Normandy Sailing Week day three's pleasant menu

by Kate Jennings Expressions on 13 Jun 2011 Normandy Sailing Week 2011 saw the third day of racing in Le Havre on Sunday. Each of the participating series were treated to specific programmes. The menu was plentiful with offshore courses for the M34s, coastal courses in IRC and windward-leewards on the Sportsboats.

There was a light wind from the start of the event that dramatically gained in speed as the hours passed by. Ultimately the winds ranged between two and 30 knots. The sailing conditions were pleasant for the competitors who relished the downwind surfs and though for most of them it’s time to review the day’s racing over a cold beer, others – eleven M34s to be precise – are still at sea completing their 113 mile course around the Baie de Seine.

The injustice is all relative however given the long stretch of downwind sailing they’ve just devoured. Some great photos in prospect then!
 
The frontrunners open up a lead on the Sportsboats

After three windward-leeward courses run today in the Sportsboat round, the cards have been reshuffled at the head of the ranking. In the Longtze, Laurent Berjon’s crew has moved up into first place thanks to a very consistent performance in today’s races. In the Class 6.50, MTD Active/Medical is still leading the way but Manu Guedon and his team aboard Némo have racked up a great score by notably taking victory in two of the three races. Just one point separates the two teams so there’s everything to play for.

The Seascape 18s have seen what appeared to be a solid leader, Gracie, drop down into second place after a flawless performance by Atlantiscape. Thanks to three consecutive victories, François Coutant and his crew now boast a six point lead. Finally in the Laser SB3, Jerry Hill, aboard his 3 Sad Old Blokes, has retained pole position in the provisional general ranking, but the sailors from Brittany’s Cote d’Armor are hanging on in there with a deficit of just two points.
 
One-design my love…

In the First 7.5s, Arthur Herreman, imperial, has again won two of the three races run. With a six point lead he’s likely to earn himself a place in the French Espoir Crewed Championship! According to Marc Boüet, coach to the Pays de la Loire team and national Match Racing coach, the leading crew is untouchable: 'Arthur and his crew are clearly dominating the event.

They are the best the whole time, whether it be the start phases, the mark roundings, manoeuvring or tactics; there’s no question! In windy conditions like those today, experience makes the difference. The challenge if they take part in this summer’s championship will be to hang onto the title!'

In the J80s, Paprec Bretagne is having a blinder in the series. Of the six races run over the past two days, they’re enjoyed five victories. Behind them the crews on Jaws and Vog are neck and neck. Philippe Szellos, the skipper on Vog admits that 'the girls are tough!'
 
 Long coastal courses for the IRCs

Today IRC 1 and 2 set off on a 42 mile coastal course around the Baie de Seine. In IRC 1, Quokka 8 was first to cross the finish line but it’s Tokoloshe who holds onto pole position in the provisional general ranking. In IRC 2, Peter Morton won today’s race and remains at the top of the leaderboard! In IRC 3 and 4, it was the same programme over a shorter course. The winner in IRC 3, Noël Racine, skipper of Foggy Dew reviews the race:

'Our crew has done a lot of training, which enabled us to make just a handful of errors over the course. We very quickly got up to speed and it was a very good day!' In IRC 4, Illico.com remains in the lead.
 
113 miles for the M34s

At 1100 hours local time this morning, the eleven M34s set off on an offshore course spanning over 110 miles. This big loop which carries the competitors eastwards to Luc s/mer before hooking onto a long tack towards the Racon A5 landing mark of Antifer and then dropping down towards Merville Franceville, before hunting down the DA mark with a finish at the LH16 mark off Le Havre. At 1645 hours, at the Racon A5 mark position report, Sud de France had moved up into the lead, followed by BAE Systems and Courrier Dunkerque.

The boats are currently about 60 miles from the finish. Of note are the retirements of Martinique-HEC-Centrale and Côtes d’Armor for reasons which are still unknown. As we wait to find out the name of the winner of this offshore course, regular position reports are available on the race Event website