The sailboats of the Record SNSM 9th edition dashed on Sunday evening shortly after 5:00 pm. 10 Class40 cross the start line and left on a course finally reduced to 180 miles (instead of 230), in a northwest flow of 25-30 knots and a moderate sea. The sun was also present to greet the crews which composed with varied conditions on this new course starting and arriving off Saint Nazaire, via Quiberon, Hoëdic, Belle Ile, Yeu and Noirmoutier. The Class40 "Phoenix Europe-Carac" of Louis Duc and Stéphanie Alran was quickly forced to withdraw after a collision with another Class40, "Norma Concept TW ECO". More fear than harm. The incident does not affect the participation of No. 65 in Sables-Horta race.
A fast edition, as the boats set off Sunday night after 5:00 pm, and the first three Class40 have completed their course between the islands about 24 hours later. In difficult weather conditions, with a strong North-West wind, and especially a very formed sea, crews were tested severely, as Miranda Merron, co-skipper of the Class40 Campagne de France, says:
“A fairly muscular departure, everyone was soaked, there was a lot of tackings (stack included in the offer), high funds to be avoided or to be sailed very close by... We had a break for a few miles under spinnaker after South Quiberon buoy in the middle of the night, followed again closely while rounding Belle Ile. Finally, the reward with the long tack to the Yeu Island: spinnaker, sun, boat and crew drying out and freeze-dried diner for breakfast...”.
The GDF-SUEZ crew, skippered by Sébastien Rogues, won with a comfortable lead over its competitors after leading throughout. He crossed the finish line near the Saint-Nazaire bridge after 24 hours and 10 minutes of race at an average speed of 7.55 knots. After his success in the Grand Prix Guyader and ArMen Race, it’s the third victory in a row. Of good omen for the young skipper whose main objective remains the Transat Jacques Vabre at the end of the year.
“From the outset, it was the battle in our class. We had great fun on the way back, making tackings in 20-30 knots with gusts to 35, along the Croisic and La Baule coast. It was interesting for us because the boat is new, it was its first navigation in 35 knots of wind, we are happy, the boat is strong and we were able to start watching her behavior in these conditions. We had a great race, we had fun and we won, that's great!” says Sebastien at the arrival.
With a time of 1 day and 1 hour, Geodis (lead by Amedeo/Tripon and crew) take the second place of the event, acquired in pain as Fabrice Amedeo tells us on his arrival:
“It’s the first time that we finish before Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron, models on the Class 40 circuit. Therefore this is a satisfaction. This is a great second place gained in pain because I dislocated my shoulder while maneuvering in front of the boat. I managed to put it back in place but I will obviously go to the doctor. Then Pascal Alain, our sail maker also part of the crew, has likely a sprained knee. The sailing conditions were hard today and for the start of this Record SNSM. We were sailing all together. It is last night that we were able to take advantage on Halvard Mabire and Bruno Jourdren Class 40. Then we managed to keep the control despite a constant pressure from others competitors“.
Campagne de France (Mabire/ Merron and crew) complete the podium with only 8 minutes away from the second. As usual, the Class40 have made the show until the last second. It’s the case for crews on board SETTI Ltd and Ecoelec who fought as per a Match Race until the end of the race to cross the line with 40 seconds of distance. They set a timing of respectively 1d 08h 40min 15sec and 1d 08h 41min 05sec in 7th and 8th position of the class40 fleet.
On ERDF-Des Pieds et Des Mains, Damien Seguin also had to withdraw. On the first evening at about 11:00 pm, the keel hit a rock in Quiberon bay. The skipper from Nantes and his crew made their way towards La Trinité sur Mer.
All the rankings and the complete times are to be discovered here.
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