34th Student Yachting World Cup at La Rochelle - Practice Race
by SYWoC Press Office 17 Oct 2014 13:09 BST
15-22 October 2014
Twelve student crews from all around the world have gathered here in La Rochelle for the 34th edition of the Student Yachting World Cup: they will compete during six days on 'Grand Surprise' yachts to become the next Student World Champion.
Eleven countries are represented: Canada (Dalhousie University), England (Southampton University), France (Polytechnique and the ESCE), Italy (CUS Brescia), Ireland (University College Dublin), Japan (Meijigakuin University), Norway (BI Norwegian Business School), Scotland (Strathclyde University), Switzerland (EPFL), the United States (California Maritime Academy) and Wales (Cardiff University). Sadly the current titleholders, Kedge Business School (France), couldn't come this year to defend their title.
The teams had arrived the day before: they have had a first opportunity to meet one another at the crew dinner where every one had brought cooking specialities form their respective countries. This peasant evening had taken place at "the SSR", the race village of this edition.
On the present day the Jury and the committee have delivered the first briefing in the morning presenting the race conditions and the crews have practised in the afternoon. Some have been disqualified because of OCS, and the others haven't crossed the line (sailor's superstition) so finally Polytechnique has won the practice race! The day has ended with the official opening ceremony at the maritime museum.
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