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Press release – Friday 20 May 2011
D-2 till the race start!
In less than 48 hours’ time, the 16 pairs of sailors competing in the
Normandy Channel Race will set off to tackle the 1,000 mile course. Before
they take the start though, the skippers are having to undergo the
traditional scrutineering sessions, as well as checking the final details
linked to the preparation of their boats. Indeed, though the weather
forecasts are predicting glorious sunshine for the big day itself, the
competitors are likely to be accompanied by a steady breeze which will put
the crews to the test from the off. One thing for sure at this stage is that
with two days to go until the start, the Normandy Channel Race is already
promising spectators a fine show!
Up and Ready
In the Bassin Saint Pierre, the time has come for the final preparations.
The crews are checking sails and hulls, preparing the supplies, checking the
masts and plunging into the grib files. For Nicolas Boidevézi, co-skipper of
Défi GDE - Tzu Hang, it’s been a busy day: “We’ve carried out a final check
of the boat. The sails, the electronics, everything’s gone under the
microscope! We’ve been shopping for food and now we’re focusing on the
weather. With 2 days until the start, we’re going to have to try to make the
link between the wind conditions we’ll have, the current and the various
effects of the site. On a personal level I’m trying to sleep and eat well as
it’s important not to head off with an energy deficit.”
And though the euphoria of the race village reminds the skippers that
they’re still alongside in the port of Caen, a lot of the sailors admit to
having their minds elsewhere. Aboard Initiatives Saveurs, Sébastien Audigane
cannot conceal his desire to get going: “The scrutineering is behind us now,
the boat is ready and the more the hours tick by, the more I long to start
racing. I’m delighted to be here but I’m eager to get out on the racetrack!”
The start is approaching, the pressure is rising but “It’s a good stress”,
explains Fabien Delahaye, skipper of the Class40 Port de Caen-Ouistreham. On
Sunday, the 16 pairings will set off on a course which will doubtless be
action-packed.
The start of the Normandy Channel Race 2011 will take place on Sunday 22 May
at 1400 hours local time. The public are invited to the Bassin Saint Pierre
from 0930 hours to witness the grand Class 40 parade.
Join the Normandy Channel Race at www.normandy-race.com
and on Facebook.
List of participants 2011:
Boat name
No.
skipper
type
nat
co-skipper
nat
1
TEAM MABIRE - MERRON
101
Halvard Mabire
Pogo 40 S2
FRA
Miranda Merron
GBR
2
DEFI GDE - TZU HANG
53
Axel Strauss
Akilaria
GER
Nicolas Boidevézi
FRA
3
RED
66
Matthias Blumencron
CC 40
GER
Boris Herrmann
GER
4
LIVEWIRE
48
Stuart Dodd
Express40
GBR
Steve Kennington
GBR
5
OCEAN ELEVEN
20
Stéphanie Alran
Pogo 40
FRA
Caroline Vieille
FRA
6
DES PIEDS ET DES indexS
52
Damien Seguin
Rogers 40
FRA
Yohann Richomme
FRA
7
PARTOUCHE
60
Christophe Coatnoan
JPK
FRA
Sébastien Figue
FRA
8
PERASPERA
102
Francesco Piva
Kiwi 40FC
ITA
Zoccoli Luca
ITA
9
PORT DE CAEN OUISTREHAM
59
Fabien Delahaye
Rogers 40
FRA
Bruno Jourdren
FRA
10
SPLIFF
67
Andrew Dawson
Express40
GBR
Rune Aasberg
NOR
11
TALANTA
95
Jean Galfione
Pogo 40 S2
FRA
Eric Péron
FRA
12
MARE.DE2
79
Jorg Riechers
FS 40
GER
Etienne David
SUI
13
PHESHEYA RACING
23
Philippa Hutton
Akilaria
RSA
Nick Leggatt
RSA
14
MARIE TOÎT - CAEN LA MER
107
Marc Lepesqueux
Kiwi 40FC
FRA
Michel Kleinjans
BEL
15
GRYPHON SOLO 2
106
Joe Harris
Akilaria RC2
USA
Josh Hall
GBR
16
40 DEGREES
90
Hannah Jenner
Jaz40MK2
GBR
Anna-Maria Renken
GER
17
L'EXPRESS - SAPMER
68
Pierre-Yves Lautrou
Pogo 40 S
FRA
Dominic Vittet
FRA
18
INITIATIVES SAVEURS
30
Tanguy de Lamotte
Rogers 40
FRA
Sébastien Audigane
FRA
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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