THE NORMANDY CHANNEL RACE 2011

Press release No.2 / 2011 – 3rd September 2010
ENTRIES NOW OPEN – HALVARD MABIRE AND MIRANDA MERRON 1st CREW

The Notice of Race for the Normandy Channel Race 2011, in circulation today and available on the website www.normandy-race.com (under the section programme/notice of race) fixes the competitive context for the 2011 event and marks the opening of entries.

THE RENEWAL OF A GREAT CHANNEL EPIC (see chart below)
The 2011 race will set out from and return to Caen via the Saint-Marcouf Islands, the Isle of Wight, the offshore Irish lighthouses of Tuskar Rock and Fastnet Rock, the island of Guernsey and back to the Baie de Seine. With the course spanning 1,000 miles or so, it is entirely in keeping with the great Channel epic initiated in 2010 and, with the island of Guernsey as a course mark, the nautical territory of Normandy will be shown to advantage.

Tanguy Leglatin, co-skipper of the winning crew with Thomas Ruyant, sums up the 2010 course
(DESTINATION DUNKERQUE) “this difficult but glorious race, gave us the chance to experience an unforgettable voyage and an exceptional, competitive adventure.”

The Class40s are expected into the Bassin Saint-Pierre in Caen by the evening of Wednesday 11th May at the latest. Crews will be welcomed on shore with the same care and attention as this year, enabling them to discover the true extent of the Norman heritage during the various soirées organised. With no sea prologue this year, scrutineering and registration will take place from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th May, prior to the start off Hermanville on Sunday 15th May at 1400 hours, following on from a parade along the channel from Caen to the open sea. The Public Village will be open throughout this period in the Bassin St Pierre.

BENEFITS FOR CREW WHO REGISTER IN ADVANCE
Registration is open from today onwards, either directly via the website, or by sending us the completed entry form, which can be downloaded from the website.
The registration process greatly favours crews who register prior to 15th December 2010, by offering them a considerably reduced entry fee. (Under all circumstances entry cheques are not cashed until registration closes on 15th April 2011).

This race also serves as a qualifier for the GLOBAL OCEAN RACE, a round the world race for the Class40s, which will set off from Majorca in September 2011, in the context of the partnership between the two events.

HALVARD MABIRE AND MIRANDA MERRON THE FIRST CREW TO REGISTER
This fine Franco-British crew boast a wealth of sailing experience and are highly representative of the grand Duchy of Normandy. On their latest generation POGO 40S2, No.101, they will certainly rank among the event’s favourites after the very fine performance by Halvard Mabire who, together with Peter Harding, finished within 20 minutes of the 2010 winner after 1,000 miles and 7 days at sea!

It proved to be an epic 2010 as anyone, with a hint of nostalgia or keen to take part in the event themselves, will be able to witness in the ten or so short videos filmed during every stage of the race by Tanguy de Lamotte and Jean Galfione (available on the website, in the multimedia library/ videos section).

It’s the perfect opportunity to see the true extent of the kind of conditions encountered over a week long course, which takes in just about all the legendary ocean racing passages in the English Channel.

Contacts: SIRIUS EVENEMENTS - 93 Boulevard Exelmans – 75016 PARIS Tel: +33 (0)1 46 51 09 47/ sirius.evenements@club-internet.fr Website: www.normandy-race.com

Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression

02.09.2010 - ENTRIES NOW OPEN – HALVARD MABIRE AND MIRANDA MERRON 1st CREW