Gavignet flies flag of Oman with pride at start of the Route du Rhum
by Oman Sail on 3 Nov 2014
Start of the 2014 Route Du Rhum. Oman Musandam MOD70 skippered by Sidney Gavignet (FRA). Lloyd Images
Route du Rhum 2014 - Hundreds of thousands of sailing enthusiasts turned out in St Malo today to watch the start of the epic single-handed transatlantic race, the Route du Rhum, one of France’s most iconic offshore competitions from St Malo to Guadeloupe. At the heart of the crowds, a proud group of representatives of the Sultanate of Oman braved the bracing November weather to cheer on their skipper, Frenchman Sidney Gavignet, and to wish him fair winds for this unique and supremely challenging endeavour.
The 45-year-old skipper plays a dual role for the Sultanate of Oman; he is both a teacher and a role model for the Oman Sail national initiative that seeks to create a generation of sailors and he is approaching this ultimate challenge with a calm mind and a cool pragmatic focus. 'My main objective is to finish – to get to the other side safely,' he said. 'My other objective is to promote Oman.' The latter has already been a great success with record breaking visitor numbers flowing through the Ministry of Tourism 'Visit Oman' pavilion set up in the heart of the race village throughout the week.
'The Ministry of Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman is extremely proud to support Musandam-Oman Sail, Oman Sail's Multi70, for the Route du Rhum, one of France's greatest offshore races. The giant multihull is proudly Omani and carries our flag and message of welcome to a global audience,' said Her Excellency Maitha Al Mahrouqi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism of Oman and Chairwoman of Oman Sail, who added her pleasure to the campaign at a touching flag handover ceremony on Saturday afternoon when she passed the Omani flag to Sidney Gavignet and wished him a safe journey and fair winds.
The sporting objective is the tougher of the two.
With a frightening forecast of up to 35 knots, gusting 40-45 from the South West overnight, Sidney and his fellow 90 competitors across 5 different classes, are set to have a very tough first few days at sea. As he cast off the 70ft trimaran, Musandam-Oman Sail, from the mooring this morning to head to the start line, he said: 'I am very focussed on the race now. I will be aiming for a good start and then settling into the race immediately. With the conditions that we will have for the first 24 hours, the whole fleet will be straight into it.
'This moment of the race is always very emotional, I have my girls and my wife with me here in St Malo, plus the team and all our Omani supporters that have made the trip to France to support me, our project, and to promote the country, but as soon as the start gun goes, I will be completely dialled in to the race and what lies ahead.
'My goal is to do a good job and to think of nothing else, very much as I did when I was training, to draw on all the experience I have on this boat and that I have gathered throughout my career.'
Day one of the Route du Rhum is going to push the sailors to their limits. 'We expect the strongest wind towards Ushant, about 30 knots,' said Sidney. 'We’ll be sailing upwind and will need to put in several tacks. There is also the shipping to be aware of, so it will be a very busy first night with no respite.'
By daytime Monday the biggest Ultimes Class should be into the brisk northwesterly which will make for a fast descent to Madeira which they should reach by Tuesday night.
Frenchman, Sidney Gavignet, flying Omani colours gave fans a fantastic show at the start of the Route du Rhum today in St Malo, France! The giant turquoise trimaran burst off the start line in first place and wowed the crowds on the water as it picked its way amongst the vast flotilla of spectator boats through a gusty squall and out into clear water - destination Guadeloupe!
Conditions tonight will push the sailors to their limits. 'We expect the strongest wind towards Ushant, about 30 knots,' said Sidney this morning as he left the dock in St Malo. 'We’ll be sailing upwind and will need to put in several tacks. There is also the shipping to be aware of, so it will be a very busy first night with no respite.'
By daytime Monday the biggest Ultimes should be into the brisk northwesterly which will make for a fast descent to Madeira which they should reach by Tuesday night.
Oman Sail will send regular race reports throughout the Route du Rhum.
