Tour de France à la Voile 2013 - Rosas in-port races

"Today was all about sailing to the left of the race course," said Groupama 34 trimmer Maxime Paul. With OmanSail right behind them, Franck Cammas and his boys won both in-port races in Rosas.

Sailing conditions were ideal with 10 knots of wind from the east, a calm sea state and a strong sun. Both starts were very close. After a general recall in race one the fleet was called back and started again under a black flag (a boat within the triangle formed by the ends of the line and the first mark during the minute before the start will be disqualified without a hearing).

The competitors sailing to the left of the racecourse did very well indeed. Groupama 34 and Team OmanSail led both races ahead of Nantes St Nazaire E.Leclerc, third of the first race, and Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Elite, third of the second race.

Like TPM-Coych, others had to sail to the right side but did well anyway – the local team took fifth twice today. "We didn't do exactly what we were planning to do upwind but I'm happy with our day," said tactician Martin Le Pape.

All 96 sailors leave for a 57-mile leg to Gruissan, France tomorrow morning. Weather forecast is very light in the morning with sea breeze coming in in the afternoon. Racing starts at 9:00am but a motoring convoy is likely to happen if the wind is too light in the beginning.

Interviews

Maxime Paul, Groupama 34 trimmer:
"We benefited from extreme focus and two great starts. We sailed with our usual line-up so the communication was great. Tomorrow's leg will be sailed in light conditions, downwind, with the sea breeze coming in stronger than today. We are not worried. We'll have the right amount of wind in the right direction to quickly reach Gruissan."

Cédric Pouligny, Team OmanSail skipper:
"I'm really happy but I'm not making a big deal of it, I'm focused on my position onboard. It's a great day and I'm enjoying it as such. I'm hoping for more to come – why not! We've gained some points on our competitors. Let's keep doing like this."

Corentin Douguet, Nantes St Nazaire E.Leclerc skipper:
"Happy with our day. We were faster, which allowed us to attack more. We are gaining something like 10 points to the Swiss team but didn't gain on TPM: we need to get to that."

Martin Le Pape, TPM-Coych navigator and tactician:
"Rather happy with our day. It was my first day onboard and I think we did well at communicating together. Because we are sailing in our backyard, we feel the pressure to perform... Even though I am the tactician and I am from Brittany! The local guys helped me to feel things, explaining me some tricks and telling me about last year's experience."

Overall ranking after 24 races before jury:

1. GROUPAMA 34, CAMMAS Franck, 918 pts
2. BRETAGNE CREDIT MUTUEL ELITE, TROUSSEL Nicolas, 854 pts
3. COURRIER DUNKERQUE 3, SOUBEN Daniel, 841 pts
4. SODEBO, COVILLE Thomas, 823.7 pts
5. TEAM OMANSAIL, POULIGNY Cédric, 817 pts
6. TOULON PROVENCE MEDITERRANEE - COYCH, BERNAZ Jean-Baptiste, 733 pts
7. VILLE DE GENEVE - CARREFOUR ADDICTIONS, METTRAUX Elodie-Jane et GROUX Nicolas, 713 pts
8. NANTES - SAINT NAZAIRE - E.LECLERC, DOUGUET Corentin, 706 pts
9. NORMANDIE, CHOQUENET Baptiste, 663 pts
10. MARTINIQUE - BE.BRUSSELS, WOLTERS Delphine et MOURES Matthieu, 634 pts
11. ISKAREEN, DITTMERS Christiane et BRUHNS Sönke, 621 pts
12. BIENNE - VOILE – SRS, PETER Luzius et KUNZ François, 567 pts

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