Tour De France À La Voile

by Courtesy Scuttlebutt Europe on 1 Jul 2003 Dunkerque, France: The 38 Mumm 30 teams taking part in this year's Tour lined up on Saturday for the two inshore races off Dunkerque-Dunes de
Flandres. Then, on Sunday, the fleet sailed off for Dieppe, first stopover of this month-long sailing marathon along the French coastline.

The 26th edition of the Tour de France à la Voile will finish in Antibes on the 28th of July. The 2003 programme includes 11 offshore races and 23
inshore races. Altogether, the competitors will cover 1005 miles in the Channel, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and visit 13 different French
towns.

The Tour de France à la Voile 2003 is very promising and should once again produce exciting tight and fierce racing. Among the most serious contenders are the Italian killers of Joe Fly Sailing Team, skippered by Federico Michetti.

Vasco Vascotto and Flavio Favini are among the crew as well as America's Cup sailor Morgan Larson. Last year's winner Pierre-Loïck Berthet and his crew onboard Bouygues Telecom should also be a threat as well as Marc Audineau and Julien Farnarier's Ville d?Antibes NEC.

Brittany's Jimmy Pahun, a figure of the Tour de France à la Voile, is back once again onboard Région Ile de France. Former winner, Bernard Mallaret, co-skipper of Cap Sport, is also
among those French sailors who are addicted to the event.

For the first time, there is an Australian entry. Southern Sun Team Australia, co-skippered by Michael Smith and Kirwan Robb, is a highly
motivated team from Melbourne.

This year, there are 12 teams competing in student division.

The fleet is expected to arrive at Dieppe early Monday morning between 0600 and 0800 hours. - Isabelle Musy

http://www.tourvoile.fr