Initially postponed and later shortened due to tough weather conditions, the offshore race of the 5th edition of the 40’ Malouine – La Trinquette finally got underway this Friday, September 12, at 10 a.m. from Saint-Malo. The 85-mile course took the fleet around Chausey, the Minquiers, and the Grand Léjon in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc. After nearly ten hours of a race as unpredictable as it was thrilling, victory went to the duo Cédric Chateau – Guillaume Pirouelle (Seafrigo – Sogestran), ahead of Quentin Le Nabour – Thierry Chabagny (Bleu Blanc Planète Location) and Thimoté Polet – Pierrick Letouzé (Zeiss). The top three crossed the finish line within six minutes of each other, highlighting the tight competition, with the first ten boats finishing in just twenty minutes.
A victory after an unstable and unpredictable scenario
"It was really enjoyable, but also full of twists and turns," said Cédric Chateau upon arrival. The skipper of Seafrigo – Sogestran, eventual winner, admitted they had "yo-yoed a bit in the rankings, shifting from first to fifth place depending on the wind shifts," before regaining control of the race. "It was incredibly unstable, with shifts of up to 90 degrees — crazy stuff! Like everyone else, we had our share of luck and bad luck. Just moving slightly off the right track could mean losing a lot of ground."
The race tightened over the final miles, when the wind filled back in from behind and brought most of the fleet up to the Grand Jardin lighthouse, at the entrance to the Saint-Malo channel. "We were afraid that a group of three to five boats, arriving with more pressure, would overtake us. That was a bit nerve-racking, but we managed to get going again and hold our lead," recounted the sailor from Normandy.Always in the leading pack, he and Guillaume Pirouelle managed to hold onto their advantage and clinched victory by the narrowest of margins, with less than a minute ahead of their runner-up, in a fleet that remained tightly bunched. "It’s a great win, and with just one month to go before the Transat Café L’Or, it feels really good," concluded the skipper.
Challengers reassured and motivated ahead of the Transat
Finishing second, Quentin Le Nabour and Thierry Chabagny also praised “an incredible race”: “We sailed a strong first part of the course, side by side with our rivals, one moment ahead, the next behind. After passing Grand Léjon, a small mistake and a bit of bad luck let them slip away. But we managed to hold off the rest of the fleet, which came back very strong in the final miles, so overall we’re satisfied,” analyzed the skipper of Bleu Blanc Planète Location.
"Thierry did a great job tactically, playing between the clouds and squalls. We handled the wind shifts well. We just missed that final little push, but it’s still a solid performance and a real source of motivation," he added, convinced of his boat’s potential and speed: "We were still sailing with the old sails, so we definitely have more to give to go faster."
In third place, Thimoté Polet and Pierrick Letouzé (Zeiss) shared the same enthusiasm. “It was great. We were glad we trained the day before, it really got us in the rhythm. We had an excellent start and managed the wind variations well. At the last mark, we were in the leading trio with a bit of an advantage, but the wind came back from behind and brought the whole fleet with it. Suddenly it was like a brand-new starting line! Luckily, we were fast and efficient, and it paid off,” explained Polet.
The sailor from Le Havre took away particular satisfaction: “It’s a new boat, and we’ve been building up all year. We feel better prepared and more confident than two years ago. With Pierrick, we make a strong duo, and with a still-young crew, we’re continuing to learn. We’re really happy, because things are clicking.”
After this full-scale rehearsal ahead of the Route du Café, the 40’ Malouine – La Trinquette continues this weekend with the Trophée Lodigroup. Sailed in crews in the Bay of Saint-Malo, this second part promises more exciting racing and will close the 2025 edition with another great show for the Saint-Malo public.
The ranking : 40 Malouine La Trinquette - Class40
Source: SNBSM / 40 Malouine La Trinquette
Partager sur :
