Hyeres to stage TP52 Breitling MedCup

by Kate Jennings on 29 Nov 2006
After being retained by the ‘Association Méditerranéenne’ of the TP52 boat owners last July, the Town of Hyères confirmed its commitment to the event on Tuesday 28 November with the signing of the hosting contract during a press conference attended by the Mayor Léopold Ritondale, Edmond Bacci, elected head of watersports, Arturo Delgado, President of the TP52 Association, Ignacio Tray, President of the circuit’s organising body as a whole and Fernando Inigo, the circuit’s marketing manager.

In this way, the Town of Hyères is to become the first French town to host a stage of the prestigious Breitling Medcup circuit from 10 to 15 September 2007. After organising numerous events and championships on this reference race zone over the past few years, which include the traditional Semaine Olympique (Olympic Week), the Town of Hyères is now beginning a new chapter as it plays host to titled skippers from crewed international sailing.

Created in the USA and launched in Europe in 2005, the TP 52 boat circuit (for Transpacific 52 footers or 15.85m craft) has witnessed outstanding success and now stands out as the reference circuit for top level international sailing in the tradition of the America’s Cup.

With 13 boats in 2005, close to 20 in 2006, and 25 to 30 expected in 2007 representing 12 nationalities, the circuit brings together enthusiastic owners, the biggest stars from world sailing, the prestige of the top personalities (such as HM Juan CARLOS, HRH Prince Felipe, HM Harald of Norway) and some of the best architects of the day (Bruce Farr, Judel Vrolijk, Reichel Pugh, Botin Carkeek…).

Russel Coutts, Dean Barker, Paul Cayard, Ian Walker, Adrian Stead, Peter de Ridder, John Kostecki, Dee Smith, Tom Dodson,……. there is a long list of skippers, tacticians, helmsmen and crew of world renown, which make up the crews of these superb, technologically advanced boats that carry nearly 400 m2 of sail area with barely 7 tonnes displacement.

In short, it is a circuit of excellence whose only equivalent is the America’s Cup. 2007 will be marked by the first edition of the America’s Cup in Europe between April and July and the French venue of this event should be a further opportunity to reinforce the access of French sailors to the international network of crewed sailing.

The event will be the last meeting of the 2007 circuit after Castellon in Spain (13/17 June), the Breitling Regatta and the Copa Del Rey in Majorca (18/22 July / 5 August) and Portimao in Portugal (19/25 August); a circuit which is to culminate at the end of September with the TP52 World Championship in Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

On offer from Monday 10 to Saturday 15 September is a week of racing and a fabulous show in the sublime setting of the Hyères harbour and the surrounding islands (Porquerolles, Levant, Port-Cros).

Boats registered in the event will be welcomed to the 300 metre Est quay set up for the operation and a top of the range race village will be installed in the Port of Hyères. The organising of some prestigious public relations events will form an integral part of the week, culminating with a final prize-giving evening of the 2007 circuit for around 1000 people on Saturday 15 September 2007.

The event organisation will mobilize nearly 200 people from the circuit’s Spanish management company, Medcup Management, making full use of the services provided by the Town of Hyères and the sports department in particular, run by Michel Canone, and the Sirius Evénements company, presided over by Manfred Ramspacher.

The impact of the event on a media level in particular will be considerably increased by the fact that it is the final stage of the circuit. With this in mind, large scale means of television production and broadcasting have been implemented for the event with images distributed to over 150 countries.

Event website: www.medcup.org