Normandy Sailing Week - Channel racing at its best!

by Kate Jennings on 14 Jun 2014 Today saw everyone out on the water in Normandy Sailing Week 2014. In an established thermal breeze, calm seas and a zest of current, the races had all the ingredients for action to commence in perfect conditions. Interface Concept dominated in the J80 whilst CVSAE 2 secured pole position in the First Class 7.5. Pinguin Playboy (IRC4), Foggy Dew (IRC3), Dunkerque Plaisance (IRC2) and Pintia (IRC1) are leading after the first two races run today. Groupama has held onto the top spot in M34.*

There was a real buzz on Le Havre’s marina pontoons this morning! Indeed J80s, First Class 7.5s and IRCs joined the fray with the M34s today, lighting up the Baie de Seine, which was coloured by glorious sunshine and a 10-knot thermal breeze from the north, building to 15 knots late afternoon.

With nearly 40 crews in J80s this year, Normandy Sailing Week has beaten its entry record. So if you want to see the most popular one-design in the world in full glory then Normandy is the place to be this week! The crews enjoyed a very quick succession of races today and despite a general recall during the very first start and a host of individual recalls, the intrepid fleet linked together three races. Interface Concept skippered by Simon Moriceau put up a sterling performance and secured the lead with Courrier Junior (Eric Brezellec) and Team Vendée (Benjamin Dutreux) hot on their heels.

Normandy Sailing Week is run with clockwork precision and so it was that after each J80 start, it was the turn of the 15 First Class 7.5s to cross the start line on identical courses. Frédéric Moretti (CVSAE 2) is a clear leader after the three races run today. CVSAE 3 and CDV 27 complete the podium in the provisional ranking.

Among the IRCs, three races were enough to fill their afternoon with some serious jockeying for position on the race zone. After two races, Pintia ranks first in IRC1, Dunkerque Plaisance in IRC2, Foggy Dew in IRC3 and Pinguin Playboy in IRC4 (prior to the jury’s decisions regarding the third race).

The M34s appear to be on a fairly level pegging now with the deficits closing. Though Franck Cammas’ crew on Groupama is continuing to lead the way with 14 points, just six points separate Courrier Dunkerque 3 skippered by Daniel Souben (31 points) and Bretagne – Crédit Mutuel skippered by Nicolas Troussel (37 points). They have some stiff competition breathing down their necks in the shape of the youngsters from southern France (TPM Coych) and the Normans on ACEREL – Normandy Elite Team, who are really showing what they’re made of now!

Tomorrow, some 500 sailors will be on the water at 0900 GMT for the first race start. Windward-leewards await the J80s and First Class 7.5s, with a long coastal course for the IRCs and M34s.

Christine Briand (J80 Team Vendée): 'I was just passing and due to, or thanks to the train strikes, I’m back with Team Vendée to my great delight, instead of doing the Bol d’Or. It was very nice. We had a lot of fun. We scored a first, fifth and a third, which isn’t bad at all.'

Arnaud Boissières (J80 Vog): 'We competed in three races in the sunshine, which was rather pleasant, with a sixth place in the second race. The level of the competition is fantastic and fairly uniform throughout with pretty similar boat speeds. 35 boats means it’s a constant battle and I was really up for a fourth race. There will be others tomorrow though!'

Simon Moriceau (J80 Interface Concept): 'We had fine conditions with 10 to 15 knots and a favourable wind that tended to work down the right-hand side of the course, which paid off in our tactical choices! Three second places and a different winner ahead of us each time, so it should be good for the overall ranking.'

(* Subject to the jury’s Normandy Week