Deauville International Week - Day 3
by Kate Jennings 1 Jun 2008 10:21 BST
28 May - 1 June 2008
Racing in the sunshine of Deauville…
Today was the third day of racing in Deauville and the stamina of the competitors was essential once again…
1030 hours. The boats left the basin and slowly made their way to their respective race zones. In the Baie de Seine, the sun was ready and waiting, as was ten knots of breeze and flat seas. Perfect racing conditions!
Throughout the day a further series of races ensued with a total of 4 windward-leeward races by the end of the day.
Solely the IRC fleet had a change of programme. Given the excellent weather conditions, they set out on a 25 mile coastal course and rounded off their jaunt with a final windward leeward course.
By the time the crews returned to port it was 1830 hours local time, and though their faces had tiredness written all over them, the overriding atmosphere was one of exhilaration after a great day’s racing.
The competitors recount their satisfaction after this sunny day of sport:
“For the IRC fleet, it was really something to race a coastal course today in conditions like these!” J.Nicholas, First 34,7 Astarte.
“We were really spoiling for a fight on a coastal course… It’s more technical and it’s always interesting to sail in the Channel!” J.P Connan, A35 Iroise.
“Another superb day! Very difficult tactically… but really great too!” K.Grant, J 109 Tigh Soluis II.
Change afoot in the ranking
It was a day like no other for the Mumm 30 competitors at Deauville International Week.
Today the leaders of the ranking dropped their guard with solely the crew of Nouvelle Calédonie managing to hold onto their leadership position. Behind them, it's a very different story. Elcimaï, the Marseilles boat, had a fantastic day and jumped to second place in the ranking, while Courrier Dunkerque managed to secure third place.
The general ranking is very tight so tomorrow will be decisive and doubtless coloured by a few more surprises.
In the J 109 class, Firestorm confirmed its superiority and it should be noted that the only French boat in the fleet, Persévérance, currently ranks 4th.
In the Sportboats category, Fabien Delahaye in his Open 7.50 continues to dominate the ranking.
The J 80 fleet has seen a few modifications today. Fabrice Simon is still in pole position but behind him, local Deauville sailor Laurent Chauvin has performed fantastically and is now in second place ahead of Gilles Drouet’s crew.
In the 747 OD fleet, Les Loustics are now leading the ranking, just ahead of Didgeridoo, while Westerly, first for the past two days has dropped to third.
In the First 7.5 fleet, Haboob, skippered by Christophe Jomier, is currently in first place.
Finally in the IRC category, no change! Weerga and Astarte still respectively dominate IRC 1 & 2 and IRC 3 & 4.
More information and results at www.deauville-week.fr