Finistère Sail Tour: A very boisterous second leg to Douarnenez
by Thaïs Cathelineau 5 Aug 2015 21:14 BST
2-8 August 2015
This morning, L'Aber Wrac'h was at its finest to herald the departure of the Finistère Sail Tour fleet. The boats made for the Saint Mathieu headland under power before the official start of today's race to Douarnenez in some very lively conditions.
Graced with a fabulous sunrise the 106 competing boats left L'Aber Wrac'h at 6:30am this morning, bound for the Saint Mathieu headland. Making headway under power, the morning went without incident in a favourable breeze, which enabled the crews to motorsail and get some rest before having to contend with the afternoon's gale.
Riders on the storm
As forecast and then announced at yesterday's competitors' briefing, conditions got significantly tougher midway through the day. "The wind gradually picked up and things got pretty hairy once we got into the Chenal du Four", says Jacques Fily, skipper of Anne and Sébastien IV. "We waited for the launch of the race in 30 knots and rough seas." And so it was that the five starts were launched in very boisterous conditions.
Lumpy start for the Super U and Xavier Bourhis Yachting Insurer categories
"The first start procedure for the Super U category was interrupted as the crew on Moana called in to say that she had dismasted", explains Jean Coadou, president of the Race Committee. "We relaunched the start procedures once the safety boat had her under tow."
As for the start of the Xavier Bourhis Yachting Insurer category, which groups together the smallest boats of the fleet, this gave rise to a collision between three boats. Two of them had to withdraw and they join the list of eleven boats forced to retire from the race today.
Uncomfortable ride!
Soaked to the skin at the finish, the arrivals are unanimous: " it was wet, windy and pretty unpleasant, says a smiling Brice aboard Anegada. But it worked out for us because we won the leg!" In the end then it's the race that takes precedence, and above all the delight at making it into the fantastic bay of Douarnenez, which treated the fleet to a few miles of calm conditions after the storm.
A well-deserved evening of entertainment
This evening in Douarnenez, the crew supper will take place in the shelter of the Jules Verne hall. Here the sailors will be able to warm the cockles of their hearts as they listen to The Maylin Jazz and Esylon bands and relish the fisherman's supper.
Leg 2 Results:
Groupe Xavier Bourhis l'Assureur plaisance
1: "Asphodele" (First 29 Gte) Prime Romain, Les Glenans
2: "Bio-Energies Diffusion" (Surprise Biquille) Lazard Bruno, Ctre Naut. Crozon Morgat
3: "Raki - Leon Grosse" (Armagnac Ancien) Marange Sylvain, Loguivy Canot Club Sect Voile
Groupe CCI du Finistère
1: "Anegada" (Chance 37) Girardin Philippe, France
2: "Let's Go III" (First 31.7) Abgrall Daniel, France
3: "Super U Daoulas Acr Cuisines" (Half-Tonner) Simon Thomas, France
Groupe Département du Finistère
1: "Sante Bois" (Jpk 960) Cotonea Didier, Y C Rade de Brest
2: "Karibario Kunkel Palettes" (Sun Odyssey 40 Gte) Legallet Jan, Y C de Granville
3: "Aballea Axa Morlaix - Super U Lanmeur" (Dehler 33 Cruising) Charles Francois, Canot Club de Primel
Groupe Crédit Agricole du Finistère
1: "Bidourik 2" (Jpk 1010) le Vaillant Genevieve, France
2: "Les 4 Vents - Avel West" (Jpk 10.10) Quernec Stephanie, Centre Nautique de Lorient
3: "Charrette III" (Sun Odyssey 40 Gte) Bourderau Frederic, Ste des Regates Rochelaises
Groupe Super U
1: "Rhapsodie V" (J120) Godet Jean Jacques, Ste des Regates Rochelaises
2: "Urukai" (First 40) Pourre Catherine, Union Nationale Pour la Course Au Large
3: "Anne Et Sebastien Iv" (Grand Soleil 43 Bc) Fily Jacques, Yacht Club Crouesty Arzon
Results after Leg 2:
Groupe Xavier Bourhis l'Assureur plaisance
1: "Raki - Leon Grosse", Sylvain Marange ((Armagnac Ancien / Loguivy Canot Club Sect Voile) 4pts
2: "Asphodele", Romain Prime ((First 29 Gte / les Glenans) 5pts
3: "Pivoine", Patrick Dijoud ((Rush Gte / Y C de L Odet) 11pts
Groupe CCI du Finistère
1: "Anegada", Philippe Girardin ((Chance 37 / France) 4pts
2: "Super U Daoulas Acr Cuisines", Thomas Simon ((Half-Tonner / France) 4pts
3: "Let's Go III", Daniel Abgrall ((First 31.7 / France) 4pts
Groupe Département du Finistère
1: "Karibario Kunkel Palettes", Jan Legallet ((Sun Odyssey 40 Gte / Y C de Granville) 4pts
2: "Compass", Alain Guelennoc ((X 332 / Y C Rade de Brest) 8pts
3: "Aballea Axa Morlaix - Super U Lanmeur", Francois Charles ((Dehler 33 Cruising / Canot Club de Primel) 10pts
Groupe Crédit Agricole du Finistère
1: "Bidourik 2", Genevieve le Vaillant ((Jpk 1010 / France) 3pts
2: "Charrette III", Frederic Bourderau ((Sun Odyssey 40 Gte / Ste des Regates Rochelaises) 4pts
3: "Macaya", Morgann Pinson ((Ilc 30 / Centre Nautique de St Cast) 7pts
Groupe Super U
1: "Vaimiti", Frederic Level ((A35 / Cercle de Voile de Seine Port) 6pts
2: "Anne Et Sebastien Iv", Jacques Fily ((Grand Soleil 43 Bc / Yacht Club Crouesty Arzon) 7pts
3: "Urukai", Catherine Pourre ((First 40 / Union Nationale Pour la Course Au Large) 9pts
tour-finistere-voile.com/gbr