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29.08.2012
Battle about to commence in the Normandy Channel Race
>> Opening of the race village tomorrow at noon
>> Arrival of the Belem in Caen tomorrow at 1100 hours
Sixteen racing yachts will take the start of the Normandy Channel Race at
1700 hours local time this Sunday offshore of Ouistreham. The boats
participating in this Norman competition from Caen to Fastnet and back
(1,000 miles), will each be piloted by two sailors and are all Class 40s.
The entire fleet is now moored in Bassin Saint-Pierre thanks to teams from
the Caen – Ouistreham port and the Phares et Balises service which assists
navigation along the coast of France.
Launched in 2004 by a handful of enthusiasts, including the circuit sailor
and journalist Patrice Carpentier, skipper Michel Mirabel, Christian
Bourroulec, head of the Structures yard in Sainte Marine, as well as Pascal
Jamet, the Class 40 was born from the desire to satisfy their thirst for the
open ocean without being compelled to buy an expensive boat devoted entirely
to competition. After several months of deliberation, some extended round
table sessions formalising the now famous class rule, which dictates
measurements for the design and build, the Class 40 was born.
Measuring some 12.19 metres in length, with a maximum beam of 4.50 metres, a
3-metre water draught, a 19-metre air draught, a 4,500 kg displacement, a
maximum sail area of 115m2 and a fixed keel, such are the index features of
the Class 40, which leaves areas for individual development by the various
naval architects. Very quickly this boat format enjoyed great success in
France as well as internationally. Indeed the Class 40 is the perfect
compromise between a Mini 6.50 and a 60-foot monohull, enabling fast and
safe transoceanic passages, around the cans and even round the world racing.
The masters of boat design soon began their number crunching and it is of
note that the Class 40 is not a one-design but rather a prototype, which was
set to become a production boat for some yards.
Its repercussions began to
be felt everywhere, from the Structures yard, with the launch of the Pogo 40
and now the Pogo 40 S2 designed by Jean-Marie Finot, Jumbo Composites with
the Jumbo 40, Guillaume Verdier with the Tyker 40, Akilaria based in
Tunisia, the Akilaria 40 and now the RC 2 designed by Marc Lombard, as well
as JPS Composites and the Mach 40, a Sam Manuard design and the latest
evolution of the Class 40. International designers were equally quick off
the mark with early creations by Owen Clarke Design latterly followed by
Farr Yacht Design and other design studios.
At the start of this year’s Normandy Channel Race there will be sixteen
Class 40s, which adhere to the class measurement, though they have varying
abilities in relation to the weather conditions, as well as boasting
distinctive grand prix detailing. This fact clearly delights connoisseurs
and sailors alike, a number of whom are involved in the designs of their
boats. Indeed the Mach 40 “Mare” skippered by German sailor Jorg Riechers,
is a fast design that has shown what it’s made of since the start of the
season and its victory in the Solidaire du Chocolat in particular. Then
there’s the Pogo S2s, one skippered by Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron,
which took a win in the Transat Quebec Saint-Malo, and another by Stéphane
Le Diraison, who is also a force to be reckoned with. Other teams worth
keeping an eye on are the Akilaria RC 2s skippered by British sailor Ned
Collier-Wakefield and that of Marc Lepesqueux.
Also of note in Caen but of much greater vintage, is the three-masted
sailing ship, Belem, which will be honoured during the Normandy Channel
Race. She was built in 1896 and is run by the Belem Foundation and its
historic sponsor, Caisses d’Epargne. The boat will be putting in an
appearance during the latter part of this week and she is set to arrive in
the Rade de Caen at 0900 hours.
Quotes from the boats:
Halvard Mabire, from nearby Cherbourg, winner of the last Transat Quebec
Saint Malo with Briton Miranda Merron aboard “Campagne de France”:
“There is a stability in the measurement rule for the Class 40 which makes it a level
class. There are differences in speed but they aren’t massive. This gives
everyone the chance to envisage buying a Class 40 and being competitive
fairly quickly, even with a first generation boat. Jorg Riechers’ Mach 40
has a few plusses, particularly when reaching with its high volume bow, but
it doesn’t really go a lot quicker. Our Pogo S2 is certainly more rounded on
every point of sail. We revamped her around a defined structure, deck layout
and hull, including modifications focused on the interior ergonomics and
sail plan. The Akilaria RC 2s also have some interesting characteristics, as
has the new Kiwi 40 by Farr Yacht Design and the new Verdier design. All in
all, it’s the crew which make the difference by finding a good compromise on
the water between which route to take and the best angle to slip along at”.
Stéphane Le Diraison, from Boulogne, winner of the last Les Sables – Horta –
Les Sables, marine surveyor by trade:
“The Class 40 measurement has been
well thought out. It limits materials and the technicality of the boats. It
imposes a maximum righting moment and you cannot go below 4,500 kg in terms
of the weight. It’s a real asset economically and it enables a balanced
fleet in terms of performance. It’s true that each individual Class 40 has
its own specific features, but it’s clear that the difference on the water
is solely a human one. In the last Solidaire du Chocolat, I’m convinced that
Jorg Riechers, by indextaining his fine trajectory, would have won the race
aboard my boat, a Pogo 40 S2, which is good news. Furthermore, each skipper
has options open to them so there’s still a little scope for other things.
For my part, for example, I’ve moved the keel and mast aft”.
Points to recall about the Normandy Channel Race:
>> 16 Class 40s, two sailors per boat, such as the duos Rogues – Vittet,
Mabire – Merron, Riechers – Boidevezi…
>> Start and finish in Caen
>> 1,000 miles via the Saint-Marcouf Islands, the Isle of Wight, Tuskar Rock
and Fastnet, Guernsey
>> 10 nationalities
>> Thomas Ruyant and Tanguy Leglatin, Tanguy de Lamotte and Sébastien
Audigane won the last editions
Reminder of the programme:
- Arrival of the Class 40s by Wednesday 29 August at the latest in Bassin
St Pierre.
- Le Belem will make it into the Rade de Caen at 0900 hours on Thursday 30
August, with arrival at Ouistreham’s index lock scheduled for 0915 / 0930
hours, arrival dockside in Caen at 1100 hours; the Navy’s VULCAIN is
scheduled at the dock in Ouistreham at 0900 hours and in Caen at 1030 hours.
The public can visit the Belem: Friday 31 August from 1000 to 1800 hours
(final tour starts at 1730 hours), Saturday 1 September from 1000 hours to
1800 hours (final tour starts at 1730 hours), Sunday 2 September at
Ouistreham from 1530 to 1830 hours (final tour starts at 1800 hours)
- Opening of the ‘entertainment’ village for the Normandy Channel Race on
Thursday 30 August at noon in the community marquee
- Thursday 30 August / Sunday 2 September: opening of the Caen race village
in the town centre, Bassin St Pierre, with a wealth of entertainment and
some 20,000 visitors in 2011.
- Presence of the three-master BELEM over the 4-day event, along with the
VULCAIN, which belongs to the French Navy, partner to the event.
- Sunday 2 September: 1230 / 1400 hours fleet parade along the canal from
Caen to the sea.
- Arrival of the fleet from 1400 hours at Ouistreham’s index lock.
- Race start off Hermanville at 1700 hours local time, harbour course.
- Offshore race from Sunday 2 to Friday 7 / Saturday 8 September according
to the weather forecast
- The boats head upriver to Caen where they will join in with the PRESQU’ILE
EN FETE celebrations, prize-giving on Sunday 9 at 1800 hours.
Partners to the Normandy Channel Race: the city of Caen, the Lower Normandy
regional council, the departmental council for the Calvados region, the Caen
La Mer conglomeration and the Caen Normandie Chamber of Commerce.
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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