Seychelles Regatta – And the winner is…

by Gerard Godiven on 31 May 2010 Seychelles Regatta update: Local boat Hyundai, skippered by Frenchman Yann Eliès, did just enough in Saturday’s seventh and final race to clinch the Seychelles Regatta revolving trophy sponsored by the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and Eden Island – succeeding Michel Desjoyeaux’s Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte as champions.

Hyundai crew members received their prizes during Saturday night’s prize-giving ceremony at the Eden Island in the presence of Education minister Bernard Shamlaye, French Ambassador to Seychelles Philippe Delacroix, STB director for tourism marketing Alain St Ange, Eden Island representative Peter Smith and other guests.

Other than Yann Eliès, the other Hyundai crew members were Paul Hodoul, Mervyn Cafrine, André Hoareau, Neville Humphrey, Cedric D’Offay, André D’Offay, Dianne D’Offay, Yann D’Offay Mancienne and Perry Mancienne. They finished second behind Armel Le Cléac’h and his Château Perenne Grand Vin de Bordeaux boat in the seventh race to accumulate 10 points – the least in the nine-boat flotilla – to win, on top of the revolving trophy, a week for four or six persons at the Villa de Charme du Domaine de l’Orangerie, a jeroboam Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, a magnum Château Perenne Grand Vin de Bordeaux and a magnum Chablis.

'When Hyundai wins, it’s a win for Seychelles,' said skipper Eliès, who described the week at sea as 'memorable and full of discovery'. Before spraying champagne on the guests and drinking from the bottle, Eliès thanked his crew members for a superb job.

Michel Desjoyeaux’s Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte boat settled for second position overall with 13 points and won six nights stay for eight persons at the Constance Ephelia Resort in the junior suite, a trophy, a jeroboam Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte and a magnum Château Perenne Grand Vin de Bordeaux.

After moving from fourth to third position in Friday’s sixth race, this year’s Transat AG2R La Mondiale winner onboard the Figaro Brit' Air, Armel Le Cléac’h and his Château Perenne Grand Vin de Bordeaux boat consolidated their place on the podium with victory in Saturday’s seventh race to win a week for two persons at the Acajou Hotel, a trophy, a jeroboam Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte and a magnum Château Perenne Grand Vin de Bordeaux.

The Neil Delcy Memorial Fair Play trophy sponsored by Sunsail Seychelles was won by the all-female crew on board Bastide Du Laval, skippered by Servane Escoffier. They also got a week-long sailing charter on a Sunsail 40-feet catamaran for eight persons and a magnum Château Perenne Grand Vin de Bordeaux.

Skippered by Gervais Adeline, press boat Lady Anya, who only took part in the big game fishing contest, triumphed with a total of 33kg to win a jeroboam Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, a magnum Château Perenne Grand Vin de Bordeaux and a magnum Chablis.

The complete results
1st - Yann Eliès – Hyundai - 10 points
2nd - Michel Desjoyeaux - Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte - 13 points
3rd - Armel Le Cléac’h - Château Perenne Grand Vin de Bordeaux - 16 points
4th - Samantha Davies - C’est la Vie - 21 points
5th - Yvon Bénéteau - Air Seychelles -26 points
6th - Romain Attanasio – Fondéole - 32 points
7th - Jérémie Beyou - Seychelles Breweries - 40 points
8 th - Servane Escoffier - Bastide Du Laval - 44 points
9th - Jean-Claude Dupuys - Mason’s Travel – 48points

'Seychelles awaits world-class skippers next year,' says Minister Shamlaye. 'Seychelles awaits you for next year’s third Seychelles Regatta', Education minister Bernard Shamlaye told the world-class skippers during the closing ceremony of the second regatta at the Eden Island on Saturday night.

'You are now friends of Seychelles and you all love the country,' said Minister Shamlaye, who was deputising for Vice-President Joseph Belmont, who is on overseas mission.

STB director for tourism marketing Alain St Ange told the French skippers to 'bring memorable souvenirs of Seychelles with them back home.' He also told them that Seychelles is about 'From the Big Five to the Best Five'.

Seychelles’ Best Five are a ‘tour de force’ of all that is special about the islands: the diversity of the granite and coral islands, the many world-ranking beaches found throughout the archipelago, the sapphire seas, the year-round climate that has earned it the epithet of 'land of perpetual summer and the ethnic diversity and harmony of the people'. The Big Five is related to African wildlife reserves. Before thanking all the sailors, sponsors and organisers, Mr St Ange added that the Seychelles Regatta will remain on STB’s and Eden Island’s calendar for the coming years.

Eden Island representative Peter Smith said that this year’s regatta was the 'most successful' as 'the winds took the sailors on their journeys.'

Main organiser Regis Elhaouel of Pro Marine pointed out that it was 'a suspense-filled regatta as the winners were not decided until the final 100 metres of the last race.' He added that he could not have asked for a better regatta and described it as an 'excellent week of sailing with winds blowing between 18 and 20 knots.'

Mr Elhaouel said that they want to increase the number of boats in next year’s regatta with the possibility of two South Africans and one Italian competing and getting the right competition sails on all the boats.

Seychelles Regatta 2010 - www.theseychellesregatta.com