Dart 18 French Nationals at Quiberon, France

The 2010 Dart 18 French Nationals where held from the 1st to the 4th July at Quiberon, the sailing taking place on the same water as the very popular Carnac Eurocat event. This stretch of water offers excellent sailing with clean blue water and white beaches.

Day 1 started with the prospect of very little wind. However, with a very sensible start time of 2pm each day there was time for the wind to fill in. The first race started in very light wind. Those boats that did not spot that all the wind was along the shore were made to pay. The single hander of Pierre Vidal showed his skills in the light airs to lead the first race comfortably only to unfortunately be given a DSQ for sailing through the start line which was a no go area. This left the French pair of Herve Le Maux and Catherine Le Scodan to take the bullet. They were followed home by Alan & Fiona Kernick and Thierry & Christine Wibaux. Race 2 started in similar conditions. This time ex world champions Thierry & Christine Wibaux won comfortably followed by Pierre Vidal who did not make the same error twice. Denis & Patricia Holl managed third.

The “Regions evening” was a great success. This is where competitors bring food and drink local to the area they live in and then it is shared by all. The array of food was quite amazing and delicious. The Brits contributed with an array of food (although I am not sure if Walkers Crisps can be considered “regional”, Lloydy) as well as even a taste of “Boerewors” from South Africa.

Day 2 promised even less wind. A very gentle breeze came in and the race was started but as the lead boats were reaching the windward mark the race officer made the correct decision in abandoning the race. After a couple of hours the wind changed through a 180 degrees and picked up to a steady force 3-4. The current UK National Champions, Dave & Louise Roberts showed the way to the finish line with Le Maux/Le Scodan and Ko Weeteling and Arend Prins taking second and third respectively. The next race got away under similar conditions but with the breeze increasing. This race saw another winner in the form of Cedric Cheylan and Marie-laure Duhamel of France.

Thierry Wibaux of France Catamaran put together an evening of drinks and lucky draw prizes. All competitors received a prize and the final prize being a new mainsail and jib. Our thanks go to Thierry for a great event and evening.

Day 3 and racing was started in a light force 2 building to around 4 by the third race. The first race went to Alan & Fiona Kernick, the 5th winner of a race. Ko Weeteling/Arend Prins and Cedric Cheylan/Marie-laure Duhamel taking the next two places. By the next race the wind had filled in nicely and everybody blasted off the line fully powered up. Geoff and Jenny Lloyd a.k.a. Daisy and Buttercup showed a clean pair of (r)udders round the first lap. On the second lap the favoured left hand side of the course did not pay and this time allowed Kernick/Kernick and David Lloyd and JoJo Pierce to sneak through and put them into third. Unfortunately Roberts/Roberts suffered gear failure in this race resulting in them getting DNF in two races. By the last race of the day, David Lloyd and JoJo Pierce had warmed up and comfortably took the last race of the day. Cedric Cheylan/Marie-laure Duhamel were again consistent with a second and current Dart 18 world champion Emmanuel Dode and crew Olivier Delebecque finished the day with a third.

Overnight there were at least 5 teams with a chance of taking the title with the potential of 2 races the next day and a second discard kicking in. The pressure was on! The club treated the competitors to a fantastic meal followed by dancing well into the early hours of the morning.

Day 4 with an early start of 10am. Although light, the wind filled in just in time to get the racing away. Dode/ Delebecque took line honours followed by Cedric Cheylan/Marie-laure Duhamel and Kernick/Kernick. By the final race the wind had picked up nicely and the single hander Vidal rounded off with a win. 2nd and 3rd going to Dode/ Delebecque and Kernick/Kernick respectively.

This gave Alan & Fiona Kernick (GBR) their first French National title closely followed by Cedric Cheylan and Marie-laure Duhamel (FRA) and David Lloyd and JoJo Pierce (GBR). The backdrop to the prize giving was 400 odd Optimists sailing in the blue waters of the bay, quite a spectacular sight. The French excelled, great sailing, great entertainment and great prizes. Many thanks and we all look forward to returning next year.

Overall Results: