Joules Asterix wins Mumm 30 class at Spi Ouest Regatta
by Jo Sandall 19 Apr 2007 22:06 BST
6-9 April 2007
Fine weather and a mixture of wind strengths proved prime conditions for current Mumm 30 European champions Joules Asterix when they raced ahead of the field to victory at Spi Ouest this month.
Over the Easter weekend 500 yachts gathered in La Trinite sur Mer for Spi Ouest, France’s premier early season regatta. The weather conditions were dominated by the same high pressure system that gave England such a fine bank holiday weekend.
Among the one designs there were 26 Mumm 30s entered including Pierre-Loic Berthet, world champion in 2005 and a former winner of the Tour de France a la Voile in Camus Immobilier, and Fabien Henry in Toulon Provence Mediterranee, runner up at the 2005 worlds and winner of the Tour de France in the same year. Britain was represented by Joules Asterix, the current European champions.
On Good Friday the morning was cold and surprisingly windy. Camus Immobilier won the first race with Cotes d’Armor Vert in second place. By the start of the second race the wind had reduced considerably and most boats were setting their light jibs. Helistar St Malo won with Toulon Provence in second. For the third race of the day the wind dropped to 5 to 6 knots; Camus Immobilier won narrowly from Joules Asterix, who, for the Friday, had Guillaume Berenger helming and David Lenz doing both mainsheet and tactics.
On Easter Saturday conditions were fairly similar with a breezy first race followed by two light wind races. Joules Asterix now had regular helm David Evans on board, Guillaume Berenger swopped to mainsheet and Dave Lenz was able to concentrate on tactics. The British boat dominated the day with three wins and came off the water leading the event with Camus Immobilier in second place and Toulon Provence in third. These three boats had a clear lead on the rest of the fleet.
On Easter Sunday two races were sailed in moderate breeze. Joules Asterix won the first with Camus Immobilier in fourth place. Camus Immobilier came second in the next race and Joules Asterix came fourth. Toulon Provence suffered a DSQ and was now out of the running.
The final race was sailed on the Monday, again in moderate breeze. Camus Immobilier won the race but Joules Asterix had a comfortable third and won the regatta.
“Spi Ouest is one of the must-do regattas of the sailing year,” said Joules Asterix skipper Louis Browne.
He added: “The race organisation of the one design race course was very efficient and there was surprisingly little interference between the Mumms and the fleet of eighty J80s. The efficiency with which the shore crew get 200 or so boats out of the water, onto their trailers, demasted, packed up and out of the boat park amazes one every year. Many thanks to the Societe Nautique de la Trinite and to their sponsors; we look forward to next year.”
Overall Results:
1st Joules Asterix, 17pts
2nd Camus Immobilier, 22pts
3rd Cotes d’Armor Vert, 43pts
4th Cotes d’Armor Bleu, 48pts
5th Val Thorens, 59pts
Lifestyle clothing company Joules continues its support of Asterix for the 2007 season. “The team continues to give us great results,” said Joules marketing assistant Tom Fray.