Normandy Channel Race 2011 - First night at sea

by Kate Jennings translation on 23 May 2011 Normandy Channel Race 2011 second edition is held between 19th to 29th May. The Race is a qualifier for the Global Ocean Race 2011-2012.

The 16 Class40s competing in the race have completed their first night at sea. Normandy Channel Race 2011 - The 16 Class40s competing in the race have completed their first night at sea The Channel crossing took place over the course of the night and this morning for the leaders, and the Solent was already in their wake as the chasing pack continued its progress between the Isle of Wight and the English mainland. Three Normans are leading proceedings: Port de Caen Ouistreham, Fabien Delahaye and Bruno Jourdren, Initiatives Saveurs, Tanguy de Lamotte and Sébastien Audigane and Marie Toît – Caen la mer, Michel Kleinjans and Marc Lepesqueux.

The next ranking is at 1100 hours GMT and below is the latest news from aboard:

Message from Caroline Vieille and Stéphanie Alran aboard Ocean’s Eleven, received on Monday 23 May at 0048 hours French time: 'After a pretty hectic start and a few lively tacks, we’re sailing with our gennaker under a beautiful starry sky... We’re within sight of a few other boats, Spliff and Gryphon Solo 2. We’ve lost the girls (40 Degrees) with whom we sailed neck and neck for a while. All’s well and we’re making the most of the night to slip along nicely and be on the attack for the Solent! To be honest this first race start didn’t pass without emotion; exhilarating, stressful, but pleasant. I even find it hard to believe that I’ve made it this far as the journey just to make the start has cost a great deal in terms of energy!!!' See you soon, Steph and Caro

Message from Axel Strauss and Nicolas Boidevézi aboard Défi GDE – Tzu Hang, received on Monday 23 May at 0143 hours French time: 'We’re mid-Channel under gennaker and mainsail on a reach. We have clear skies and a slight swell… a great night! All’s well aboard and a superb atmosphere ‘mit’ (with) Axel. We’re very happy with our start yesterday for friends, partners and the Normans. After weaving our way nicely along the coast as far as the Saint Marcouf islands… Everything is good, except we’d have preferred not be sailing under gennaker, which is new and so mysterious in terms of trimming… We’re preparing to do battle in contact with our rivals in the Solent. Good night, see you tomorrow! Ps: this evening it was Axel who cooked but he didn’t make me Wiener Schnitzel sadly ;-)'

Message from Phillippa Hutton Squire and Nick Legatt aboard Phesheya Racing, received on Monday 23 May at 0308 hours French time: 'Yesterday we were observing our progress aboard Phesheya racing during the first few hours of the race. We got off to a good start, even leading the fleet during a few of the tack changes but a rather slow spinnaker hoist caused us to drop a few places as we rounded the Ouistreham mark. Racing in the Class40 is really close and for a while, our position in the rankings took a dip. We were down to eighth then we caught back up with the fleet around the Saint Marcouf islands, which we rounded in third position. We got across the English Channel very quickly under full mainsail, staysail and gennaker and we’re already approaching the Solont as I write. We’ve dropped a few places following mechanical issues with the gennaker furler but I think we’re still fifth.'

Message from Hannah Jenner and Anna-Maria Renken aboard 40 Degrees, received on Monday 23 May at 0700 hours French time: 'Our gennaker halyard failed in the very lively conditions. Our sail dropped into the water and got caught up around the keel and rudder. It was a real shambles! However, we did manage to sort the problem out without too much damage and now we’re galloping along at the back in a bid to catch up with the fleet! Greetings to you all, Hannah and Anna'

Ranking on Monday 23 May at 0800 hours French time:

Normandy Race website

1	PORT DE CAEN OUISTREHAM	Fabien Delahaye/Bruno Jourdren	Dist to the finish 816,8
2	INITIATIVES SAVEURS	Tanguy de Lamotte/Sébastien Audigane	818,2
3	MARIE TOÎT - CAEN LA MER	Marc Lepesqueux/Michel Kleinjans	818,3
4	L'EXPRESS - SAPMER	Pierre-Yves Lautrou/Dominic Vittet	819,4
5	TALANTA	Jean Galfione/Eric Péron	820,0
6	DES PIEDS ET DES MAINS	Damien seguin/Yohann Richomme	820,9
7	MARE.DE2	Jorg Riechers/Etienne David	821,7
8	PHESHEYA RACING	Philippa Hutton/Nick Leggatt	822,0
9	DEFI GDE - TZU HANG	Axel Strauss/Nicolas Boidevézi	823,0
10	PARTOUCHE	Christophe Coatnoan/Sébastien Figue	823,1
11	RED	Matthias Blumencron/Boris Hermann	823,4
12	GRYPHON SOLO 2	Joe Harris/Josh Hall	836,5
13	40 DEGREES	Hannah Jenner/Anna-Maria Renken	838,0
14	SPLIFF	Andrew Dawson/Rune Aasberg	847,8
15	OCEAN ELEVEN	Stéphanie Alran/Caroline Vieille	848,8
16	LIVEWIRE	Stuart Dodd/Steve Kennington	922