Bernard Stamm wins IMOCA World Championship Title

by Véronique Guillou (RivaCom) on 5 Mar 2008
Bernard Stamm (Switzerland), on his 'Cheminées Poujoulat' boat has won the IMOCA* 2007 world championship title at the end of a cliff-hanging season. He finished ahead of fellow country-man Dominique Wavre (Temenos) and the winner of the last Barcelona World Race, Frenchman Jean Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac).

In autumn 2007, with two races remaining in the IMOCA world championship series (The Barcelona World Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre), none of the leaders could take anything for granted. Bernard Stamm, wreathed in the glory of his implacable win over Velux 5 Oceans, still had to hold off the attacks of Jean Le Cam (World Champion Title Holder), Dominique Wavre and Jean Pierre Dick.

With a third place on the podium of the Transat Jacques Vabre, Cheminées Poujoulat finally increased its lead and this for the second time in the history of the IMOCA championship. Indeed, Bernard Stamm also won this prestigious title in 2003.Also on the podium were Dominique Wavre on Temenos and Jean Pierre Dick on Paprec Virbac. Therefore Bernard Stamm takes over from Jean Le Cam as the 7th IMOCA champion.

No doubt the competition will remain ferocious in the coming years to win this title, now a reference in ocean racing. 'It is the fruit of the long and stringent work we have done with my team with the loyal support of my partners, in particular Cheminées Poujoulat and Banque Landolt. I am very happy and proud of this title and I want to share it fully with them' said Bernard Stamm when his victory was announced.

Dominique Wavre: 'I am very satisfied to have achieved 2nd position in this championship, a position I would like to share with Michèle Paret, co-skipper on the Barcelona World Race, my technical team and especially my sponsor Temenos who have been at my side for many years now. This championship is proof of the internationalization of an Imoca class now developing rapidly'.

Jean Pierre Dick: 'I'm really proud to be on the podium again, it's a fantastic story we're writing with Paprec and Virbac! This is the icing on the cake of a great series with the Barcelona (1st) and the Rhum (3rd). The team is also really proud to have achieved these results with two different boats! (Virbac Paprec 1 and Paprec Virbac 2)'.

Top five ranking:
1- Bernard Stamm (Switzerland), Cheminées Poujoulat (124 points)
2- Dominique Wavre (Switzerland), Temenos (114 points)
3- Jean Pierre Dick (France), Paprec-Virbac (112 points)
4- Jean Le Cam (France), VM matériaux (104 points)
5- Alex Thomson (Great Britain), Hugo Boss (76 points)

The full rankings of the IMOCA 2007 championship are available on www.imoca.org

Note that 29 skippers signed on for the IMOCA 2007 world championship from no less than six different countries.

The IMOCA 2007 world championship race circuit:
Calais Round Britain Race
Rolex Fastnet Race
Transat Jacques Vabre
Barcelona World Race

Past winners of the IMOCA championship created in 2001.
2001: Roland Jourdain (France)
2002: Roland Jourdain (France)
2003: Bernard Stamm (Switzerland)
2004: Mike Golding (Great Britain)
2005: Mike Golding (Great Britain)
2006: Jean Le Cam (France)
2007: Bernard Stamm (Switzerland)

*IMOCA is the 60 foot (18.28 m) Monohull Open Class Association. It is an international class established in 1991 and recognized by ISAF since 1998. IMOCA helps manage the ocean racing world championship which includes such great races as the Vendée globe, The Route du Rhum, The Artemis Transat...IMOCA also manages changes to boat measurements and sets the events calendar. It also sets safety standards for boats and imposes strict rules and associated controls prior to every race.