Saturday 17 May 2014

IMOCA : Maitre Coq enters the water in Lorient, 17th May 2014



Maitre Coq

The Transat : Fifty Years after Tabarly, Loick Peyron takes the helm of Pen Duick II

Audi Tron Melges 32 : Stefano Gattini's Images of Day One at Porto Ercole, Italy

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Image © Studio Borlenghi/Stefano Gattini

Farr 40 : Murphy's Law on Day Three of the Rolex North Americans


John Demourkas’ Groovederci (bow 09) leads the fleet around the course. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster 

by Jan Harley


It was feast or famine for the third day of the 2014 Rolex Farr 40 North American Championship being hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club.  The schedule for the day was to sail three races, but all did not go according to plan.  A weak onshore breeze postponed the start of the first race of the day and with the 19-strong fleet anxious to get sailing, once the wind speed reached four to five knots the sequence for the first race was underway. 

Leading through the gate was Santa Barbara’s John Demourkas on Groovederci.  He would continue to lead the fleet around the course to take his first win of the series in breeze that he characterized as “nudging a degree at a time.”
“We went to the pin end and luckily found a lot of real estate there to have a nice start,” said Demourkas about the win. “We got out clean and just stuck with it on the left [side of the course] and it held the whole time. That was really the key.” Demourkas is used to sailing in light air, which they get a lot of in Santa Barbara, but considers his team an all-weather boat. “I like the bigger breeze; it’s certainly more fun and less nerve wracking. Luckily that lefty held out for both legs.”

Following Groovederci through both the gate and across the finish line were Bernardo Minkow and Julian Fernandez on the Mexican-flagged Flojito y Cooperando, Chicago’s Helmut Jahn and his team on Flash Gordon 6, Germany’s Wolfgang Schaefer on Struntje light and Annapolis’ Kevin McNeil at the helm of Nightshift.
Wolfgang Schaefer’s Struntje light (bow 15) is the overall leader heading into the final day of the series. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster  

The second race got underway after a change in wind direction precipitated another delay, and, subsequently was abandoned after the boats had gone through the gate and were on their way to the top mark when movement by a tanker encroached on the race course.  The announcement of the abandonment was met by cheers from some teams and groans from others.  For the teams caught at the back of the fleet it was their hoped for “Hail Mary.”

Demourkas was in third place with Groovederci when the call to abandon race two was made.  “It was kind of a bit of a heartbreak after the drama and strain of being over early, clearing the line and then finding yourself on the correct shift and then having it all look well with the rest of the fleet.

With seven races in the books, there has been a change at the top of the overall standings with Schaefer’s fourth-place finish taking him from two points behind Alex Roepers on PLENTY, to three points ahead with 25 points.  Roepers finished ninth in today’s race and is tied, on 28 points, with Helmut Jahn.  Demourkas’ win of the day’s race moved him into fourth overall with 36 points, followed by McNeil with 37 points, and 2013 Rolex Farr 40 World Champion Alberto Rossi on the Italian-flagged Enfant Terrible with 38 points.

Action at the Rolex Farr 40 North Americans continues Friday, May 16, and concludes Saturday, May 17, from Long Beach Yacht Club. 

Diam 24 : Bernard Stamm et Cheminées Poujoulat sur le circuit Diam 24

Bernard Stamm and his team on the Diam 24. Image copyright DR

par Rivacom

Alors que son projet IMOCA est aujourd'hui mis entre parenthèses le temps de retrouver un bateau et tous les financements nécessaires, et après avoir (re)découvert les joies de la régate à l'occasion du Grand Prix Guyader début mai à bord d'un Diam 24 One Design mis à sa disposition par le chantier ADH inotec, Bernard Stamm s'engage aujourd'hui officiellement sur le circuit de ce nouveau sportboat monotype multicoque. Fidèle aux côtés du skipper Suisse depuis dix ans et attaché, comme lui, à rester au plus haut niveau de la compétition dans le domaine de la voile, l'un des vecteurs majeurs de sa stratégie de communication, Cheminées Poujoulat a choisi de l'accompagner sur ce nouveau projet qui va lui permettre de passer du temps sur l'eau mais aussi de régater au contact des meilleurs en attendant de relancer son programme principal.

Facile à mettre en œuvre, simple d’utilisation, sportif, puissant : le Diam 24 One Design ne manque pas d’atouts. Bernard Stamm, qui cherchait une solution pour ne pas trop s’éloigner des plans d’eau et régater tout en continuant à reconstruire un projet de course au large, a ainsi trouvé le support idéal pour poursuivre sa préparation au plus haut niveau. « Monter, ou plus exactement remonter un projet de course au large est chronophage. Le Diam 24 OD est un bateau monotype, facile à monter, simple à mettre à l’eau… Il répond parfaitement à mes attentes du moment, d’autant qu’à mon sens, à terme, le haut niveau sera en multicoque » indique le skipper. C’est d’ailleurs de ce constat qu’est né ce nouveau sportboat puisque le choix du multicoque comme support de « la Coupe de l’America » consacre la reconnaissance des capacités de ces bateaux légers et véloces. « Bien que j’ai participé à de nombreuses campagnes de records sur des Maxi, comme Orange II avec Bruno Peyron ou Groupama 3 avec Franck Cammas, le multicoque est finalement quelque chose que je connais assez mal. Et pour cause, sur un tour du monde, à bord de ce genre de machine, on est finalement plus pilote que régatier. Aujourd’hui, j’éprouve le besoin de faire de la compétition sur un support un peu différent. Cela va me permettre de me remettre en question, mais aussi et surtout de progresser. C’est important et un peu de nouveauté, c’est toujours intéressant dans une préparation, quelle qu’elle soit » explique Bernard, par ailleurs ravi d’ainsi pouvoir naviguer avec une partie de son équipe, en l’occurrence Ewen Le Clech et Philippe Legros.

Plan of Bernard Stamm's Diam 24. Image copyright Jean Baptiste Epron

Un programme de six épreuves


Ensemble, les trois hommes vont mettre en place un programme d’entraînement aussi dense que possible afin d’être prêts lors des différentes épreuves du circuit :


- le Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale (du 29 mai au 1er juin) à Lanvéoc-Poulmic,
- le Raid Emeraude (du 27 au 29 juin) à Saint-Lunaire,
- la Régate des Voiles Classiques (du 12 au 14 juillet) à la Trinité-sur-Mer,
- une course à Port-la-Forêt (du 30 au 31 août),
- l’Atlantique Télégramme (du 26 au 28 septembre) à Lorient, puis
- une course en baie de Quiberon (les 11 et 12 octobre).

« Normalement, nous devrions recevoir notre bateau lundi prochain. Nous allons le monter et le mettre à l’eau dans la foulée afin de pouvoir nous entraîner mardi, mercredi et jeudi dans le Finistère sud. Nous le remonterons ensuite jusqu’à Brest où nous le marquerons aux couleurs de Poujoulat avant de nous aligner au départ du Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale, la semaine suivante » précise le marin suisse, heureux que son fidèle partenaire, Cheminées Poujoulat, ait choisi de l’accompagner dans cette aventure. « Notre projet voile n'est pas encore défini pour le futur mais nous sommes fiers de voir figurer les couleurs de Poujoulat sur un nouveau bateau aux cotés de Bernard Stamm. Le Diam 24, qu’il nous a proposé, est une bonne transition pour le team. Cela va lui permettre de continuer la compétition de haut niveau d’autant que d’autres très grands marins s’y engagent également » déclare Benoît Bodineau, directeur de la communication. De fait, de grands noms tels que Vincent Riou ou Lionel Lemonchois, sont également présents sur le circuit. Dire que le niveau dans la série est élevé est donc un euphémisme, mais c’est précisément ce que recherche Bernard. « Nous allons devoir prendre nos repères, trouver nos marques sur ce nouveau bateau. A Douarnenez, lors du Grand Prix Guyader, à la barre du Diam prêté par ADH inotec, nous étions montés en puissance régulièrement pour finir par régater en tête. Nous allons essayer de rester dans la même dynamique de progression » conclut Stamm.

Solo Basse Normandie : Top Figaro Sailor Yann Eliès Competes

Yann Eliès on his Figaro. Image copyright Alexis Courcoux

par Rivacom

A 20 heures, ce vendredi, Yann Eliès et les 16 autres marins engagés dans la 5e édition de la Solo Basse Normandie s'élanceront de Granville, sur un parcours de 150 milles pour rejoindre Deauville, le  tracé initial de 230 milles ayant été légèrement réduit en raison des conditions météo plutôt faibles prévues ce week-end, en Manche. Pas de changement, en revanche, concernant les ambitions du skipper de Groupe Quéguiner - Leucémie Espoir. 

Yann Eliès on his Figaro. Image copyright Alexis Courcoux

Le double vainqueur de la Solitaire du Figaro, qui brigue un troisième titre consécutif le mois prochain sur la reine des courses en solitaire et à armes égales, vise logiquement une nouvelle victoire après celle décrochée il y a quinze jours dans la Solo Concarneau, afin de rester dans cette dynamique de gagne qui ne le quitte plus depuis deux ans.

Solo Basse Normandie

Audi Tron Melges 32 : Audi Tron Sailing Series Brings Green Power To Porto Ercole, Italy


Melges 32s training at Porto Ercole. Image copyright Max Ranchi

by Joy Dunigan


Sixteen Melges 32s have assembled in Porto Ercole for the second edition of the 2014 Audi Tron Sailing Series, a circuit that is organized by B.Plan Sports&Events and Melges Europe. Every team will be perfectly outfitted with Torqueedo electric outboards - an environmental effort positively welcomed and supported by boat owners and team members alike.

Melges 32s training at Porto Ercole. Image copyright Max Ranchi

Porto Ercole - hosted by Circolo Nautico e della Vela Argentario, will welcome a variety of new and fresh teams to the stage such as International Class Vice President Richard Gorannson's Helly Hansen Inga From Sweden with tactician Morgan Larson, Carlo Perrone's Atlantica 19 with Andrea Casale on tactics, and the Spanish/Japanese team of Naofumi Kamei on Mamma Aiuto! Competing for the first time ever is Fritz Homann chartering Lanfranco Cirillo's Fantastica featuring former Melges 24 World Champion Nico Celon as tactician.

Melges 32s training at Porto Ercole. Image copyright Max Ranchi

Other teams that will surely bring on the heat this weekend is Andrea Ferrari on Spirit of Nerina with another Melges 24 class great - Carlo Fracassoli on tactics. Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino returns as does Mauro Mocchegiani on Audi e-Tron and Filippo Pacinotti's Brontolo Helly Hanson.

Melges 32s training at Porto Ercole. Image copyright Max Ranchi

Teams have dedicated the past few days to getting the boats ready, tuning, training and outfitted with the awesome new Torqueedo electric outboards. A very special thanks to Torqueedo as with each boat equipped with the means of electric propulsion, the Audi Tron Sailing Series is the first environmentally regatta series of its kind.

Melges 32s training at Porto Ercole. Image copyright Max Ranchi

As in the past, the start of the Audi Tron Sailing Series means the return of the Audi test drives too. Anyone can demo the A3 g-tron, S1 Sportback, A1 Sportback, SQ5 and RS6. For further details, please call 345.9585343, or e-mail.

Melges 32s training at Porto Ercole. Image copyright Max Ranchi


The Audi Tron Sailing Series has reconfirmed its innovative style with a brand new mobile app - now available on Google Play and iTunes Apple Store for free.

Melges 32s training at Porto Ercole. Image copyright Max Ranchi

In addition to main sponsor Audi, the Audi Tron is supported by official sponsors Kuehne+Nagel, Torqeedo electric motors and technical partners such as the Ente Fiera di Genova, Nespresso and Olicor.

Melges 32s training at Porto Ercole. Image copyright Max Ranchi




Melges 32

Solo Bass Normandie : Jour -J Modification de parcours


Skippers briefing. Image copyright Juliette Orjollet

par Juliette Orjollet

Les 17 solitaires ont confirmé leur participation et les opérations de jauge se sont bien passées (à partir de 17h30, des pesées auront lieu sur quelques bateaux tirés au sort).

La question centrale du jour : les conditions météos légères entraînant une modification du parcours

Déjà hier soir, le raccourcissement était annoncé vu le peu vent prévu pour le week-end. Depuis ce matin, le comité de course teste plusieurs parcours car les prévisions confirment un vent faible, exception faite pour le départ où la brise sera bien là.

La décision finale vient d’être annoncée lors du briefing officiel, le parcours est réduit à 165 milles nautiques environ sur les 230 initialement prévus.

The boats in harbour in Granville. Image copyright Juliette Orjollet

Pour arriver dimanche à Deauville, il faut déjà passer le Raz Blanchard avant 13h demain. Les marques côté ouest sont modifiées : au revoir le passage devant St Malo, le phare des Hanois (SO de Guernesey) et celui les Casquets (NO d’Aurigny)… La Rade de Cherbourg reste au programme, tandis que, côté Est, la flotte fait route directe du Raz de Barfleur à Ouistréham puis une marque devant Le Havre et ce sera l’arrivée à Deauville.

Pour les 3 Class 40 engagés en double*,  c’est le même parcours qu’en SOLO sauf qu’ils terminent à Ouistréham (où ils prendront le départ de la Normandy Channel Race la semaine suivante).

Preparations in Granville. Image copyright Juliette Orjollet

De même, le tracé DUO croiseurs HN est revu en fonction des ETA à Cherbourg, calculées du plus petit (7,5m) au plus grand (14m). Ils ne contourneront pas Chausey, ne ‘slalomeront’ pas entre les Îles
anglo-normandes, en revanche la tourelle La Plate est maintenue afin de permettre un pointage et une modification de l’arrivée.

Finalement, toutes les flottes navigueront sur un parcours assez similaire jusqu’à Cherbourg où les duos HN finiront leur course, tandis que les Figaro Bénéteau 2 et Class 40 poursuivront vers l’Est après avoir traversé la Rade en matinée.

Competitors check out the change of course. Image copyright Juliette Orjollet

ð  Les départs se succéderont ce vendredi 16 mai :

20h : signal d'avertissement pour les Figaro Bénéteau 2
20h10 : signal pour les duos HN
20h30 :  pour les duos Class 40.

ð  Le détail du parcours Figaro Bénéteau ² SOLO et Class 40 DUO:

Course for the solo sailors. Image copyright Juliette Orjollet

Granville (départ entre le bateau comité et la bouée Basse-Normandie, ligne dans le SW de la Tourelle du Loup)

Chausey et ses dangers

Bouée Basse Jourdan (côte ouest cotentin, sud-est Jersey)

Fort de l'Ouest (rade de Cherbourg)

Fort de l'ESt (rade de Cherbourg)

Bouée Roches du Nord (Cherbourg)

Roche Biéroc (Cap Levi)

Bouée Ouistréham (fin des Class 40 / possible réduction pour arrivée Solo)

Bouée LHA (entrée chenal du Havre)

Arrivée Deauville (entre le bateau comité et la bouée Trouville)

ð  Le détail du parcours DUO croiseurs HN :

Granville (départ entre le bateau comité et la bouée Basse-Normandie, ligne
dans le SW de la Tourelle du Loup)

Bouée Basse Jourdan (côte ouest cotentin, sud-est Jersey)

Tourelle La Plate

Arrivée en petite rade de Cherbourg

Solo Basse Normandie

The Transat : Fifty Years on from Eric Tabarly’s historic 1964 victory; Two Years until the next edition of The Transat starting May 2016


One of the majestic Pen Duick yachts, now belonging to the Eric Tabarly Association, sailing off Lorient, France. Image copyright Anne Hinton, all rights reserved

- This weekend France celebrate Eric Tabarly’s historic win in the 1964 solo transatlantic race, then known as the OSTAR
- Tabarly’s win was the launch pad for one of the most iconic figures in solo sailing, and for sport itself
- Two years to go until the next edition of The Transat in its historical time slot in May 2016 from the UK to North America


by The Transat media

This Sunday, 18th May the Eric Tabarly Museum in Lorient, France will be hosting a day of celebrations to mark the occasion of Eric Tabarly’s participation and historic win in the 1964 solo transatlantic race, then known as the OSTAR. With only two years to go to the next edition of this famous race, now known as The Transat since 2004, it is fitting that Tabarly’s victory acts as a reminder of all that is great about this legendary race. The racing boats may have changed beyond all recognition in fifty years, but the essence of solo pioneering spirit, courage and determination remain the same today…
The second OSTAR in 1964 was the launch pad for one of the most influential figures in the history of single-handed sailing, the development of sailing as a sport in France and in offshore race boat design. In 1960 Francis Chichester had managed the North Atlantic crossing in 40 days, then 32 year-old French naval lieutenant Eric Tabarly won the 1964 race taking just 27 days, 3 hours and 56 minutes aboard his 44-ft ketch Pen Duick II. Publicity from the first OSTAR turned the second race, that started on 23rd May 1964, into a media circus with a number of the 15 competitors signed up by national newspapers.
Tabarly, the only Frenchman in the race, was the sailor’s favourite for the race with the advantage of sailing the largest boat and the only one purpose built for the event. He had also carried out an in-depth study of the weather and was physically very fit, which was not the case for all the competitors! Arriving at the finish in Newport, Rhode Island, he had no prior knowledge of his win – he had not used his radio during the race – and, almost as a passing comment, let slip that his self-steering system had only worked for the first 8 days out of the 27 days it took him to complete the course.
Tabarly became an overnight hero in France and for his endeavour was presented with his country’s highest honour, the Legion d’Honneur by President de Gaulle. Nevertheless, the skipper never lost sight of his priorities, and declined the first presidential invitation because the ceremony coincided with the day he had intended to repaint his boat! A few months later, a somewhat begrudged De Gaulle sent another invitation, in the following terms: “I would be delighted to be able to count on your presence… if the tide is favourable of course.”
Tabarly’s last major race was the double-handed 1997 Transat Jacques Vabre, winning the monohull division. Just a few months later, in early June 1998, Eric Tabarly drowned after he was knocked off Pen Duick I, his beloved Fife cruising yacht, during heavy weather whilst on a routine delivery off the South Wales coast. So France lost its father of modern day ocean racing. The influence of Tabarly cannot be underestimated… His win in the 1964 and then the 1976 OSTAR caused such a sensation in France that it motived an entire generation of sailors to follow his example.
The Transat is the heir of the oldest singlehanded transatlantic race, the OSTAR, which shaped modern offshore racing. A 2,800 mile North Atlantic course renowned for wild depressions, icebergs and freezing fog. The last 12 editions of the race, held once every four years since 1960, have produced a rich history of triumph over adversity that has accumulated in record-breaking results. The first race was competed by just a handful of pioneering sailors including Francis Chichester and Blondie Hasler who coined the phrase: “One man, one boat, the ocean”. There has been tragedy, dramatic rescues and exceptional drama since the race began. Over time The Transat, as it is known today, has evolved and now serves the professional end of offshore sailing. But there are few modern day races that can reflect on such a long and outstanding history.
The next edition of The Transat is planned for May 2016 www.thetransat.com

1010 4G Match Racing : Day One report from Hong Kong

Gunwoo Park and Sam Gilmour. Image copyright RHKYC

by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club media

With an impressive field from around the world joining four Hong Kong based skippers for this year’s 1O1O 4G Match Racing International Regatta, bright sunshine greeted Race Officer, Inge Strompf-Jepsen as she went in search of a race area this morning.

After some time spent considering a Club race track, Strompf-Jepsen decided that the wildly swinging breeze did not suit her criteria, and moved the committee boat northwards into Kowloon Bay where she was rewarded with a more stable breeze at around 220°, with around 40° of oscillation.

Ian Williams. Image copyright RHKYC

By 1020hrs, with the breeze building to 14kts, the RO was able to start the first flight, with Laurence Mead beating Herman Wong, Gunwoo Park (KOR) beating Wataru Sakamoto (JPN) and SAM Gilmour (AUS) signaling his intent by beating Ian Williams (GBR) in the first match. Flights two and three followed swiftly, but by flight five, the breeze was gusting to 20kts, being pushed ahead of a rain band with the direction holding reasonably stead. As the boats awaited the warning signal, a single bolt of lightning hit Laurence Mead’s mast. Everyone on board was unharmed, but it was a sign of things to come.

Laurence Mead and Wataru Sakamoto. Image copyright RHKYC

While starting flight six, Strompf-Jepsen was forced to AP for 25 minutes due to a lack of visibility and high winds caused by a rainstorm sweeping through from the west. By the time the band passed, the wind speed had dropped to 3kts and shifted, giving some concerns about the first match making the windward mark without tacking and precipitating yet another AP for match 2 and 3 of the flight.

With the boats struggling to move in the fading breeze, the Race Officer and Chief Umpire agreed that the best course of action was to raise AP over A (racing postponed, no more racing today) and get the boats back to the dock for some repair works.

Sam Gilmour. Image copyright RHKYC

Scores after seven flights;
 
Laurence Mead 4 – 3,1
Sam Gilmour 4 – 3,1
Ian Williams 4 – 3,1
Gunwoo Park 4 – 2,2
Wataru Sakamoto 4 – 1,3
Herman Wong 4 – 0,4
David Gilmour 2 – 2,0
William Tiller 2 – 2,0
Jeremy Koo 2 – 1,1
Maximilian Soh 2 – 1,1
Gordon Gregor 2 – 0,2
Lui Kam 2 – 0,2

Spinnaker work on the bow. Image copyright RHKYC


Flight eight gets underway first thing tomorrow morning, with the team under pressure to fit in a further 14 flights – double today’s total.

Friday 16 May 2014

Normandy Channel Race : A Virtual Regatta from the Channel to the Celtic Sea and back

by Virtual Regatta media

A Tactical Race in the English Channel

Stop surfing TV channels and come ride waves in the Channel!

The Normandy Channel Race is an original and tactical race that will take you on an adventure from the Isle of Wight to Tuskar Rock, the Fastnet and the Channel Islands. Your boat for this 1000 mile race will be a Class 40.

Departure is May 25th at 2pm (CEST)

Jean-Pierre Dick Arrives in New York on the MOD70: New York! New York!

The crew of the MOD70 Virbac Paprec 70 in front of the Statue of Liberty in the mist in New York. Image copyright Absolute Dreamer

by Anne Charlotte Meyer

Le matin de 15. mai, dans une brume épaisse au large de New York, Virbac-Paprec 70 a pointé son étrave devant la statue de la Liberté, que l’on devinait à peine. Un moment incroyable vécu par l’équipage après une traversée de 12 jours et plus de 4000 parcourus entre Nice et New York. A leur arrivée à quai, après un bon petit déjeuner, les navigants nous font partager leurs impressions sur cette traversée de l’Atlantique riche en belles glissades au portant.  

Thierry Duprey Du Vorsent : « Nous avons réalisé une très belle traversée avec une route sud agréable au portant sous gennaker. Le bateau n’a pas trop souffert.  Nous avons vécu de jolis moments de glisse avec seulement un virement de bord en 12 jours de navigation, ce qui est  assez exceptionnel ! Nous sommes partis avec une lune naissante qui nous a éclairés toutes les nuits. L’ambiance était très bonne à bord.»
 
Jean-Yves Gau : « C’était tout simplement somptueux, c’est émouvant d’arriver par la mer à New York !»
 
Julien Penven : « C’était une première pour moi en navigation au large. Les premières 24 heures ont été un peu difficiles. Une fois cette période passée, nous avons partagé une belle tranche de vie ! Notre réadaptation s’est faite progressivement, avant d’arriver dans le fourmillement de la mégalopole nous avons rencontré de nombreux bateaux et des animaux marins.»
  
Olivier Cusin: « Je viens de réaliser un de mes rêves en allant à New York en bateau. Je me suis régalé. L’arrivée était hallucinante. J’ai hâte de manger des crudités après 12 jours de lyophilisés.»
 
Clément Surtel: «Nous avons rencontré quelques bancs de dauphins, des poissons volants, j’ai parfois eu l’impression de faire route vers les Antilles. C’est ma troisième arrivée new yorkaise mais c’est toujours aussi magique ! »
 
Laurent Simon : « C’est une chance incroyable de faire une transat sur un multicoque de 70 pieds. C’est un magnifique voyage que l’on a parcouru entre Nice et New York très intense du début à la fin. Nous étions un peu déçus en entrant dans le chenal brumeux de ne pas voir la statue de la  liberté après tout ce chemin parcouru, finalement nous l’avons vue quand même, c’était un beau moment.» 

Route du Rhum : Preparations by Jérémie Beyou for Route du Rhum 2014

Maitre Coq finishes third in the Solo Concarneau 2014. Image copyright Maitre Coq

par Maitre Coq media

La Route du Rhum pour Jérémie Beyou ? Tout a commencé par des souvenirs d'enfance : son père qui partait à Saint Malo, voir le départ ; et le soir, en famille, ils revivaient ce moment magique...


Video (not available in all countries due to music copyright issues):


Aujourd'hui, à 5 mois du lancement de la 10e édition de la mythique course en solitaire, le skipper Maître CoQ voit les choses tout autrement. Épaulé d'experts et d'une solide équipe technique, tout est minutieusement pensé, anticipé. 




Physical fitness programme for Jérémie Beyou. Images copyright Maitre Coq.


Et lorsque son équipe a toutes les clés en main pour avancer, Jérémie fan de tous les sports de haut niveau, poursuit sa préparation physique, à Lorient, mais aussi aux sommets ! 


...and some sailing too. Image copyright Maitre Coq

Interview de Jérémie à l'arrivée de la Solo Concarneau



Une troisième place décrochée de haute lutte, après 48 heures de course dans des conditions très variées, par le skipper Maître CoQ. Avec seulement 67 secondes d'écart entre les trois premiers à Concarneau et la victoire de la Solo Maître CoQ : la saison Figaro Bénéteau de Jérémie a très bien débutée.

Farr 40 : PLENTY of Action on Day 2 of the Rolex North American Championships

Wolfgan Schaefer’s Struntje light (bow 15) won the first race of the day. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster

by Jan Harley

As temperatures in Southern California soared to record highs, the 19-strong fleet competing in the 2014 Rolex Farr 40 North Americans took to the Pacific Ocean for three races on day two of the championship series. The competitors had been postponed ashore while the breeze worked into race-worthy condition, but by 1230 racing was underway through the flawless teamwork of the Long Beach Yacht Club (LBYC) Race Committee led by John Busch.

“We had three nice starts, and that helps a lot,” said Germany’s Wolfgang Schaefer on the docks after racing.  In the first race of the day Schaefer’s Struntje light led the fleet at the second mark and kept that position to cross the line first, ahead of Annapolis’ Kevin McNeil at the helm of Nightshift and Chicago’s Helmut Jahn and his team on Flash Gordon 6
“We are probably one of the crew with the most miles on our flight tickets to come here, because eight of 10 [of the crew] came from Europe,” continued Schaefer.  “That means the investment – time-wise, commitment-wise – for us is very high.  But, we all agree that this investment was fantastic.” 

Schaefer has been in the class since 2000 and currently serves as its vice-president, while also serving as vice-president of the ORC (Offshore Racing Congress), giving him unique perspective on the sport.  “I must say the Farr 40 class is extremely good.  The boat is good.  The guys that are sailing with these boats are some of the best in the world.  And I know from my country the guys are looking to the Farr 40.  The reason is the boat is good, but the key point is the class is fantastic.  The owners are absolutely great and the leadership in the class is good, and I can say that because I am not the President.  The class holds up perfect:  we have restricted sails and restricted professionals, and most of all we have the owner-driver rule.”
Alex Roepers (second from right) on PLENTY. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster 

New York’s Alex Roepers, who has been racing the Farr 40 since 2007 had started the day leading the overall standings, only to finish ninth in the first race of the day.  For the subsequent two races, however, the fleet’s view of PLENTY was primarily of her transom. 
“We’re winning more races,” said Roepers when asked about the season thus far.  “Obviously with Terry [Hutchinson] we’ve stepped it up a bit, and we’ve also grown in experience, I think.  Better boat, better sails and the crew we try to improve all the time and I think Terry as tactician helps a lot.  When Terry came onboard I gave him free reign on the crew.  I’ve known Terry for 17 years.  I know his style, and he knows my style, and he and I clicked right away.”
Roepers allowed that his style is disciplined and very focused.  “No gibberish on the boat; just really doing our jobs. I stick to what I need to do which is drive the boat fast, and I delegate full responsibility for the boat to him.   What he demands from people on the boat is strong, and I encourage that.  He does it in a way where he is respected but still tough.  I like that kind of program.  It works for me.” 
Roepers continues to hold the lead in the overall standings with 19 points after six races.  By adding two second-place finishes to his win of the day’s first race, Schaefer moved from fourth to second overall, trailing Roepers by just two points.  Chicago’s Helmut Jahn on Flash Gordon 6, the 2012 Rolex Farr 40 World Champion, retains third overall with 25 points after finishes of 4-7-2 in today’s races.  2013 Rolex Farr 40 World Champion Alberto Rossi, on the Italian-flagged Enfant Terrible, dropped from second overall to fourth with finishes of 6-3-11 and is tied on points (32) with Annapolis’ Kevin McNeil, on Nightshift, who posted finishes of 2-4-9 today.
Action at the Rolex Farr 40 North Americans continues Friday, May 16, and concludes Saturday, May 17, from Long Beach Yacht Club.