by Coralie Rassinoux
It has been 5 days of excellent sailing conditions experienced by the teams on the six boats of the Mauritius Regatta ! With the first two competitors in a tie last night and the small gap between the first four boats, today’s leg was key for the final win between the capital of Port Louis and Black River.
There was a radical change in the weather conditions today as the boats had to use their engine to get away from Port Louis and get some wind at half-course where the race committee gave the start to the fifth and final leg in a light breeze which, thankfully rose to 15 knots early afternoon. There was extreme tension on the start line and all through the race as SOL’S and Champagnes Nicolas Feuillatte (Bateau 20° Sud) were in the lead with the same number of points before the start. Today was the day to win the Mauritius Regatta!
Caught up in the game of this race new to him, François Gabart, winner of the Vendée Globe 2012/13 crossed the start line too early and had to do a penalty. Michel Bourgeois, replacement skipper of Michel Desjoyeaux who had to leave a day early for the Solitaire du Figaro, found himself match racing with some of the biggest names in sailing. After 20 miles upwind when the competitors flirted with the coral reef and its rollers, Romain Attanasio onboard the Balise Marina/Investec finally got his win just 12 seconds before second-placed François Gabart!
Today’s podium was completed by Champagnes Nicolas Feuillatte (Bateau 20° Sud) followed by Fondéole, Yacht Management and MTPA.
In the overall ranking, there is only one point between first and second and two points between second and third. SOL’S team and its skipper François Gabart are the first winners of the Mauritius Regatta !
This beautiful first edition has shun light on the superb Maurician coasts which proved to be an excellent playfield for the professional skippers who had the chance to discover the charms of the island.
The Mauritius Regatta would like to thank all of its partners who made the first edition of the Mauritius Regatta possible and moreover a success, in particular our main parnters La Balise Marina, the MTPA and Yacht Management. Thank you to our official suppliers too : Champagnes Nicolas Feuillatte, Domaine de Souviou, Domaine de la Bourdonnais, Bastide du Laval, 727 sailbags, RALF TECH watches, SEALEGS, BOI as well as the hotels who hosted us: LUX* Le Morne, Suffren, 20° Sud, Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel managed by Attitude and Sofitel Méridien.
24/05/2013 - Ranking
1. LA BALISE MARINA / INVESTEC Romain ATTANASIO
2. SOL’S François GABART
3. CHAMPAGNES NICOLAS FEUILLATTE (Hôtel 20° Sud) Michel DESJOYEAUX
4. FONDEOLE Franck-Yves ESCOFFIER
5. YACHT MANAGEMENT Harry SPEDDING
6. MTPA (female boat) Dee CAFFARI
Final overall ranking
1. SOL’S François GABART
2. CHAMPAGNES NICOLAS FEUILLATTE (Hôtel 20° Sud) Michel DESJOYEAUX
3. LA BALISE MARINA / INVESTEC Romain ATTANASIO
4. FONDEOLE Franck-Yves ESCOFFIER
5. YACHT MANAGEMENT Harry SPEDDING
6. MTPA (female boat) Dee CAFFARI
For more information, please visit www.themauritiusregatta.com
