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North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Images from Lorient- A Slice of Offshore Heaven

by Ben Gladwell on 5 Jul 2011
The maxi trimaran Goupama 3 - Lorient, France Ben Gladwell http://www.sail-world.com/nz

A section of the French port of Lorient is set aside as the first European centre for offshore racing.

Located in the former submarine base Keroman, the port has become the home to many boats, sailing teams and companies specialising in offshore racing.

The City of Sail Eric Tabarly, opened in April 2008, is now the showcase of French sailing. The area is completely open to the public, who are able to get up close with some of the boats that most of us can only dream about.

Moored in City of Sail Eric Tabarly are Volvo 70's, MOD70's, Open 60's and more along with the giant trans oceanic trimarans Banque Populaire and Groupama. Both these teams have multiple boats in the marina, underlining the depth of professional offshore racing teams in France.

Ben Gladwell spent a day checking out some of the boats on show and filed this gallery of images.












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