Friday, 19 April 2013
Vendée Globe : Not just a question of IMOCA class rule changes...
by Anne Hinton
When the MOD70s began construction, some Vendée Globe sailors – Roland Jourdain, Michel Desjoyeaux and Seb Josse – went into the class. Due to insufficient sponsorship funds, this year, Jourdain sold his boat to the USA, while Michel Desjoyeaux has his in storage, as is that of Steve Ravussin (who has the first MOD70). Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre Dick has now bought a brand new MOD70. It is something of a case of if your mates get into a particular sailing class, you join them.
Dick has three Vendée sailors on his boat – himself, Jourdain and Vincent Riou. This would seem to tie up three individual team sailors on one boat – i.e. a change from three IMOCA boats to one MOD70. This is a potential issue for both classes, although the reason is undoubtedly related to the lack of sponsorship funds for individual teams, first and foremost, and only as a consequence of this are these people sailing together on the one boat, rather than competing against each other.
The Vendée Globe situation is not just one of changing the IMOCA class rules, it is heavily related to:
a. Economics - which was a prompt for seeking to change the class to a more one design rule (however, there are potential economic issues with this too, as one designs can lead to monopolies for the supply and purchase of specific items, forcing prices up, for example)
b. “multimania” as Michel Desjoyeaux calls it in his autobiography, Coureur des Océans. This led to the advent of the MOD70s with multihull racing returning to fashion in a big way after the building of two large multihulls for the 33rd America’s Cup
c. A group of Vendée sailors, who are also friends, moving into the MOD70 class
Perhaps another lesson to be learnt from this is that events should not just depend on noted “names” or celebrities in sailing returning to an event year after year, but should more pro-actively encourage and seek to attract new sailors to the event. This also helps to broaden the competition, and opens the event up to following from wider sectors of the public, as people do not just follow an event, but also follow individuals, who they either see as reflecting values they themselves support, or are impressed by the individual team’s work and results in regard to an event.
A word of caution: attracting new sailors into an event is not only difficult at times, but it can be tricky in getting individuals or teams who attract an immediate public following, which is a major factor in ensuring the success of an event. Such celebrities not only have high return for their own sponsors, but give high return on investment for the event sponsors too. Michel Desjoyeaux, with his two Vendee Globe wins, and François Gabart, with his record time in winning the Vendée this year, are obvious examples of such celebrities, who greatly enhance an event, simply by their presence amongst the competitors.
That people participate in the Vendée for a wide variety of reasons is evident from simply reading Michel Desjoyeaux’ autobiography and that of Samantha Davies (Une Fille dans le Vent), which were both written after the 2008-9 race. Michel Desjoyeaux specifically mentions that he looks at his position in relation to the competition, and that it is the other competing boats which attract him to race around the globe. However, Sam Davies is not so concerned with the other competing boats, but more with sailing the best course possible. Both books hold great interest, but the two individuals are clearly very different people. Michel Desjoyeaux’s book provides a fair amount of detail in regard to the sailing and his approach to the race, while Sam Davies’ autobiography is more general in tone and provides relatively little information on the sailing by comparison – something reflected in her reports during the race, and which, it appears, the Volvo Ocean Race is seeking to emulate with its next generation of On-Board Reporters. Both of these people greatly enhanced the Vendée simply by their presence among the competitors.
Altogether, the issue of participants in the next Vendée Globe is not just a matter of IMOCA class rule changes, to be voted on today in Paris, but a far more complex issue, in which economics is a key factor, but far from the only element involved.
We greatly hope that the Vendée will continue to go from strength to strength, whatever IMOCA decides today, and look forward to wider international participation, alongside a continuation of the strong French presence in the race.
PS We wish to note, further to the April Fool “Vendée Globe : Change to Multihulls!”, that we are aware that Bernard Stamm would prefer to sail the Vendée on a monohull, and not a multihull. AH
Vendée Globe
America's Cup : America's Cup World Series Naples, Day 2 Morning Update
Day One of racing at the ACWS Naples. © ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget
by America's Cup media
After yesterday’s riveting opening day to America’s Cup World Series Naples, one accentuated by tricky sailing conditions, today might be an easier day for the sailors. The weather forecast calls for a southerly breeze of 7 to 12 knots.
The final event of the 2012-13 racing season has a few newcomers in the fleet. One in particular is China Team. Although helmsman Mitch Booth is a veteran with many years of experience in multihulls, the crew is comprised of Chinese nationals who were selected at a training camp the team held last autumn, and many of them got their feet wet yesterday.
“I’m very proud of the guys on our boat. They did such a good job,” said Booth, a double Olympic medallist in the Tornado class. “This was their first day of international competition of any sailboat race. If we can keep improving we’ll be happy.”
The Day 1 “Catty” award, for best acting performance on a catamaran, goes to Luna Rossa Piranha skipper Chris Draper. Draper got a penalty on Artemis Racing White and its young helmsman Charlie Ekberg for a port-starboard incident with what looked to be an over-exaggerated jerk of the helm. “There might’ve been a little bit of Hollywood in that move,” allowed Draper, “but that’s part of the game.”
Story of the Day, including interviews with Ben Ainslie and Yann Guichard
For Dean Barker and the Emirates Team New Zealand crew, their return to AC45 racing was a breathtaking reminder.
“We were definitely rusty when we arrived, but you do a few days of practice and it all comes back,” said Barker. “What comes back is you realize how hard these boats are to sail. They’re so demanding on the guys, they’re getting flogged from start to finish. They’re tough boats.”
Racing is scheduled to begin at 14:00 CEST and can be viewed on the America’s Cup YouTube channel (subject to territorial restrictions).
America's Cup
Gran Premio d'Italia : Artemis British Mini duo claim top 10 result
Solo British team Nikki and Ollie are pleased with their result © Artemis Offshore Academy
by Artemis Offshore Academy media
With light winds forecast for the Gran Premio d’Italia, it was always going to be more ‘3,2,1, - drift off’, than lift off. However, after 5 days and 17 hours of trying to fill their sails with every breath of wind, sole British duo, Artemis Offshore Academy Mini skipper Nikki Curwen and Graduate Ollie Bond finished the 300-mile race in Genova, Italy amongst the top 10 finishers, claiming 5th place in the Series boat division and 9th place overall out of a field of 28.
Although there were six duos racing the Pogo design, not renowned for its light wind performance, Nikki and Ollie were delighted to be the first boat of this design over the finish line: "This was a great result for us, as this type of boat is best surfing downwind and for the duration of the Gran Premio d’Italia we were switching between sailing upwind, downwind, across the wind and even backwards every 10 minutes! We zipped through our arsenal of sails, dropping and hoisting a new one at what felt like every two seconds - it was great practice,” Nikki enthused after the race.
The double-handed race beginning and ending in Genova, Italy was shortened to from 540 miles to 300 miles due to the light forecast, taking the fleet north after passing the island of Giglio and Giannutri towards Pianosa, instead of south to Sardinia. Nikki and Ollie crossed the finish line in Genova at around 04:20 BST on Thursday 18th April and, as expected, the light winds combined with the shadowing islands of the Mediterranean made for a challenging race: “The wind was very light and very shifty with just the odd gust of up to 10 knots. On average we saw between two and five knots daily and spent most of our time setting up the Mini in everyway we could to try and catch a breeze,” explained Nikki. “Even after managing to catch a breeze and get slightly ahead of the other boats, before you knew it you’d be back in a hole..”
“Although at times frustrating, the light conditions meant we could stay well rested and fed, taking the driving in two hour shifts,” recounted Ollie. “We even managed to do a bit of wildlife spotting, seeing dolphins, three or four whales, two turtles – and a tractor tyre!”
The 28 Mini's lined up in Genova prior to the race © Italian Yacht Club - Photo: Stephano Gattini
For Ollie, a 2009 Mini Transat 6.50 competitor, Academy Graduate and previous owner of the Artemis Offshore Academy Mini, the Gran Premio d’Italia was his first race back aboard the boat in four years: “I really enjoyed the race, it was a lot of fun. I don’t know how many times I said to Nikki on the way round, I’m buying a Mini.”
With light winds forecast for the Gran Premio d’Italia, it was always going to be more ‘3,2,1, - drift off’, than lift off. However, after 5 days and 17 hours of trying to fill their sails with every breath of wind, sole British duo, Artemis Offshore Academy Mini skipper Nikki Curwen and Graduate Ollie Bond finished the 300-mile race in Genova, Italy amongst the top 10 finishers, claiming 5th place in the Series boat division and 9th place overall out of a field of 28.
Although there were six duos racing the Pogo design, not renowned for its light wind performance, Nikki and Ollie were delighted to be the first boat of this design over the finish line: "This was a great result for us, as this type of boat is best surfing downwind and for the duration of the Gran Premio d’Italia we were switching between sailing upwind, downwind, across the wind and even backwards every 10 minutes! We zipped through our arsenal of sails, dropping and hoisting a new one at what felt like every two seconds - it was great practice,” Nikki enthused after the race.
The double-handed race beginning and ending in Genova, Italy was shortened to from 540 miles to 300 miles due to the light forecast, taking the fleet north after passing the island of Giglio and Giannutri towards Pianosa, instead of south to Sardinia. Nikki and Ollie crossed the finish line in Genova at around 04:20 BST on Thursday 18th April and, as expected, the light winds combined with the shadowing islands of the Mediterranean made for a challenging race: “The wind was very light and very shifty with just the odd gust of up to 10 knots. On average we saw between two and five knots daily and spent most of our time setting up the Mini in everyway we could to try and catch a breeze,” explained Nikki. “Even after managing to catch a breeze and get slightly ahead of the other boats, before you knew it you’d be back in a hole..”
The light winds meant the pair got a lot of sail changing practice in © Artemis Offshore Academy
“Although at times frustrating, the light conditions meant we could stay well rested and fed, taking the driving in two hour shifts,” recounted Ollie. “We even managed to do a bit of wildlife spotting, seeing dolphins, three or four whales, two turtles – and a tractor tyre!”
For Ollie, a 2009 Mini Transat 6.50 competitor, Academy Graduate and previous owner of the Artemis Offshore Academy Mini, the Gran Premio d’Italia was his first race back aboard the boat in four years: “I really enjoyed the race, it was a lot of fun. I don’t know how many times I said to Nikki on the way round, I’m buying a Mini.”
Academy Figaro programme Graduate Ollie © Lloyd Images
“To finish top ten in what were difficult conditions, demanding the full concentration of the sailors in such light and variable conditions, is a great achievement for both sailors and the Academy,” commented Academy Performance Director John Thorn. “The result will come as another big confidence boost for Nikki, who is working towards qualifying and racing in the 4,020 mile Mini Transat 6.50 in October, and looks to have perhaps converted an already accomplished UK Mini sailor, Ollie, back to an exciting class.”
With two races down Nikki now has one to go, the 290nm Fuel Cell Systems UK Solent 6.50 starting 5th May, before she will have accumulated the full 1000 race miles needed to qualify for the epic Mini Transat 6.50 in October, a race colorfully compared by the Italian Class Mini to ‘a fleet of walnut shells crossing the Atlantic.’ After giving up her home, job and life in the UK to make her mark on the Class Mini circuit, it is Nikki’s dream to compete in the epic race and follow in the footsteps of her father, Simon Curwen and, arguably the most famous female offshore sailor in the world, Ellen MacArthur who too started her career in the Mini Class.
You can follow Nikki as she continues on her journey to the Mini Transat 6.50 start line in Douarnenez, France via our website, Facebook and Twitter.
Top ten Gran Premio d'Italia overall results
Position/Skipper&co-skipper/Boat no./Boat name/Series or Proto
1. L.Mechin&S.Duculty/5/Paris Texas/Proto
2. J.MacFarlane&A.Fornaro/716/macfarlane.com/Proto
3. B.Garcia&D.Costa/240/Sampaquita/Proto
4. C.Lizancos&S.Manuard/431/Reyno de Navarra/Proto
5. P.Braud&C.Segard/502/13 Au Large/Series
6. P.Loulier&M.Claveau/746/Colibrì-Chevaux du/Series
7. A.Pendibene&G.Valsecchi/520/Marina Militare/Series
8. P.Pasanau&F.Carbonell/519/Peter Punk/Series
9. N.Curwen&O.Bond/438/Artemis/Series
10. G.Gelmini&S.Paltrinieri/Exing99/Proto
For the results in full click here.
Pornichet Select 6.50 : Enfin la Compet pour Julien !
par Tanguy Blondel
Le skipper du monocoque de 6m50 aux couleurs du Conseil régional du Nord-Pas-de-Calais sera au départ le 20 avril de la Pornichet Select 6.50. Julien Marcelet a soif de compétition et trépigne à l’idée d’être en mer seul et face à de nombreux concurrents. Trois questions…
1) Comment s’est déroulée ta préparation ?
Depuis début février, je m’entraîne un week-end sur deux à Lorient avec l’entraîneur Tanguy Leglatin. Nous avons bien travaillé et réalisé les modifications nécessaires à mon voilier. Il était bon pour moi d’enchaîner les navigations dans toutes les conditions et avec mes camarades de jeu breton. J’ai également participé à deux stages météos avec Jean-Yves Bernot au sein de Lorient Grand Large. Nous avons revu la météo générale adaptée à un mini 6.50 notamment la traduction des bulletins à travers nos cartes, les passages de dépréssion pour l’étape 1 de la Mini-Transat, les alizés pour l’étape 2. Enfin, très souvent lors de la pause déjeuner, j’ai pratiqué la course à pied et le VTT avec mes collègues de Mer Forte (le cabinet d’étude dirigé par Michel Desjoyeaux).
2) Peux-tu nous présenter ton bateau ?
C’est un voilier de série, le Dingo 2 dessiné par Pierre Rolland et construit à Concarneau chez Marée Haute. Il en existe 14. Grâce à son bouchain, mon bateau de 6m50 est plus puissant que les Pogo 2 notamment au près. Il a par contre moins de surface mouillé qu’un Nacira, autre voilier de série. Mon « Hissons les voiles en Nord-Pas-de-Calais » est le meilleur (rires) mais cela reste à prouver. En tout cas, il est assez complet à toutes les allures. Cet hiver, je me suis comparé beaucoup à un autre Dingo 2 mais il est clair que je manque encore de navigation contre la concurrence.
3) Peux-tu nous parler de la Select 6.50 au départ de Pornichet ?
C’est une boucle au départ et à l’arrivée à Pornichet de 300 milles qui nous emmène autour de l’île d’Yeu, Groix, Belle-Ile. J’aborde la course avec une grande motivation et l’envie de démontrer mes progrès par rapport à 2012 et mes premières expériences en solitaire. En termes de gestion de ma vie en solitaire, de mes roads book, de la façon dont mon voilier fonctionne techniquement, je pense avoir fait un bond en avant. Je pense que j’ai encore quelques lacunes psychologiques mais au fil de la saison, elles vont s’évanouir
Suivez la saison 2013 de Julien Marcelet : www.julienmarcelet.com
Le programme 2013 du voilier « Hissons les voiles en Nord-Pas-de-Calais » :
18 au 24 avril Select 6.50 / Pornichet
17 au 20 mai Grand Prix International de la Côte d’Opale / Baptême du voilier à Boulogne-sur-Mer
11 au 15 juin Trophée Marie Agnés Péron / Douarnenez
20 au 29 juin Mini-Fastnet / Douarnenez
La voile à Ardres c’est possible sur les lacs en club de sport à la Voile d’Ardres et à la base de loisirs !
Pornichet Select 6.50
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