Sirius Événements – Press release No.7 – 11 June 2011
Dear all, please find tonight’s press release for the fantastic ‘Normandy
Sailing Week’ below. You may also like to know that Groupama 4 was
christened today in an ‘all singing all dancing’ ceremony in Lorient
(http://www.cammas-groupama.com/en/) – press release online. Belle soiree,
Kate
To be continued!
This Saturday saw the second day of racing in Le Havre. After a great
introduction yesterday for the M34s, it was the turn of the other classes to
begin battle in Normandy Sailing Week 2011. The various series, IRC, J80,
First 7.5, Longtze, Class 6.50, Seascape 18, Laser SB3 and M34, raced in
sunny conditions with a Westerly breeze oscillating between 8 and 12 knots.
The race committees for each round were able to run 3 races, including one
coastal course for the IRCs. It was a fantastic day of competition for the
110 competing boats.
Normandy Sailing Week continued for the M34 series today. Five races have
been run over the past two days. In the general ranking, Courrier Dunkerque
is still dominating proceedings. Behind, Toulon Provence Méditerranée and
BAE Systems are tied on points. At 1100 hours local time tomorrow, the fleet
will head off on an offshore course spanning some 100 miles, which is worth
3 points. As such, even though the leaders have a comfortable lead, the
upcoming race could well reshuffle the cards…
In IRC, two windward-leeward courses were launched early this afternoon. At
around 1600 hours, the race committee decided to take the entire fleet on a
coastal course around the Baie de Seine. It proved to be the perfect
opportunity to allow those racers from overseas, of which there are a number
in this particular class, to have a tour of the area.
In the J80, Paprec Bretagne won 2 of the 3 races. First in the provisional
general ranking, Sébastien Petit Huguenin’s crew were a cut above the rest
today, but behind them the all-female crew on Jaws hasn’t had its final say:
“We had a lot of trouble trying to adapt to the choppy conditions. We
constantly had to hunt down ways to make good speed but we were battling all
the way!” Corinne Migraine, No.1.
For those competing in the First 7.5 series in Normandy Sailing Week, the
stakes were high: a selection for the French Espoir Crewed Championship,
which will be held in Le Havre this July. Arthur Herreman and his crew seem
to be well on the way. With two fine victories today, they’re leading the
rankings for now. Clara Scheiwiller, skipper of the First 7.5 number 6,
lying in 5th place, very much hopes to move up onto the podium too: “We got
off to some good starts on the whole, but it was hard to indextain the rhythm
over the distance. We soon find that we lack speed. In the last race we
played a lot with the wind shifts, battling all the way to the end and we
finished 2nd! It’s worth it to qualify to race for France!”
In the Class 6.50 and Seascape 18, the two favourites weren’t letting up.
After 3 races in close contact, Manu Guedon and his crew aboard the Mach6.50
Nemo are lying in second behind MTD Active/Medical, which is leading by just
one point: “The race zone was choppy, so it wasn’t easy. We had to manage
the current and the wind shifts. With the other Mach6.50, MTD / Active
Medical, it was like we were match racing which was pretty odd. One minute
they had the upper hand, then it was us!”
Meantime, the Longtze were also racing 3 windward-leeward courses today.
After the first day of competition, the crew of Awfis have opened up a lead.
For Hervé Aubry, skipper of the Longtze Voilerie HSD, 6th in the provisional
general ranking, it was necessary to reindex focused today: “Conditions were
tactically difficult, with a very shifty wind and some chop. The level of
the fleet is very similar. If you put up a poor performance you can
immediately drop 4 places! It was a really good day. If you don’t like
sailing in conditions like these then you really should do something else!”
Finally, no surprises in the Laser SB3! Jerry Hill, world champion in 2010,
is dominating the provisional ranking. However, it will certainly be
worthwhile keeping an eye on the Breton crew from the Côtes d’Armor, who are
hot on their heels.
Info, results, photos and videos at: www.normandy-week.com
Join the Normandy Sailing Week on Facebook
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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