02.06.2010
100 boats racing in Le Havre during Normandy Sailing Week!
Normandy Sailing Week will begin in Le Havre, France, on Thursday and run
through to 6th June. 100 boats from the IRC, Farr 30, J80, First 7.5 and
Sportsboat categories are expected in the Baie de Seine for some round the
cans and coastal courses.
The Town of Le Havre, the clubs (CNPV- SRH –
SNPH), the Upper Normandy Sailing League, the marina and Sirius Evénements,
are fully prepared for the four days of top level competition, where daggers
will be drawn amongst the international competitors.
Normandy Sailing Week has come about thanks to a solid framework of Norman
sailing protagonists. A truly fabulous spectacle awaits as it’s been over 20
years since 100 boats have raced together in the Baie de Seine!
A wealth of famous competitors will be sailing on Le Havre’s race zone,
which is renowned for its tactical nature. Among them are Bertrand Pacé, a
world famous match racer, Pierre-Antoine Morvan the 15th best match racer in
the world, Figaro legend Eric Drouglazet, Nicolas Lunven the most recent
winner of the Solitaire du Figaro, Jimmy Pahun, Daniel Souben as well as
Benoit Charon, to name but a few…
From 3rd June, the Farr 30s will take to the race course for the second
stage of their French crewed championships. All the heavyweights from this
series will be in Le Havre for the Championship ranking, as well as to hone
their machines with a view to their participation in the Tour de France à la
Voile. For the final year of the Farr 30, numerous teams are racing on the
circuit and a fierce contest is expected. “Courrier Dunkerque” skippered by
Daniel Souben, will be here to defend his title. He will have to contend
with some stiff opposition in the form of “Nouvelle Calédonie” helmed by
Bertrand Pacé, winner of the Grand Prix Atlantique at the start of the
season, “Oman Sail Renaissance” who are making a sensational entrance into
the series, “TPM Coych” sailed by the experienced Fabien Henry,
“Groovederci” skippered by the American Deneen Demourkas, as well as Jimmy
Pahun’s “Ile-de-France”, Benoit Charon’s “Manche Basse-Normandie” and
“Tender to Rapetou” skippered by local skipper Alban Mesnil. On Saturday 5th
June, following some close contact racing for the opening days, the crews
will participate in a grand coastal course in the Baie de Seine.
Meantime the J80s, the most popular one-design in France and built by the
“JB Composites” yard, will also be in festive mode at the competition, where
a stage of the French J80 Cup is scheduled in Le Havre. 15 crews will be on
the start lines set up by the Race Committee. As such Normandy Sailing Week
will be an important event for the French Cup ranking, which comprises eight
stages in all, organised by the French J80 association. Two teams who seem
particularly well placed for victory are those of Patrick Bot (Ecole Navale
CG 29) and Laurent Chauvin.
In the IRC category, there will be a choice line-up for this event, with
performances counting towards the ranking for the Trophée Manche (Channel
Trophy) set up by the UNCL (National Offshore Union). A generous number of
sailors have agreed to attend after being so well received at Deauville’s
International Sailing Week in previous years. As such it is evident that
Normandy has become a major playing field for British and French enthusiasts
of racing on corrected time aboard sleek craft.
In IRC 1, Glynn Williams and his crew from the Royal Yacht Squadron are hot
contenders aboard a fabulous Swan 45, as is the J133 “Jivaro” skippered by
Alain Rouault. In IRC 2, “Foggy Dew” skippered by Le Havre’s Ludovic
Senechal, has just won the Cowes – Plymouth – Cowes. An impressive line-up
then, which includes no less than 15 Norman boats of the 35 competing in the
IRC category!
In the small yet powerful planing Sportsboats category, several series will
be vying for leadership with the K6.50s, Open 6.50s, Laser SB3s and Mach
6.50 all racing in Le Havre. Finally, the First 7.5s will also be out in
force for the French Junior Championship selections taking place in the Baie
de Seine, including several crews from the Upper Normandy Sailing League.
In short, there are some fine battles in store during the four days of
racing at Normandy Sailing Week; proof if need be, of Normandy’s faculty for
organising high quality sailing competitions. As if to echo this sentiment,
Le Havre will also play host to the start of the Solitaire du Figaro in July
and the French Junior Dinghy Sailing Championship in August.
Press information:
Rights free photos for the press and web on request
We also have press boats to follow the racing on the water
http://www.normandy-week.com
PROGRAMME 2010 – UT+2 hrs
Monday 31st May –Wednesday 2nd June
Thursday 3rd June
Friday 4th June
Saturday 5th June
Sunday 6th June
Tides
Coef HT LT
53 03h21 10h25
49 15h52 22h37
Tides
Coef HT LT
46 04h03 10h57
43 16h39 23h24
Tides
Coef HT LT
41 04h54 11h47
40 17h37
Tides
Coef HT LT
40 05h57 00h20
18h43 12h45
Lifting – Wednesday 2nd June Farr 30 registration
lifting – registration for all series from 0900 to 2000 hours
Lifting – registration from 0730 to 1030 hours
12h00 skippers’ briefing for Farr 30
10h30 skippers’ briefing for all series
14h00 Farr 30s ready to race
14h00 other classes ready to train
12h00 all series ready to race
11h00 all series ready to race – start of the big Farr 30 race – start of
the grand IRC coastal race
10h00 all series ready to race (except Farr 30)
12h00 Farr 30s ready to race
Return to shore around 18h00
Return to shore around 18h00
Return to shore around 18h00
Return to shore around 16h00
19h00 welcome gathering at the SNPH
20h00 crew dinner at the SRH
21h00 concert evening at the Palais des Régates
The Cool Red Apple
Les Schlagolofofs
18h00 prize-giving
For Sirius Evénements’ press contact: Tanguy Blondel +33 (0)6 88 45 35 36
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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