Pogo Structure first Class 40 - Quebec-Saint Malo

by Mer et media on 3 Aug 2008 At 04 h 50 minutes and 43 seconds (GMT), today (Sunday) 3rd August 2008, Halvard Mabire, on board Pogo Structure crossed the finish line of the seventh Transat Quebec-Saint Malo, off the Breton city. After 13 days, 13 hours, 50 minutes and 43 seconds of racing at an average theoretical speed of 8.76 knots, the skipper from the Cherbourg Peninsula and his two crewmen, Antoine Carpentier and Didier Le Vourch, achieved a great victory in the 2855-mile east to west transatlantic crossing. They experienced a wide range of conditions as they made their way out of the Saint Lawrence and crossed the ocean via the North Face.

Halvard Mabire, who grabbed the lead in the race two days ago, was able to fend off the attacks from the young guns on Mistral Loisirs - Pôle Elior Santé. He had feared a closing up of the gaps between the leaders, as they made their way along the Channel coast, but in the end his worries were unfounded. A few hours before crossing the line, he wrote these lines: 'A host of feelings are going through our minds, as is only normal at the end of a great adventure like the one we have just experienced. The pleasure of meeting up with family and friends is, of course, the highlight of the 'landing' and the most joyful moment you can imagine. However, at the same time as this joy, there are feelings of nostalgia that overwhelm you. Reaching land, means you fall back to Earth.'

Pierre Antoine’s 50-foot multihull, Imagine finished in Saint-Malo at 01h 43 minutes and 10 seconds GMT this morning (Sunday) after 13 days, 10 hours, 13 minutes and 10 seconds of racing. He took second place behind Franck-Yves Escoffier.

At 04 h, 32 minutes and 41 seconds GMT, it was Prince de Bretagne’s turn to arrive in Saint-Malo. Hervé Cléris had warned us: 'The Channel crossing is going to be a game of poker. We could pull off some strokes.' After finding himself 64 miles behind Imagine yesterday afternoon, he climbed back to complete the transatlantic race in third place after 13 days, 13 hours, 02 minutes and 41 seconds, a little less than three hours after Imagine.

Pogo Structure Profile.

Halvard Mabire: 52 years old. Lives in Lower Normandy. A sailor with a wonderful list of achievements, a talented manager, he has been involved in ocean racing for many years and has been through a range of jobs: skipper, project leader, designer... A great yachtsman, Halvard is also an excellent racing driver back on dry land, as he has completed two Paris-Dakar rallies (in 1988 and 1989).

Sailing achievements
* 7 Figaro solo events
* 2 Route du Rhum races
* 3 Artemis Transat races

Antoine Carpentier: 32 years old. Lives in Southern Brittany. A professional sailor, he has done particularly well in some of the top regattas. Going from J80 to Mumm 30, via the 7.50 one design, as well as three seasons with Gitana Team on the 60' Orma multihull.

Didier le Vourch: 35 years old. Lives in Western Brittany. He made his name in the Mini circuit after preparing a number of boats, from Figaros to Mumm 30s, as well as 60-foot Open boats for Jean-Pierre Dick and Thierry Dubois.

www.quebecsaintmalo.com