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05.09.2012
Explanation in the Celtic Sea
>> Change and reduction of course
>> Rough seas and breeze at last!
>> Duel between Concise 2 and Campagne de France
Since yesterday evening and the passage of The Lizard, the twelve boats competing in the Normandy Channel Race 2012, (the Americans on Bodacious Dream having also retired from the race today), have finally latched onto some breeze. In the Celtic Sea bound for Tuskar Rock in Ireland, which the sailors are due to reach over the course of the evening, the NCR fleet are making headway upwind at an average of over 8 knots in heavy seas. Six duos, including leader Concise 2 skippered by Sam Goodchild and Ned Collier-Wakefield and Campagne de France, just 0.3 miles astern, skippered by the Mabire – Merron, are bunched within a 14-mile zone. Due to a tenacious ridge of high pressure moving in from the North-West, and hence the little breeze expected tonight and virtually all the way back to the finish in Caen, Race Management has opted to reduce and modify the course. As such the course mark at Fastnet will be removed and instead the fleet will make for the next compulsory mark of Guernsey. The leaders are expected to cross the finish offshore of Hermanville-sur-Mer on Saturday.
There is finally some breeze filling the sails of the Class 40s in the Normandy Channel Race. Tonight and throughout the day, the duos have been revelling in conditions which are enabling them to make solid headway at a good speed, averaging over eight knots. A fairly positive scenario for the competitors then, who have had real difficulty making towards the goal since the start of the race.
Yesterday, since rounding The Lizard, a NNE’ly breeze of 25 knots and a ‘boat-breaking’ choppy sea have coloured the scene. Six competitors are forming the leading group tonight with Concise 2 and Campagne de France in the top spots thanks to an impressive, consistent performance and careful control of their direct rivals by heading inshore to get away from the strong counter current.
As soon as they entered the Celtic Sea after Land’s End, some opted to put in a counter-tack, whilst others made straight for Ireland and the Tuskar Rock gate. Sailing upwind, the sailors were able to relax a little, get into a normal watch rhythm and get the most out of their sleek Class 40s, which are in their element for these points of sail.
Talanta skippered by Jean Galfione and Eric Péron, Eole Génération GDF Suez, Solo, the older generation Owen Clarke design helmed by the Norwegian sailors Aasberg – Lovgren, as well as Phoenix Europe Express skippered by Yannick Bestaven and Julien Pulvé, are all back within rifle range of the two leaders after what has been a bitterly fought struggle which makes thrilling viewing for those observers who reindexed in Caen or are sat at their computers devouring the latest position reports.
The battle is also intense behind. Les Conquérants - Caen La Mer helmed by Marc Lepesqueux and Eric Defert certainly haven’t had their final say as yet. The skipper from Caen is on the attack just 12 miles shy of sixth place. Earwen piloted by Catherine Pourre and her partner from La Trinité sur Mer, Goulven Royer, Masai skippered by the Franco-Dutch pairing Le Diraison – Korner, Jasmine Flyer helmed by the young Australian Scott Cavanough, winner of the last two legs of the Global Ocean Race, and Mini sailor Thibault Reinhart, still have time to make a surprise comeback. A little further astern, Cherbourg sailor Louis Duc, teamed up with Briton Samantha Evans on Avis Immobilier are enjoying a great race aboard the first generation Akilaria.
Fatigue will undoubtedly be setting in now among the skippers of this Class 40 fleet. Unfortunately now is not the time to rest though because, from this evening, as they approach Ireland, the wind gods will again be too timid to put in an appearance, snuffing out the fast pace as it shifts round to the South-East for the return to France.
Message from Sylvie Viant, Race Director, and Jean Couadou, President of the Race Committee: “Given the weather conditions forecast for the coming days, Race Management is in agreement with the Race Committee in the decision to remove the Fastnet Rock mark from the course. As such, after Tuskar Rock, the next course mark will be the island of Guernsey”.
Quotes from the Boats:
Jean Galfione, skipper of the Class 40 Talanta contacted at 1400 UTC: “We’re playing at cat and mouse with the top two. We’ve just put in a tack and we’ll perform another in an hour’s time. We’re hoping to cross ahead of them. It’s rather pleasant this competition. You can tell that everyone’s going to give their all, right the way to the finish. There’s everything to play for”.
Thibault Reinhart, co-skipper of the Class 40 Jasmine Flyer: “It makes a change from the Mini 6.50. In Class 40, we can communicate and in the breaking seas we have at the moment, it’s a lot more pleasant. We have a proper bunk and heating. We’ve begun to really get some rest”.
Catherine Pourre, skipper of the Class 40 Earwen: “We’re battling upwind in heavy seas. It’s not shaping up too bad. Overnight we had a peak of speed of 15 knots. It’s nice and quick. Still without grib files, we’re doing the best we can”.
Sébastien Rogues, skipper of the Class 40 Eole Génération GDF Suez: “We wanted breeze and now we’ve got it! But it’s not in the right direction… This is a really great race. There’s always a match or a rival within sight of us so “it’s got rhythm” you might say! It’s cold this morning but we’ve got sunshine. Over the coming hours the wind is set to ease and we’ll be able to get out of our lair. You have to watch out for the waves, which you’ve failed to anticipate correctly and can ruin your nice dry fleece! Mino (Dominic Vittet) is sleeping and all’s well aboard”.
Simen Lovgren, co-skipper of the Class 40 Solo: “All’s well aboard. Last night was excellent. It’s a welcome change to have some breeze after all the light airs. We’re happy with the decision taken by Race Management”.
Miranda Merron, co-skipper of Campagne de France: “Conditions are horrible! We’ve got a difficult sea state. Right now the weather’s fine. We have between 12 and 14 knots, whilst last night we had between 18 and 20 knots”.
Olivier Roussey, skipper of the Class 40 Obportus: “We have 15 knots of breeze and choppy seas. We have sunshine and all’s well for us. We had to alter our course to avoid a boat with limited manoeuvrability so we’re a bit off course. All’s well between us and the atmosphere is good. We’re digging deep and will go all the way to the finish!”
Marc Lepesqueux, skipper of the Class 40 Les Conquérants – Caen la Mer: “All’s well for us. We’re a little bit behind and it won’t be easy to play catch-up. I hope the weather will be more favourable. What worries me is the position of the centre of the high pressure, which we hope won’t settle across our course. Yesterday the wind kicked back in violently. We lost a bit of time as we were anchored in 55 metres of ocean and there was a lot of current.”
Louis Duc, skipper of the Class 40 Avis Immobilier: “In the early hours, we were skirting the rocks off Land’s End. At that point we crossed tacks with the MOD 70s, which was quite a sight. The spell of reaching last night boosted our average speed since the start. It makes a change from the kedging around the Isle of Wight where we diverted a British Navy aircraft carrier, which was on a collision course with us. Aboard the boat we could see through our binoculars that they were having a P.E. lesson on deck, which immediately made me think of the parody of the film Top Gun called Hot Shot”.
A match within a match
Beyond the performances of the skippers in the Normandy Channel Race and the standings, the builders and naval architects responsible for the Class 40s are involved in their own battle. Indeed, even though the Class 40 measurement doesn’t allow any major technical evolutions, the boats competing in the Norman competition are quite different. The first observation is that there is very little difference in speed. Leading the Normandy Channel Race are some distinctive designs but without any real distinctions in sporting terms. The first generation Verdier, Tyker 40, helmed by Yannick Bestaven and Julien Pulvé, together with the Owen Clarke Designed Solo skippered by the Norwegians, are still able to keep pace with the newer generations. The latest Pogo S2s designed by Finot, built by Structures, Campagne de France and Talanta, are in front and seem versatile and consistent in terms of speed on virtually every point of sail and in a host of weather conditions. Finally, the Akilaria RC2 Lombard Concise 2 and Eole Génération – GDF Suez are also very efficient. It’s a shame that the Sam Manuard design, Mach 40, Mare, is no longer on the playing field after the crew’s retirement, as it would have been interesting to see how she does in the light airs.
One day, one crew
Jean Galfione no longer needs an introduction. A top-level athlete, his performance thrilled the French in 1996 when he took Olympic victory in the pole vault. Since then he has gradually transformed into a sailor, initially aboard an America’s Cup Class boat for French team “K Challenge”, then the Figaro Bénéteau and, for the past four years, the Class 40 circuit. He is one of the loyal protagonists of the Normandy Channel Race as he’s participated in all three of the events. The owner of a Pogo S2 sponsored by Leatherman, Jean has teamed up with his friend Eric Péron for this race. The latter is one of the most talented sailors of his generation, combining a talent for racing on Figaro Bénéteaus and Class 40s.
See the latest goings-on in the Class 40 by visiting: http://www.class40.com/
Points to recall about the Normandy Channel Race:
>> 15 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
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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