Longtze Premier at the Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale

by Longtze Media on 29 May 2009 ??The Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale 2009 proved to be a highly tactical regatta, and the Longtze Premier fleet, very much a level playing field, produced some very engaging battles. “The game is decidedly very open in Longtze”, commented Arian Provost, helmswoman of Longtze Premier de l’Ecole Navale, and 3rd placed at the end of the event. “Anyone can win in this class, but the smallest error is punished harshly. It is an exceptional experience!”

This was an opinion confirmed by Christophe Espagnon, coming directly from the French Tornado team and tactician on board Longtze Premier Lufthansa – “it is a new boat, so everyone is learning, and there isn't a single dominant leader. The game is completely open. The boat is lively, physical and technical, which means giving 100% of your effort all the time! In this game, Athema sailed very well.”

One team that ‘threaded the needle of experience’ in to order to get to their objective was the Athema crew of Erwan Tabarly, ably backed up by Vincent Biarnes and Gilles Favennec (both match-racing specialists), Yannick (Erwan's brother) and Erwan Liees. “I let myself be guided by Gilles and Vincent” said Tabarly. “The team sailed very well together. I am very happy with this victory, it motivates us for the next! The boat is somewhat complex, but we have started to understand a little better how it works, it is very satisfying.”? Another high-profile entry in the Grand Prix was Guillaume Florent (Bronze Medallist in the Qingdao Olympic Regatta) with a Naval School team, who won the last two races in order to step up to 3rd place on the winners podium. After the first two events of the Longtze Premier European Tour, there are now only four points separating the first seven competitors - and there are four paired scores among the total 10 Longtzes!

This Grand Prix will leave an excellent memory to all of the competitors. “This is what is great about the Longtze Premier”, recounts Ariane Provost “It is sailing at a very high level, but that doesn’t stop us from a having a good time. Despite the big age differences and the individual abilities in the fleet, there have been many opportunities to interact within the group.”

“We had exceptional conditions during the Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale!”, explains Thierry Arnould, French Lufthansa Marketing Director. “We have been enormously surprised by the Longtze European Tour! Erwan stands well in the rankings in this regatta: in Monaco, it was Nicolas Bérenger... Each time, there are newcomers, the mix is rich and very interesting. It is one of the most powerful elements of the circuit! It is much more than a competition; it is a very good atmosphere and a true exchange of values between us.”

Gwénégan Le Bourhis, Communication Director for the Ecole Navale, said, “The Grand Prix de ‘l'Ecole Naval is an opportunity to open doors. Each evening, the students can mix with professional skippers and experienced sailing crews coming from completely different experiences. For our students, this has been an excellent opportunity.

The next event is the Deauville International week (4-7 June), where 10-15 Longtzes are expected.

Results of the Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale:
1. Erwan TABARLY (France) – ATHEMA – FRA 822 ?
2. Guillaume FLORENT (France) – LONGTZE RACING – FRA 806
?3. Ariane PROVOST / Stéphane CHRISTIDIS (France) – ECOLE NAVALE – FRA 805
?4. Luc GELLUSSEAU (France) – LUFTHANSA – FRA 818
?5. Andreas Beinz (Germany) – BROKER LINE – SUI 812
?6. Eckhard KALLER (Switzerland) – BROKER LINE 3 – SUI 815
?7. Ronan TREUSSART (France) – LONGTZE RACING
?8. Nicolas BERENGER (France) – KONE MONOSPACE – FRA 820
?9. Arthur LEVAILLANT (France) – KONE MAXISPACE – FRA 821
?10. Jacques VAN DEN HEUVEL (Holland) – ANCRE DE CHINE – NED 808

Overall standings on the Longtze European Tour:

1 Guillaume FLORENT (FRA) – LONGTZE RACING 19
2 Luc GELLUSSEAU (FRA) – LUFTHANSA 19
3 Erwan TABARLY (FRA) – ATHEMA 17
4 Nicolas BERENGER (FRA) – KONE MONOSPACE 17
5 Eckhard KALLER (SUI) – BROKER LINE 3 16
6 Ariane PROVOST (FRA) - ECOLE NAVALE 15
7 Andreas Beinz (GER) – BROKER LINE 15
8 Arthur LEVAILLANT (FRA) – KONE MAXISPACE 7
9 Marc EMIG (FRA) - LONGTZE RACING 7
10 Ronan TREUSSART (FRA) – LONGTZE RACING 5
11 Heiko FALCH (GER) - LA JAUNE 3
12 Jacques Van Der HEUVEL (NED) – ANCRE DE CHINE 2
13 Ivo MARCONI (MON) - INCENTIVE CONCEPT 2