Please select your home edition
Edition
Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to Exhibit

Normandy Channel Race - Day 5

by Sirius Evenements 18 Sep 2020 04:11 AEST 17 September 2020
Normandy Channel Race 2020 © Jean-Marie Liot / NCR

The home straight in this 11th Normandy Channel Race has begun. Whilst a large part of the fleet is now powering up the English Challenge towards Ouistreham via the Cotentin peninsula, for now it's impossible to predict the future winner of this edition.

The competitors are battling along in 25-30 knots of NE'ly breeze with the added hassle of having to contend with springs. Leading the way from Wolf Rock, Crédit Mutuel (158) has yielded the top spot to Banque du Léman (159), which has opted for an offshore option. As usual, the suspense over the leader board is palpable once more. For the moment, the first Class40s are expected off Ouistreham from 13:00 GMT on Friday.

Are we set to witness the same unbearably tense match races right to the last second as in previous years? Response tomorrow afternoon...

The Normandy Channel Race's reputation as a demanding and difficult race needs no further explanation. After 4 days of exhausting tactical fighting in the light airs blowing across the English Channel and the Celtic Sea, the biggest hurdle awaits the 21 remaining crews in the race to loop the loop. With the Venturi effect of the English Channel creating a strong 25-30-knot NE'ly air flow, the skippers got a thorough blasting as they rounded Land's End today. It was Ian Lipinski and Julien Pulvé aboard their Class40 Crédit Mutuel (158), who were first to bear the brunt of it.

"To make the finish line offshore of Ouistreham, we're in for a diet of upwind conditions and a series of tacks. For now, the sea and the current are in the same direction, but we await the turn of the tide with a great deal of trepidation because we'll be punching into wind over tide", explained the skipper from Lorient at today's radio link-up.

Indeed, the combination of strong breeze and a strong 4-knot current in a face-off will favour the formation of heavy seas. As a result, the competitors will have to strike a balance between taking shelter, in a bay where possible, during a rising tide (wind over tide) and hunting down more air offshore during an ebbing tide (wind and current in the same direction), which is synonymous with flatter and hence more practicable seas.

From now on then, the great dilemma for the sailors will involve covering their direct rivals, whilst protecting their boat from any damage that may compromise their sprint for the finish, a feat that Class40s Lamotte Module Création (153) and Milai (101) were sadly not able to pull off in the past few hours, both of them forced to retire from the race.

After Redman (161) at the start of the race as far as Wolf Rock, Everial (147) on the climb up the Celtic Sea as far as Tuskar Rock, then Crédit Mutuel (158) on the drop back down to Lizard Point, it is now the turn of Banque du Léman (159) to take the hotseat at the front of the pack. However, the hierarchy has never been so uncertain in this edition. There's still very much everything to play for with the tacking battle raging to the south-east of Lizard Point and the game is still wide open. This final sprint in the 2020 edition of the Normandy Channel Race promises to be truly breath-taking...

Find out more at www.normandy-race.com

Related Articles

Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 4
All on the line Sunday as American Magic Quantum Racing seek to close out eighth world title After three spectacular races today on Cascais, Portugal's showcase high winds arena, Doug DeVos' seven times world title winners American Magic Quantum Racing lead into the final day of the 2025 Rolex TP52 Worlds with a hard earned five points buffer. Posted on 5 Jul
North launches new Wingfoil Race Collection
Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace. Engineered with a VMG-optimised partial double skin for improved aerodynamic efficiency, lower drag and precise manoeuvres at higher speeds. Posted on 5 Jul
AEGEAN 600 Attica Warm-Up Race
5th edition sets sail with strong winds and signature Greek hospitality Under perfect sunny skies and brisk northerly winds, the 5th edition of the annual AEGEAN 600 kicked off with a flawless start both on and off the water. Posted on 4 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D5
Stage set for Finals showdown in Marstrand With just one day to go at the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, the stage is set for a thrilling finale in both the Open and Women's classes. Posted on 4 Jul
Sam Goodchild in the Course des Caps
The final phase is full of potential pitfalls Sam Goodchild, the British skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance who has been dominating the IMOCA round Britain and Ireland race since the start of the third day, says the goal now is to focus on the complex finishing section. Posted on 4 Jul
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 2
Light breeze, boat park buzz and big wins off the water >Day 2 brought lighter winds to Lake Garda, but the energy around the event stayed sky-high. Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead. Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again? Posted on 4 Jul
International Moth Worlds begin this weekend
Pre-Worlds are under way at Malcesine From 6 to 13 July 2025, the 2025 Moth World Championship officially gets under way, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine and preceded by the Pre-Worlds on 4 and 5 July. The event marks the culmination of three weeks entirely dedicated to foiling. Posted on 4 Jul
K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup." Posted on 4 Jul
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterSea Sure 2025Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to Exhibit