Press release No.7 – 3rd May 2010.
THE NORMANDY CHANNEL RACE, SYNONYMOUS WITH THE CREATION OF A NEW SAILING
DRIVE IN NORMANDY.
On Monday 3rd May 2010 a press conference was held in Caen to launch the
NORMANDY CHANNEL RACE. All those who attended, racers, journalists, partners
and the organisation team, were able to get together for the first time to
discover Normandy’s latest drive to encourage sailing in the region.
THE CLASS 40: A FAST-EXPANDING CLASS
Today the Class 40 is fast developing in the doindex of international
offshore racing and can already boast nearly a hundred craft. Originally
created to enable amateur skippers to gain access to ocean racing, it is now
attracting an increasing number of professional skippers too.
Positioned midway between the Figaro Beneteau and the 60 footers from the
Vendée Globe, the series has gradually built up its race programme and its
1st dedicated Class 40 transatlantic race, launched in 2009 – the Solidaire
du Chocolat – exjoyed great success in terms of the sporting appeal and its
media coverage. These 40 foot monohulls (12.20 m) are able to relish a
varied race programme due to their compatibility with both oceanic and
coastal course.
A FULLY ROUNDED EVENT FROM 12TH TO 23RD MAY 2010
Comprising a very demanding course through some complicated navigation
zones, the event will provide the perfect atmosphere for tactical
game-playing coloured by what is sure to be a very fast pace. The course
will take the fleet across a fabulous variety of prime watersports areas,
with half of the course made up of coastal zones and the other an offshore
course across the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea.
Through its positioning the race is particularly suited to French crews from
the Channel and those tempted by the sense of adventure from the Atlantic,
as well as crews from Britain, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Half the entry list (see further down) comprises international crews, which
is a clear indicator that the event’s objective for openness has been a
success on its very first edition.
A sizeable programme of entertainment has been arranged with the Class 40s
being moored in the Bassin Saint-Pierre in the very heart of the action in
the city of Caen. Alongside them a race village with a whole host of
marquees is to be erected on the quay from Wednesday 12th to Sunday 16th
May, with a race prologue out at sea on Saturday 15th May, an official
soirée the same day, a parade along the channel between Caen and the sea on
Sunday 16th May prior to the start, and finally the prize-giving on Sunday
23rd May in Caen.
The website’s satellite tracking of the boats will enable spectators to
closely monitor progress, as will the daily radio sessions organised with
the skippers.
Finally, a virtual game, VIRTUAL OCEAN RACES 2, will provide everyone with a
chance to participate in this race from the comfort of their own homes,
sheltered from the bad weather.
A HIGH QUALITY INTERNATIONAL LINE-UP
The dozen double-handed crews present will comprise a number of sailors
capable of heading the bill, including Tanguy de Lamotte (NOVEDIA
INITIATIVES), 2009 winner of the Solidaire du Chocolat, with Jean Galfione
as co-skipper. Other sailors with victory in their sights include Thomas
Ruyant (DESTINATION DUNKERQUE), winner of the last Mini-Transat with Tanguy
Leglatin as co-skipper; Yvan Noblet (APPART CITY) teaming up with David
Tabore, as well as the President of the Class 40, Jacques Fournier (GROUPE
PICOTY), with Denis Van Weynebrgh accompanying this enthusiastic competitor.
Normandy itself is well represented with Marc Lepesqueux, supported by the
CAEN LA MER agglomeration, partnered by Eric Defert, as well as Christophe
Coatnoan (PARTOUCHE) with Pierre-Yves Lautrou.
Among the wealth of international crews are some highly experienced sailors
like the Dutch crew on MOONPALACE, Roeland Franssens and Michel Kleinjans,
and 3 British crews in the form of 40 DEGREES, skippered by Peter Harding
and renowned Norman Halvard Mabire, SPLIFF with Andrew Dawson and Jon
McColl, as well as Mike West (KEY SOURCE) and Joffy Berd.
Finally a South African crew (PHESHEYA RACING) will add a flavour of the
southern hemisphere to the competition in the form of Nick Legatt and
Phillippa Hutton-Squire.
A sizeABLE MEDIA PLAN
The major leading media in Normandy have teamed up with the project as media
partners: Ouest-France will take care of printed press and will be making a
special presentation of the event in their 12th May issue, on the day the
race village opens in Caen. Accompanying them in the local radio section
will be France Bleu Basse- Normandie, which is particularly well geared up
for broadcasting the daily radio sessions. Finally France 3 Basse-Normandie
will be actively represented by its antenna in Caen.
These partnerships are to be accompanied by a sizeable poster campaign right
across Caen with some large format images visible from 10th to 25th May (70
copies in 320*240 format), and the surrounding areas from 3rd to 17th May
via the CBS network in 120*176 format.
A PROJECT BACKED BY THE SURROUNDING TERRITORY
The major institutional protagonists from the surrounding territory have
joined forces to support the Normandy Channel Race project and each have
something different to offer the event.
As such the CITY OF CAEN is reinforcing its involvement in sailing after
having played host to several Solitaire du Figaro starts over recent years.
The LOWER NORMANDY region will show off the true value of its superb marine
territory from Mont St Michel to Honfleur as well as its vast group of
marine professionals that come together as one in the F2N association. Not
to be outdone the CALVADOS region has, for several years, been leading an
active policy of support for major marine events such as the Channel Race,
and also boasts a sizeable marine industry in the form of Calvados Nautisme.
Finally the CAEN LA MER agglomeration is offering the event its support in
the form of Marc Lepesqueux’s project and the marine enterprise zone
Norlanda.
These four large groups, acting together for the development of this
project, will be present in the race village from 12th to 16th May.
Accompanying them in the sporting and maritime aspect of the event will be
all the protagonists from the local sailing clubs: the Caen-Ouistreham
Société des Régates (SRCO) and the Ligue Basse-Normandie de la FFVoile
(French Sailing Federations’ Lower Normandy League), who will be loaning out
their teams for the race start.
Further support will come from the Caen Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
the port of Caen-Ouistreham, who will provide precious assistance in the
installation of the necessary infrastructure and berthing in the Bassin St
Pierre, as well as managing the port traffic between Caen and the sea. The
Thury Harcourt town hall will also be lending part of its marine equipment
with its floating pontoons.
The V1D2 yard, based in Caen and managed by Marc Lefebvre, has established a
reputation over recent years in the professional preparation of 40 and 60
foot racing boats and will provide appreciable technical assistance for the
crews participating in the race.
This whole team will be joined by a substantial private partner in the form
of the CAISSE D’EPARGNE NORMANDIE, with its 230 agencies across Normandy,
which will be offering its support of the event as Official Partner.
Finally numerous regional and national enterprises will be accompanying the
operation as Official Suppliers, whether they be from the marine industry:
ALL MER (marine wear), ALL PURPOSE (sail loft), KARVER (top of the range
deck fittings), SNIP YACHTING (distributors Targa and Bavaria based in
Ouistreham) or from other sectors of business: HEINEKEN, CHAMPAGNE MUMM,
ORANGE, TOSHIBA and OMB.
LIST OF COMPETITORS IN NORMANDY CHANNEL RACE
Boat’s race name
Sail No.
Skipper
Co-skipper
SPLIFF
67
Andrew Dawson
Jon McColl
PARTOUCHE
60
Christophe Coatnoan
Pierre-Yves Lautrou
NAME TO BE SUPPLIED
26
Marc Lepesqueux
Eric Defert
NOVEDIA - INITIATIVES
30
Tanguy de Lamotte
Jean Galfione
KEY SOURCE
42
Mike West
Joffy Bird
GROUPE PICOTY
20
Jacques Fournier
Denis Van Weynebrgh
DESTINATIONDUNKERQUE
88
Thomas Ruyant
Tanguy Leglatin
PHESHEYA RACING
23
Nick Legatt
Philippa Hutton Squire
APPART CITY
55
Yvan Noblet
David Tabore
MOONPALACE
75
Roeland Franssens
Michel Kleinjans
40 DEGREES
90
Peter Harding
Halvard Mabire
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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