Olympic Contender - Viper strike

by Viper Class Association on 2 May 2012 The French potential Olympic team of Moana Vaireaux and Manon Audinet sailing their Viper in the prestigious Eurocat long distance raid have stolen the show taking overall fleet victory on the final day of racing in Carnac, France.

Vaireaux and Audinet were thrilled after returning to the harbour and realising they had beaten more than 300 teams in the pinnacle event of the weekend. Vaireaux paid tribute to the weeks training the French Olympic squad had completed on Vipers prior to the Eurocat regatta.

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The 2012 edition of Eurocat has seen some of the most competitive Viper sailing to date, with 23 entrants from five different nationalities and consisting of 18 mixed crews. World champions, Olympians and Americas Cup sailors are among the mix of the international sailors.

'The competition is tough at the front but we are having great fun' said Frenchman Arnaud Jarlegen, who is taking time off from his Americas Cup campaign with Team Energy.

Viper Class President Raphael Sicouri said, 'It is fantastic to see some of the most accomplished catamaran sailors racing on the same one design boat, on the same course and helping all the other sailors. The class is going from strength to strength with now over 200 boats'

Darren Bundock, former Tornado Olympian commented, 'The racing on Friday was almost perfect with three highly competitive races and three different winners. It great to see how mixed sailing has really taken off in the Viper class. The women are pushing us guys, Audrey Ogereau helmed to victory in the first heat, while Celine van Dooren crewed winning the second race. Amazing job by Manon Audinet crewing to win overall in the long distance'

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Audrey Ogereau and Valentin Bellet won the Viper fleet racing class from fellow country men Emmanuel Le Chapelier and Yaouen Lecoublett.

The Viper class is very pleased but not at all surprised the Viper rated extremely well at the recent Olympic equipment evaluation trials and is one of the two recommended equipment choices to be decided at the ISAF mid year meeting next week in Stressa, Italy.

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