All set for Deauville Sailing Week 2009

After the traditional start of the sailing season with the various Easter weekend races, the 4th edition of the International Deauville Sailing Week is offering racers another opportunity to do battle in Norman waters from 4th to 7th June 2009.

The major sports framework is taking shape with less than a month and a half to go until the launch.

This year special effort has gone into stimulating the racer-cruiser series under the IRC class measurement. The Baie de Seine from Courseulles to Tréport comprises over 200 craft and Deauville Week is to play host to confrontations between the crews from other basins and across the Channel, in addition to the events already organised by the clubs.

In order to favour the participation of these craft, the measurement certificate is offered to new entries in the IRC measurement (no certificate in the past 3 years) and, as such, will be deducted from the registration fees. Participants should get in touch with the UNCL www.uncl.com and the programme will once again alternate between a course around the bay and a coastal course along the shores of the Calvados region.

With the dynamics of the French Crewed Championship, the Farr 30s will be out in force in Deauville for this second stage of their championship, just a few weeks before the start of the Tour de France à la Voile. There will be an important innovation this year in the form of an offshore race spanning some 100 miles or so around the Baie de Seine, with a class that represents the very cream of crewed racing in France.

Meantime the J80 series is continuing its impressive rise after a solid demonstration of its strength at the Spi Ouest-France at the start of April, with 90 units on the water. In Normandy and elsewhere this one design is really making a name for itself amongst the clubs and owners as the worthy successor to the famous First Class 8. Prior to the National event for the series, which will take place at the tail end of the year in Cherbourg, Deauville Week is likely to witness an increase in the number of participants in the J80 class as it is to host a new stage in the French Cup.

The J109 class is also waited for its fourth J 109 Eurocup and a third large category, together with the classic racer-cruisers and one designs, the Sportsboats look to be in great shape with two particularly noteworthy participations among a score of others; that of Longtze fleet, a yacht originating in China with its fiery decor, and the K.650 from the Yum Boats yard in nearby Honfleur, a powerful Sportsboat resulting from the Volvo Ocean Race experience.

Also of note is the new partnership with the Pierre et Vacances Group, which is offering negotiated rates for accommodation in Deauville and Trouville in the form of hotel stays or residential flats. (Deauvillle chapter).

Registration at the website www.deauville-week.fr