A month and a half from the start of Deauville Week 2008
by Kate Jennings 10 Apr 2008 17:31 BST
28 May - 1 June 2008
After the first two editions bore witness to great enthusiasm amongst regatta sailors, the third edition of Deauville International Week remains loyal to its values whilst being innovative as regards the sports organisation and the entertainment on shore.
The competition will once again be organised around 3 race zones off Deauville, thus enabling very rapid access to the course and limited waiting times, with a half French half British race committee, nearly 10 series of one designs (identical yachts) and IRC yachts (handicapped racing). A total of 12 races were run in 2007.
After an introduction on the afternoon of Thursday 29th May, 2 big days of racing are scheduled on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st. A final race day on Sunday 1st June will culminate with a prize-giving at 1500 hours to facilitate the crews’ homeward journeys.
An increased number of labels and championships (French Crewed Championship in Mumm 30, French Cup in J80, National 747 OD, EuroCup in J 109, Trophée Manche (Channel Trophy) in IRC) bear witness to the sporting development of the event.
Opinions expressed by the crews in the numerous responses to the questionnaire sent out at the end of the 2007 edition have been taken into account. Of particular note for the IRC yachts is a new mixed programme of courses off Deauville and coastal courses in the Baie de Seine, including one big race. This should certainly whet the appetite of the IRC craft for their second presence in Deauville in this Commodore’s Cup year.
Similarly the registration fees have also been reviewed to facilitate the access of the small one designs and the small IRC craft, in which all the classes are open (classes 1 to 4 of the Trophée Manche UNCL).
On shore a new large marquee concept on the quayside of the Bassin Morny will bring reception areas and a crew bar together under the same structure, in order to develop the exchanges and conviviality of the event. A further innovation for 2008 is a large free dinner gathering together all the crews and the partners on the evening of Friday 30th May, with products along the theme of the Pays d’Auge, one of the finest and most beautiful regions in France.
More information at www.deauville-week.fr