07.06.2012
Normandy Sailing Week in race mode!
In the overall provisional standing for the M34 category at Normandy Sailing
Week this evening, after a boisterous day on the water, “Toulon Provence
Méditerranée”, skippered by Fabien Henry, is leading the struggle ahead of
“Bred La Normandie” and “BAE Systems”.
Conditions were apocalyptic at this morning’s start of the first M34 race as
the 11 Tour de France à la Voile boats began today’s competition in
torrential rain. After a good night’s rest and recuperation following their
exhausting 27-hour channel hop, the competitors were standing to attention
on the dockside in Le Havre’s marina from 1030 hours. Rig tuning, accounts
of yesterday’s exploits and concentration were on the programme. The first
race took place in 15 to 20 knots, with three beats and three runs amidst a
series of tacks and gybes. Fabien Henry and his crew on “Toulon Provence
Méditerranée” secured the win and confirmed the good speed they’ve been
showing since the start of the season. Clearly they are serious contenders
for ultimate victory! However, the Bretons were also firing on all cylinders
again since the crew skippered by Nicolas Troussel, double victor of the
Solitaire du Figaro, snatched second place ahead of the sailors from Nantes,
who are getting stronger with every race.
A lifejacket was compulsory for all the racers, the race committee taking no
risks where safety is concerned, and there were enough sandwiches for
everyone. The wind veered and those laying the course were forced to make a
quick alteration. At 1530 hours the fleet got off to a clean start, with
Jimmy Pahun and his six crew on the M34 “Ile-de-France” first out of the
starting blocks. They rounded the windward mark in second place after being
caught up by “Crédit Mutuel – Bretagne”, who were on fire. The asymmetric
spinnaker was hoisted at high speed, the Archambault bows kicked up and they
were surfing! For some a quick gybe ensued, the trimmer easing the sheets
and sheeting on according to the pressure in the wind. The tactician refined
the position of the boat in relation to their rivals. The helmsman adjusted
the trajectory of his boat as the leeward mark came into view. “Sail higher
and faster”, chanted a crew member. On a beat, right out on the rail, the
Bretons held onto their leadership and won the last race of the day ahead of
the team from Hyeres, again, as well as the Parisian lot!
A series of squalls rolled along the Alabaster Coast, the rain dampening
proceedings, and the wind picked up to 27 knots on the speedo. Patrick
Maurin, President of the Race Committee, announced a third race. The wind
filled in. The sun returned! The light on the water was stunning.
“Ile-de-France” was first across the finish line. The quadruple French
Champions on “Courrier Dunkerque” were second. The line-up for Normandy
Sailing Week is evenly matched and the race is intense!
Tomorrow, from 1200 hours local time, the IRC boats and Sportsboats will
join the fray, with a total of 100 boats on the water!
Quotes from the boats:
Tugdual Becquemie, co-skipper on “Toulon Provence Méditerranée”: “We were in
on the action in the three races. It’s hard to be perfect and we did lack
fluidity in the manoeuvres, but the boat’s quick! This is a tough race zone.
As southerners, we have difficulty with the current but we’re getting used
to it. What a day!”
Christian Ponthieu, “Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Elite”: “There are a lot of
boats capable of a winning a race, especially in the close-contact courses
like this, where good speed is essential. We’ve sailed well today. It was
physical. We were always on the right side of the racecourse. Our channel
hop yesterday, worth a coefficient 3, is working against us, but we’re going
to come back from that.”
The Normans on the racetrack
The Upper Normandy Sailing League is one of the most active regional
representatives of the French Sailing Federation in France. The League’s
lifeblood helps everything to run smoothly at Normandy Sailing Week. They
aren’t aboard the race boats, but they do ensure that the races are run in
the best possible conditions, whilst also bringing together the many clubs
in Le Havre, who are also partners to the event. The League boasts 13,000
members and no less than 23 clubs. The latter have over 1,000 craft and can
take out over 1,500 people on the water. Whether that translates as
habitable boats linked to a fine fleet of sportsboats, dinghies with
traditional keelboats or even the technical organisation for major events
like the Transat Jacques Vabre, it too setting off from Le Havre, the League
is there at every level, under full sail!
Le Belem in Le Havre
The famous French three-master, built in 1896, is in Le Havre from today
onwards (Quai du Cameroun). It will also be present at another competition,
which features the same organiser as Normandy Sailing Week, since it is also
due to be in Caen in early September for the Normandy Channel Race. Le Belem
is a training ship, which is accessible to all, for training sessions all
around the French coast. Indeed she has just been highly honoured as, just
two days ago, she was in London for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Thames
Pageant, so as to celebrate the Franco-British friendship. It should be said
that Le Belem did belong to the English, and notably the Duke of
Westminster, following a long period of trading. She’ll be heading off to
Brest on Saturday.
M34 Group (M34) after 6 races (1 discard.)
1: "Toulon Provence Mediterranee", Fabien Henry ( / Cercle Org Yachting
Competition Hyerois) 12 points
2: "Bred la Normandie", Cedric Chateau ( / C V St Aubin les Elbeuf) 13
points
3: "Bae Systems", Cedric Pouligny ( / Oman) 18 points
4: "Nantes St Nazaire-E.Leclerc", Corentin Douguet ( / A P C C Nantes) 20
points
5: "Bretagne Credit Mutuel Elite", Nicolas Troussel ( / Canot Club de
Primel) 25 points
6: "Courrier Dunkerque 3", Daniel Souben ( / Dunkerque Plaisance) 25 points
7: "Ile de France", Vincent Aillaud ( / Stade Francais) 28 points
8: "CÔtes D'armor Bretagne", Clement Santoro ( / U S A M Voile) 29 points
9: "Iskareen", Soenke Bruhns ( / Allemagne) 39 points
10: "Tu Delft", Pieter Van Notten ( / Hollande) 46 points
11: "Martinique-Medeabat", Mathieu Moures ( / Cercle Nautique de
Schoelcher) 47 points
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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