Storm forecast for opening day of GC32 Racing Tour finale

by GC32 Racing Tour on 12 Oct 2016

Ten GC32s will be on the starting line at Marseille One Design. - GC32 Racing Tour - 12 October 2016 Sander van der Borch / Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour

Competition is scheduled to get underway tomorrow at Marseille One Design, the final event of the 2016 GC32 Racing Tour. The foiling one design catamaran fleet, that now numbers ten at Marseille One Design following the late entry of GC32 Founder Laurent Lenne’s Orange Racing, is due to lock horns over the next four days, 13-17 October. At the end of this not only will the third Marseille One Design champion be crowned, but also the winner of the overall 2016 GC32 Racing Tour.

Unfortunately with a powerful forecast - a solid 45 knots with storm-force gusts of 55 - racing on the first day of Marseille One Design tomorrow (Thursday) is looking unlikely.

Alongside Franck Cammas’ NORAUTO, Sebastien Rogues and his Team Engie is the other French team competing at Marseille One Design. “We are very happy to race at home. Here in Marseille, it is amazing, the spot is beautiful and the people love sailing,” said Rogues. This will be the fourth time Rogues and Team Engie have competed in Marseille. “The sailing area is great. When it is easterly, it is very shifty and puffy, but the water is flat.”

At the last event, the GC32 La Reserva de Sotogrande Cup, Team Engie scored its first podium on the 2016 GC32 Racing Tour, and Rogues is hoping that they will sail as well this week.

Although he’s from Monaco, not France, Pierre Casiraghi, skipper of Malizia – Yacht Club de Monaco, says he is considering Marseille One Design as his home regatta: “We have quite a few guests coming. Today we had kids from the Yacht Club de Monaco.”

Team ENGIE at speed. - GC32 Racing Tour - 12 October 2016 © Sander van der Borch / Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour

In anticipation of racing getting underway, all of the teams were out training this afternoon on Marseille’s Rade Sud, although this was complicated by highly variable conditions, said Casiraghi. “We had holes of wind and then 20 knots right next to it. It was pretty crazy, but it was fun. It makes you really aware of what’s happening and puts you a bit on edge. But it is good training and we didn’t break anything.”

This week the Malizia-Yacht Club de Monaco crew will struggle not to be constantly looking in their rear-view mirror, for in the overall 2016 championship they hold fourth place, but one point behind them are three boats, all tied. Equally close is the battle for the 2016 owner-driver title where the Monaco team again holds a one point advantage over Jason Carroll’s Argo from the USA.

Jason Carroll says of Argo’s competition with the Monaco team “The way the points work out, it will be a case of whoever beats who here will win.” As to the 2016 GC32 Racing Tour circuit, the two time Melges 32 World Champion adds: “It has been really fun. They have picked really cool venues - I really liked Garda – and it is a fun group of people. It is a big time commitment for me, but I think it will be my no1 thing again next year.”

From the USA, Jason Carroll's ARGO, gunning for owner-driver honours. - GC32 Racing Tour - 12 October 2016 © Sander van der Borch / Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour

Today out on the Rade Sud, Carroll said the wind fluctuated between two to 30 knots and the direction was equally all around the compass. As to whether racing will happen tomorrow he predicted: “I think we’ll all be curled up on our couches…”

This morning, a press conference was held at the Roucas Blanc Marina for the 10 skippers competing at Marseille One Design. Manfred Ramspacher CEO of Marseille One Design organiser, Sirius Events, said: “The city of Marseille and Sirius Events are very happy to welcome the GC32 teams for a fourth time. The GC32 Racing Tour has developed in a great way this year and it is now undoubtedly the highest level circuit in Europe.”

Stop Press: The decision has just been made that racing has been cancelled for tomorrow.

Teams competing in the GC32 Racing Tour at Marseille One Design

Argo (USA) skipper Jason Carroll
ARMIN STROM Sailing Team (SUI) skipper Flavio Marazzi
GUNVOR Sailing (SWE) skipper Gustav Petterson
Malizia - Yacht Club de Monaco (MON) skipper Pierre Casiraghi
Mamma Aiuto! (JPN) skipper Naofumi Kamei
NORAUTO (FRA) skipper Adam Minoprio (NZL)
Orange Racing (NED) skipper Laurent Lenne (FRA)
Realteam (SUI) skipper Jérôme Clerc
Team Engie (FRA) skipper Sébastien Rogues
Team Tilt (SUI) skipper Sébastien Schneiter