Grand Prix Petit Navire - a day full of Dragons, Kites and Optimists

by Kate Jennings - Expression on 8 May 2009 The very essence of the Grand Prix Petit Navire took on its full meaning today. On the water there was a festival atmosphere with elegant Dragons, aerial Kites and Optimists, all the colours of the rainbow, all lighting up the bay.

Airborne in the bay of Douarnenez
The Kitesurfing version of the Grand Prix Petit Navire 2009 began today with the European Championship in the discipline. It’s an event which continues to attract a vast number of riders to the bay of Douarnenez, the latter being equipped with a wealth of assets for the sport as Ronan Jollé, the race director, explains: 'This bay is really very beautiful: there is no immediate danger, no current, no rocks. The beaches have no cause to be jealous of those in Hawaii as here the beaches span around ten kilometres and there’s plenty of room for manœuvre. The bay is swept by the prevailing winds and a small swell, which the riders greatly appreciate.'

First big date of the season
This Grand Prix Petit Navire, the world’s top large meet for the sport, is also an opportunity for the riders to measure themselves against the competition and to test out their material, as Alex Caizergues, the fastest man across the water explains: 'Douarnenez is a spot I love and I’ve been coming here for the past four years. The Grand Prix is an opportunity to gauge your performance in relation to your adversaries… The standard of competition here over a long distance is fantastic. You generally have very good conditions here and there are a lot of races. It’s a real buzz…' World, European and French Champion in ‘speed-crossing’, Bruno Sroka, shares this view: 'Douarnenez is home to me! As a Breton, you have to come along. Added to that it’s the first big date, the point where you can test everything out under real conditions: the evolution of the gear, physical preparation and the strategic and technical aspect. Furthermore the level is very high. All the top names in Europe are here.'

Douarnenez a precursor
'Today, the Grand Prix Petit Navire has become an unmissable event on the circuit, stresses Ronan Jollé. The sport has grown with the Grand Prix. We’ve always been the precursor in terms of long distance and racing. I remember during the first Grand Prix that we wondered how we could make it work with 20 to 25 riders on the line; today, we set 100 off at the same time.'
As such Douarnenez has always been the driving force of a sport which is constantly evolving, as Bruno Sroka confirms: 'We’ve integrated the ISAF, the International Sailing Federation, which enables us to gain recognition for our events. It’s a massive development, as is the case with the material. We’re finding various ways to develop the sport on a technical level, which will enable us to make advances in the discipline. In my view, in the space of ten years, we’ve really gone from the Middle Ages to the Industrial Era, and that’s just the beginning!'
It is worth noting that this year Douarnenez has even obtained the IKA label which means that the event also counts towards the world ranking with some new, original rules in France.

Day 1 validated
For this initial day of competition, it was the Pentrez spot which was retained by the organisation. The wind took it’s time to kick in but finally, at around 1600 hours, race management launched hostilities in a steady wind of between 11 and 15 knots. 40 riders on the first leg and then over 80 riders on the 2nd leg were able to power up, which is always a staggering spectacle. Tomorrow’s weather conditions promise a bit of heat and the start of the 2nd round is due to set off at 1030 hours.

Jules Verne champion!
Since Monday, Maria, Romaine and all their classmates have been participating in splicing workshops and a discovery of the marine environment both on land and in Optimist races at sea. The time just flew by for the youngsters. 'I sailed all on my own on the Optimist from the watersports centre' confirms Marie, with a hint of pride, 'but I’ve already been sailing for two years'. Indeed numerous ten year olds from schools in Douarnenez and the surrounding area have been participating in the Challenge Petit Navire on Monday, Tuesday and this Thursday.

Jean-Pierre Lailic, director of the Tréboul watersports centre, forms part of the organisation of this event, which is entirely dedicated to local children. 'It’s already the 7th time that we’ve organised a championship for the children within the framework of the Grand Prix Petit Navire, so we’ve got the hang of it now! Among the new elements this year we can include the arrival of representatives from the Parc Marin D’Iroise. They are hosting a workshop to enable kids to explore the marine environment. The children have to answer questions asked by contributors. This helps them learn as well as being entertaining.' As such 180 kids have had the chance to participate in these educational days linking sport and marine culture. 'They include children from the schools of Douarnenez: Sainte Philomène, Jules Verne, Saint Jean, François Guillou, Laënnec, Marie Curie and Les Saints Anges'.

This Thursday morning, the top three classes of the 9 which participated in the event, had to do battle both on land and sea, in a bid to win the Grand Prix Petit Navire Trophy. Sandrine Ascoët is a teacher at the Jules Verne school: 'The prize-giving took place beneath the marquee, just as it does for the grown-ups, shortly after the entertainment provided for the children.' Ultimately it was the students from Mrs Ascoët’s class at the Jules Verne school who deservedly won the Grand Prix Petit Navire Optimist, ahead of Mr Moysan’s class (Marie Curie) and Mrs Balcon’s class (also at the Marie Curie). The fair play cup went to Mrs Le Mat’s students from the François Guillou school.

Shifty conditions for the Dragons
Two races were run today. The first start was given at 1154 hours in just five knots of breeze. Two hours later, Sinewave (GER 996) were first across the line, followed by Ar Maout (FRA 330) and Eostig (FRA 358). It was a good start to the day for the outright favourites, Hoesch and Müller and the French sailors Bruno Peyron and Philippe Rossignol. 'We sailed well and cleanly, with less frustration, so the potential’s there' confides Bruno Peyron on his return to port; satisfied with his day, even though the second race proved less favourable to him (24th). 'We made some great comebacks'. FRA 330 is still the top French Dragon after three races. It ranked 8th (prior to the jury’s decision). The other French crew which is going well is that of Jourdren and Stamm (FRA 360), 11th after three races. The crew from Monaco MON 11 won the second race. At the end of this second day of the Grand Prix Dragon, during which the wind was very shifty and filled over the course of the afternoon, it’s Stephan Link on GER 993 who’s leading, with the GER 996 skippered by Müller and Hoesch hot on their heels.