Grand Prix Petit Navire regatta - 60 footers to Kite Surf to Optimists

by Event media on 22 Mar 2009
During the 10th running of the Grand Prix Petit Navire, the Dragon class will celebrate its 80th anniversary. There will be around a hundred craft heading to the bay of Douarnenez for what is now an unmissable rendezvous, making it one of the most important venues in Europe.

Fifteen associations and 300 volunteers have rallied together, year after year, to organise a unique event. As such the Grand Prix Petit Navire has become the largest Kite Surf and Dragon event in the world. With every edition, each with a distinctive feature, there are some permanent protagonists: the Dragons and the Optimists.

Aboard the Dragons we find enthusiasts as well as accomplished sailors, medallists, champions and recordmen from all kinds of horizons and with all manner of nationalities.

Aboard the ‘soap dish’ Optimists we may well see the future winners of the great races because Douarnenez has always favoured watersports training in its scholarly environment from a very young age.

Completing this rich line-up we have the luminous, aerial Kites. At the Grand Prix Petit Navire, the bay also plays host to Mumm 30s, boats from the Tour de France à la Voile, Open 7.50s, Figaros, the first 40 footers and the Imoco 60 footers. In short, on the water, we welcome every steed from regatta racing and ocean racing alike.

Meantime on land, there is plenty to occupy visitors with entertainment concocted by the local people. This takes the form of open day events at Port-Rhu and homage is also paid to the maritime heritage, which certainly made its mark amongst the crowds last year.

The 10th anniversary programme

The Grand Prix Petit Navire will begin on 30 April and will run until 10 May. The anniversary celebrations will kick off with a bang thanks to the participation of the 60 footers just back from the Vendée Globe, accompanied by the 40 footers from what is a now thriving class.

These ocean racing yachts will race around the bay from 30 April to 3 May, whilst the venerable Dragons, which will be celebrating their 80th anniversary in Douarnenez, will be racing from 2 to 8 May. As for the Optimists, these will do battle on 4, 5 and 7 May.

The Kitesurfers will be participating within the framework of their third European Championship from 7 to 10 May, with the final weekend of the Grand Prix Petit Navire also being dedicated to maritime heritage with the open day event and some unforgettable son et lumière shows in Port-Rhu.

Finally, in order to celebrate the Dragon’s 80th anniversary in style, a brand new regatta will be organised on 5 May, between crews from all walks of life, from Olympic medallists, to recordmen to world champions, to name but a few, who will be pitting against each other in the Dragon class.

Further information at: www.grandprixpetitnavire.com