Grand Prix Ecole Navale - Day 2

A little rain does not spoil a great racing day

Under typically May skies which delivered a little reserve moisture, 163 teams took part today in the French one design cruiser championships, the Grand Prix Ecole Navale on the Rade of Brest and Lanvéoc Poulmic. In sometimes challenging, capricious breezes between three and four races were contested, adding to those which were run Thursday. After the sunshine of the opening day, the skies were more leaden and opened occasionally to produce some rain on this second day of these French championships.

Through the day the wind shifted around and rose and fell, making life for the race committees tricky and the courses often had to be changed to stay in step with the changes in direction. But for the crews these shifts became the foundation of tactical gains but hard work was required and high levels of concentration to predict where the next shift was coming from.

But the standings remain tight and the racing needs to be followed right to the end. In the fleet of more than 50 J80’s Eric Brezellec (Jaccuzzi Gold Sailing) has held on to the top spot, chased by Sylvain Pellissier (All Purpose Sails with Jean Queveau (Nantes Saint-Nazaire For a Smile) and Guénolé Gahinet (Apcc - Salsa) who share the same points.

In the 5.5 a string of successes for the Odet YC teams sees Stradivarius of Christian Hauvette leading, thanks to three wins from four starts. In the Open 5.70 In Open 5.70, Vincent Biarnès (Schmilblick) have a lead to protect against the second, third, fourth and fifth and the level rises in the

The J22’s are lead by Patrick Huet (European Homes) and his crew who have won three from four races so far but behind him the chasing pack are close between Emmanuel Bollore (Delfina) and Bernard Andre (Majic).

In Seascape, new the one design drawn by Sam Manuard, François Coutant (Atlantiscape) has just one point on Mihelin Andraz (GER 013). The seven Seascapes are taking part in their first ever class racing in French waters at the Grand Prix Ecole Naval.

In the Class 6.50 Glenn Gouron (K.Ma3) underlined their supremacy in the speed crossing when they won three times today.. Behind them, Thomas Season (Northstar) and Manual Guedon (Nemo) are seconds equal on points.

A German team still lead in the Longtze class, in the shape of Wet Feet steered by Eckhard Kaller, winning twice now from their four races but behind the visiting team are two crews from the Navale college who are tied on points.

And in the Open 7,50, confirmation again that speed crossing winners Nicolas Groleau (Vector Plus) are as handy around the buoys as they lead overall, but just three points separates the top boats with Marc Guillemot in third.

And it is hot in the Corsair fleet too where, after three races Ptiboud’bois of Axel Corlay leads but they are only three points clear of third.

It would have rained for Eric too. While the competitors raced around the various course, rising to the challenge of the conditions, ashore in the presence of. Chief of the State Major of the Navy (?), Pierre-François Forissier and Jean-Pierre Champion President of FFVoile, Gerard Petitpas who heads the Eric Tabarly Association presented a half hull model of one of Tabarly’s famous Pen Duick yachts to the Navale College, symbolizing the very strong links between the legendary French skipper and the college.

"Eric always had fond memories of his passage through the Navale college and he would have been very happy to see his five Pen Duicks lined up here on this happy occasion."

52 years ago Eric Tabarly launched his Pen Duick here for the first time. Tomorrow the Navale college opens it doors to the public for a proper festival with kit surfing, air demonstrations, a game of rugby and Breton dancing.

Quotes:

Gerard Petipas, deputy chair of the Eric Tabarly Assocation:
"It is a pleasure to have gathered the five PEN Duicks here. That would have please Eric who had fond memories of his passage here"

Admiral Marc de Briançon:
"The Grand Prix of the Navale college underlines the depth of interests and talents all the way through our school. The racing highlights the two key pillars of what we are about, the scientific and the development of officers.

Laurent Iturbide (Open 5.70 Small Moustic):
"There are lots of lifts and shifts and it was all a bit bizarre at times. It seems like the level has gone up a notch since last year. But we will just have to sail our best and see how it works out, that is the pleasure of this type of regatta."

Eric Brezellec (J80 Jaccuzzi Gold Sailing):
"It was not an easy day because the wind changed all the time. The tacticians work was never easy and they really had their work cut out to read the puffs and shifts. We are happy to be leading but hope that we can hold on. But it is not over yet."

Results after Day 2:

J80 (after six races)
1: "Jaccuzzi / Gold Sailing", Eric Brezellec (Centre Nautique de St Cast) 15pts
2: "Voilerie All Purpose", Sylvain Pellissier (Yacht Club Crouesty Arzon) 22pts
3: "Nantes/ Saint-Nazaire Pour Un Sourire", Jean Queveau (A P C C Nantes) 26pts

Groupe 5,50 Ji (55J) (after 4 races, 1 discard)
1: "Stradivarius", Christian Hauvette (Y C de L Odet) 3pts
2: "Penn K III", Jean-Michel de Poulpiquet de Brescanvel (Y C de L Odet) 7pts
3: "Bagheera Viii", Jean-Bernard Datry (Y C de L Odet) 7pts

Groupe Open 5.70 (570) (after 4 races, 1 discard)
1: "Schmilblick", Vincent Biarnes (S R Perros Guirec) 3pts
2: "Camembert Electrique", Pascal le Brument (Sport Nautique de Saint Quay Portrieux) 8pts
3: "Petit Moustic", Laurent Iturbide (C N P A Lesconil) 8pts

Groupe J 22 (J22) (after 4 races, 1 discard)
1: "European Homes", Patrick Huet (Sport Nautique de L’ouest Nantes) 3pts
2: "Delfina", Emmanuel Bollore (Sport Nautique de L’ouest Nantes) 7pts
3: "Majic", Bernard Andre (Sport Nautique de L’ouest Nantes) 8pts

Groupe Seascape 18 (S18) (after 4 races, 1 discard)
1: "Atlantiscape", Francois Coutant (C N Fouesnant Cornouaille) 5pts
2: "Ger 013", Mihelin Andraz (Allemagne) 6pts
3: "Alta Sails", Philippe Guillomet (U S A M Voile) 8pts

Class 650 (C65) (after 4 races, 1 discard)
1: "K.Ma3", Glenn Gouron (C N la Baule Pouliguen Pornichet) 3pts
2: "Northstar", Thomas Saison (Ass. Nautique de L’ile Aux Moines) 7pts
3: "Nemo", Manuel Guedon (Union Nationale Pour la Course Au Large) 7pts

Groupe CORSAIRE (COR) (after 3 races)
1: "Ptiboud’bois", Axel Corlay (Ecole de Voile de la Cible) 10pts
2: "Bequia", Emmanuel Perrault (Ste des Regates Rochelaises) 11pts
3: "Le 7", Didier Lozet (C N de Viry Chatillon) 13pts

Groupe LONGTZE (LZT) (after 4 races, 1 discard)
1: "Wet Feet", Eckhard Kaller (Allemagne) 4pts
2: "Generation Ecole Navale", Stephane Christidis (Ecole de Voile de Cagnes S/mer) 10pts
3: "Csc-Hec Ecole Navale", Herve Gautier (Porh Loeiz Skiff) 10pts

Groupe OPEN 750 (O75) (after 4 races, 1 discard)
1: "Vecteur Plus", Nicolas Groleau (S N Trinite S/mer) 5pts
2: "Testezpournous.Fr", François Girod (S R Caen Ouistreham) 7pts
3: "Safran", Marc Guillemot (S N Trinite S/mer) 8pts

More information on the event website.