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Press release – Monday 23 May 2011
Breezy conditions: 2 retirements
Whilst the majority of the Normandy Channel Race fleet is continuing to
battle along the English coast, Livewire and Partouche have announced their
retirement from the race. Stuart Dodd and Steve Kennington encountered
technical issues right from the start. On passing the Saint Marcouf islands,
the English duo opted to make for Cherbourg to attempt to effect repairs but
for them, the race stops here. As for Christophe Coatnoan and Sébastien
Figue, given the difficult sailing conditions thus far and upcoming, they’ve
decided to head back. So 2 Class40s are out but for those competitors still
racing, there’s still everything to play for…
Contact racing
There is an almighty battle at the head of the fleet for this second edition
of the Normandy Channel Race. Since the start, 10 boats have been riding
along neck and neck in some breezy sailing conditions. At this lunchtime’s
radio session, Yoann Richomme, co-skipper aboard Des pieds et des indexs,
explained the situation: “It’s lively and wet! At the moment, we have 25
knots of breeze and big seas”. At the front of the fleet, the top three at
the 1400 GMT ranking were within three miles of each other, but the
proximity of the boats doesn’t seem to be affecting the leaders, Fabien
Delahaye and Bruno Jourdren, Port de Caen - Ouistreham: “We don’t have a lot
of visibility so we’re just concentrating on our race, our strategy,
downloading the weather and trying to make headway”.
The fleet is making towards Plymouth Sound and is set to pass the South-West
tip of England early tomorrow morning. There are still 750 miles to go, so
it’s very much game on.
Livewire and Partouche: retirement
Skippered by Stuart Dodd and Steve Kennington, the Class40 Livewire is no
longer racing. Last night the English duo reported issues with their ballast
tanks, automatic pilot and power. At the first course mark, Stuart and Steve
opted to continue their route towards Cherbourg to attempt to effect repairs
but ultimately, in the middle of the night, they announced their retirement.
For their part, Christophe Coatnoan and Sébastien Figue, respectively
skipper and co-skipper of the Class40 Partouche, contacted the race
committee at 1400 GMT today. The weather conditions encountered over recent
hours were, according to Christophe, “too risky” to reasonably continue:
“It’s very windy and we have big seas. Since the start Sébastien has been
sick. He’s exhausted! We’ve turned back and are making for Ouistreham. All’s
well but conditions are lively”.
The wind is easing gradually but reindexs fairly strong. However, over the
coming hours, sailing conditions are set to become more manageable. This
should give the skippers, and the boats, the time to breathe a little before
the next major difficulty, Tuskar Rock.
Ranking on Monday 23 May at 1400 GMT:
1
PORT DE CAEN OUISTREHAM
Fabien Delahaye/Bruno Jourdren
Dist to finish 765,1
2
INITIATIVES SAVEURS
Tanguy de Lamotte/Sébastien Audigane
766,9
3
MARIE TOÎT - CAEN LA MER
Marc Lepesqueux/Michel Kleinjans
768,2
4
DES PIEDS ET DES indexS
Damien seguin/Yohann Richomme
769,7
5
L'EXPRESS - SAPMER
Pierre-Yves Lautrou/Dominic Vittet
771,4
6
TALANTA
Jean Galfione/Eric Péron
772,6
7
MARE.DE2
Jorg Riechers/Etienne David
774,2
8
DEFI GDE - TZU HANG
Axel Strauss/Nicolas Boidevézi
776,5
9
RED
Matthias Blumencron/Boris Hermann
778,2
10
PHESHEYA RACING
Philippa Hutton/Nick Leggatt
779,0
11
GRYPHON SOLO 2
Joe Harris/Josh Hall
795,0
12
PARTOUCHE
Christophe Coatnoan/Sébastien Figue
798,8
13
40 DEGREES
Hannah Jenner/Anna-Maria Renken
799,6
14
SPLIFF
Andrew Dawson/Rune Aasberg
815,4
15
OCEAN ELEVEN
Stéphanie Alran/Caroline Vieille
821,0
D
LIVEWIRE
Stuart Dodd/Steve Kennington
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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