J/80 World Championship 2018 to be held in Les Sables d'Olonne
by Agence TB Press 6 Apr 2018 08:01 PDT
7 - 14 July 2018
J/80 World Championship © Pierrick Contin
The next J/80 World Championship, from 7 to 14 July 2018, will be organised by the Sports Nautiques Sablais, a reference sailing club in Les Sables d'Olonne, a port on France's Atlantic coast famous for hosting the start and finish of the Vendée Globe.
Assisted by the French J/80 Class, this summer event will welcome an expected 120 crews from every nationality, who will compete in a series of close-contact races. These Worlds will be the largest gathering of one-designs in France in 2018, guaranteeing a fantastic summery extravaganza on a race zone cherished by sailors from every discipline.
So, who will succeed Rayco Tabares' Spanish crew, the reigning World J/80 Champions? The competition is wide open and the odds are that there will be a sizeable delegation of French racers, great enthusiasts of the little yacht manufactured by the local J Composites yard, working hard to quash the Spanish monopoly of the world number one ranking over recent years. Of course, there will be a host of other nationalities also on the hunt for the top spots, but first we shall have to await the final verdict on 13 July after five days of fierce competition, gybes, tacks, strategy, tactics, mark roundings... and great fun too.
These are but a few of the distinctive characteristics of the fans of the Jonhstone design J/80. Indeed, it's not all about clashing swords. In essence, the J/80 groups together a clever mix of professional, but above all amateur sailors from all manner of backgrounds, keen to sample the delights of sailing whilst enjoying a week of exchanges with fellow aficionados of the series.
Michel Poitevineau, proud to be hosting a real World Championship
"We're absolutely delighted to have been chosen by the French J/80 association to organise this World Championship", says Michel Poitevineau, President of the Sports Nautiques Sablais. "The J/80 is one of the most popular small one-designs in the world and we're especially proud to be hosting a real World Championship, because this gathering won't just be about the French and the Europeans. Racers from every corner of the globe will be competing from 7 to 14 July in Les Sables d'Olonne! The locals have always fancied organising an international event between two Vendée Globes and that's what this World Championship will be. It's the Sports Nautiques Sablais' mission to gather together as many people as possible around sailing and to promote boating in general. The lifeblood of our club already has the event well in hand and we're keen to ensure it is faultless both on the water and on shore."
The French J/80 Class as dynamic as ever
"The last World J/80 Championship to take place in France was in La Trinité-sur-Mer, south-west Brittany in 2007 and it had some 123 crews on the start lines", explains Ludovic Gilet, the very dynamic President of the French J/80 association. "We're counting on the same number of competitors in Les Sables d'Olonne. The J/80 is continuing to thrive in France and worldwide. It is still one of the reference small one-designs and it's a real pleasure for our class to be gathering them together this summer, with the Sports Nautiques Sablais, on the fantastic race zone of Les Sables d'Olonne. Spectators everywhere will be able to follow the races in real time using the race tracker. We'll also be organising a fabulous parade in Les Sables' channel of Vendée Globe fame. This Championship will unquestionably be in line with the spirit of our Class, with something for everyone and an amateur and women's ranking to complement the overall ranking."
j80worlds2018.com