Please select your home edition
Edition
Feb-Nov23 Leaderboard Revolve2

Final tacks for the "Courrier" in the the Rolex Fastnet Race

by Agence TB Press 9 Aug 2019 13:44 BST 3-8 August 2019
Courrier Recommandé - 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex

Few sailors can pride themselves on having won the famous Rolex Fastnet Race five times, one of which was in the overall ranking. Such is the case for Géry Trentesaux, who only last Tuesday did it again in the IRC2 category, on his JPK 11.80 Courrier Recommandé, with most of the hard core of his historic crew. And it's on this note that the sailor from northern France chose to announce that he wished to draw a line under the remarkable "Courrier" story. A saga that began in 1999 and was punctuated by success of course, it was essentially built around a solid team, founded on respect, competence and friendship.

Starting off in 1999, the story of the "Courrier" fleet has racked up a string of successes, including wins in the most prestigious races, including the Sydney - Hobart, the Commodore's Cup, the Middle Sea Race, the Scottish Series and also the famous Fastnet Race. "In fact, it all began when François Lamiot and I decided to compete in some RORC races again", explains Géry Trentesaux, who kicked off the adventure with Courrier Sud, accompanied back then by his associate and also Pierre Ghewy (who came all the way from Tahiti to participate in this Fastnet Race 2019), Antoine Carpentier and Arnaud Aubry. Naturally, it was with this same crew that he wished to participate in the race this year so as to come full circle in style, crowning things off with a victory. "What better way to draw a line under 21 seasons on the Courriers? We know that we can always be better, but on taking stock of the situation, I realised that in our six participations in the Fastnet Race on the Courriers, there have been five victories, one of which was in the overall ranking in 2015, which is obviously a very good score", explains Géry, who is particularly fond of the English event because of its course, its multiple difficulties and its unique atmosphere. "In total, I've competed in it fifteen times. The first time, I was 18 years of age. Today, I realise that I've aged and that it's time to call it quits", explains the sailor from northern France, who is impressed by how the youngest contenders have managed to raise their game, particularly highlighting the talent of Julien Villion, the young sailor from the Morbihan in south-west Brittany, who did a sterling job calling tactics and doing the nav aboard Courrier Recommandé this year.

The right time to draw a line under it

"I know it's the right time to draw a line under it. It's true that four years ago, I'd already announced that I wanted to turn the page, but Jean-Pierre Kelbert managed to convince me of the contrary, with the release of his JKP 11.80. Today, a page is really being turned here. It's a 20-year-old page, and in the chaos there has been Courrier Sud, Courrier Nord, Courrier Vintage, Courrier Pop, Courrier du Léon, Courrier Cœur, Lady Courrier, Courrier Zen and Courrier de Nuit, the boat with which I competed in the Route du Rhum in 2006. So many wonderful things have happened, and this was once again true in the Rolex Fastnet Race that's just rounded off. This 48th edition of the event was just great and we had the satisfaction of finishing three hours ahead of 2nd place, a sistership to our boat. We really sailed well and found it hugely enjoyable", explains the business man, who will nevertheless be staying on for a bit longer. "We plan to participate in the last RORC race in September in a bid to win the championship, followed by the Middle Sea Race and maybe the Sydney - Hobart, though that seems rather unlikely. After that, the boat will be sold. In this way, the Courrier saga will draw to a close. A saga whose success hasn't just been about winning races. When we set ourselves goals, we gave ourselves the means to achieve them and nearly always pulled them out of the bag. I'm really very proud to have put together a team founded on respect, competence as well as friendship", concludes Géry Trentesaux.

Related Articles

Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again? Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Offshore classics set to race
IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it. While French round the world race legend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) isn't competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, two of his former steeds will be on the IRC Zero start line. Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race at 100 – the making of a giant
At present 469 yachts have entered this special edition - a far cry from its humble origins in 1925 One month remains until the 26 July start of the Rolex Fastnet Race, this year celebrating both its centenary as well as that of the club it spawned: the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Posted on 27 Jun
Can a maxi achieve the Rolex Fastnet Race triple?
The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize is lining up to be a tough one The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize in the centenary edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Rolex Fastnet Race is lining up to be a tough one between the world's fastest 100ft maxi yachts. Posted on 25 Jun
Class40 top guns enter Rolex Fastnet Race
One of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever Now 20+ years old, the Class40 has proved itself one of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever. Posted on 18 Jun
RORC centenary Rolex Fastnet Race
All set for another record-breaker Less than two months now remain until the start of the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, this year coinciding with the Royal Ocean Racing Club's centenary. Posted on 2 Jun
Small crews, big ambitions
Double-handed teams in the Rolex Fastnet Race The past few editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race have seen a burgeoning double-handed contingent fighting some of the most tightly fought battles on the course. Posted on 9 Apr
Nazca's Leave-no-trace Fastnet Campaign
Competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race without any fossil fuels onboard Amongst the Rolex Fastnet Race fleet on the start line this coming July, there will be an entry with a difference, one quietly trying to change the world. Posted on 18 Mar
‘Modern classics' converge on Rolex Fastnet Race
Yet another record-sized fleet heading for July's race This year's special centenary edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Rolex Fastnet Race may have the biggest fleet on record when it sets sail from Cowes on 26 July. Posted on 11 Mar
2025 Rolex Fastnet Race - winners return
For this special edition, the RORC has reintroduced its once premier event, the Admiral's Cup For 2025, the Royal Ocean Racing Club celebrates both its own centenary and that of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the race upon which it was founded. Posted on 12 Feb