physically, it's pretty enriching too. You mustn't think about it too much: if you have to get to it, you go, that's it! At a given point you are in the bunk resting and a few seconds later you hear: "Prepare to tack!" On hearing that you eject yourself from inside the boat, launch yourself at the winch island and return to your bunk exhausted!" ITW http://www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/Foncia/audio/MDESJOYEAUX-210909.mp3 Michel Desjoyeaux - Arrival ITW http://www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/Foncia/audio/JBEYOU-220909.mp3 Jérémie Beyou - Arrival Rights free photos for press use - Please respect the photo credit https://blanconegro.extranet-e.net/?data_id=725&pwd=2ec37c3aaa0a14e6706ec9a844b8fae2 ©Jacques Vapillon Gildas Mahé: "I hit the crank smack bang on the jaw and my teeth went through my tongue. I found it difficult to drink and eat for 24 hours but after that it was okay. Above all else I was careful to disinfect it well. Other than that my experience over this stage was really nice. It was a great atmosphere and a fine machine. I'd never sailed on these boats before other than for day sails. There's certainly no time to be bored by them at any rate! Each time the wind shifts 5 degrees, you change sail!" Julien Marcelet: "For me it was an amazing, unique experience. Sailing with guys like Michel, Jérémie or Gildas is fantastic. They are extremely generous people. Learning alongside them is a pure delight. Following that our passage around Gibraltar will certainly stay etched on my mind." Reminder: Time of arrival: 3hr 50min and 56s Race time: 7d 15h 50min and 56s Average speed: 8.99 knots. Reminder of the FONCIA ranking per stage: Stage 1: Istanbul (TUR) > Nice: 2nd Composition of the crew: Michel Desjoyeaux, Jérémie Beyou, Marc Liardet, Dimitri Voisin, Jean-Philippe Guillemot. Stage 2: Nice > Barcelona (ESP): 2nd Composition of the crew: Michel Desjoyeaux, Jérémie Beyou, Marc Liardet, Paul Duval, Pierre-Yves Lautrou. Stage 3: Barcelona (ESP) > Brest: 1st (prior to the jury) Composition of the crew: Michel Desjoyeaux, Jérémie Beyou, Marc Liardet, Gildas Mahé, Julien Marcelet. 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