The first team racing regatta on the Loire: 18th-19th September 2010
Mathieu Richard J80 racing, Nantes. Image copyright Nico Martinez.
by Caroline Beaufils (in translation by SailRaceWin)
Born from the historic collaboration between the town of Nantes and the APCC Voile Sportive, this new sporting challenge on the Loire has the aim of:
* Promoting the top level racers from Nantes, such as Mathieu Richard, Damien Iehl and Christelle Philippe
* Promoting one of the most dynamic sectors of sport in the town, which has the only centre d'excellence in France for match racing
* To introduce the public of Nantes to team racing
* To bring the Loire alive, thanks to a sailing area near to the main centres of the town
* To create a new event to enhance the town and one of its elite clubs, the APCC Voile Sportive
Team racing is not well known but is one of the disciplines easiest for the general public to understand.
The discipline has numerous rules and the competitors must demonstrate strategy and reflexes, in teams, to attain their goal. As in match racing, direct on-the-water umpiring is used.
Racing will be held in J80s, and teams will consist of 2, 3 or 4 boats. Races will be held over windward/leeward 'sausage' ('banane' en francais) courses, and will last 10-15 minutes each.
There will be a large number of races (if conditions permit, a very large number!), and the winning teams will be determined from those teams which have the most victories (and least defeats), to pass to the higher level in the competition.
In 2009 there were just 3 Team Racing events written into the ISAF calendar (in Australia, England and the USA). In France, the creation of such an event at Nantes is a first for the nation. The APCC wishes to promote this team discipline by the creation of an annual event, recognised by ISAF.
The objective of these "Duels Sur Loire" is to present the general principles of team racing.
Images from team racing in Firefly dinghies in England: Red vs Blue
Image copyright Anne Hinton - all rights reserved.
Image copyright Anne Hinton - all rights reserved.
Image copyright Anne Hinton - all rights reserved.
Image copyright Anne Hinton - all rights reserved.
Image copyright Anne Hinton - all rights reserved.
APCC Voile Sportive
