Class 40 pulls in the crowds and Halvard Mabire is re-elected president
by Class40 23 Apr 2021 03:33 AEST
Normandy Channel Race 2020 © Jean-Marie LIOT / NCR 2020
The annual General Assembly of Class40 was held on Saturday 17th April, in a dematerialized way. It was an opportunity to review the past year and to look ahead to the 2021 season, as well as to renew the Board of Directors.
2020: a troubled but positive year
2020 was not the best year for sport and event organisation and has created a lot of frustration for everyone. With the exception of the Normandy Channel Race and the Drheam Cup, the racing programme was very light. However, it was an opportunity for several projects to run successful record campaigns.
2020, however, revealed the strengths of the Class40: loyalty and support from its members. The class' finances are balanced in 2020. A second-hand market is still as dynamic as ever with 25 boats sold and there are many new projects on the horizon with two new boats launched and some fifteen construction projects under way despite a relatively gloomy general world atmosphere.
2021: on the rise
The growing interest in Class40 cannot be denied. Even though Class40's don't have foils, they leave many areas for development are very attractive on the sporting level with very reasonable running costs. There is also a good mix between professionals amateurs in the class. As proof, the participation in the season's races is very promising.
Indeed, around thirty Class40s will meet in Caen at the end of May for the CIC Normandy Channel Race, probably setting a record for participation in this incredible race. The following month, almost as many duos should participate in the much appreciated Les Sables-Horta. Let Horta prepare itself as never before have so many Class40s been there! Crewed racing is not in crisis either, with the RORC announcing 37 Class40s in the Rolex Fastnet Race. In the history of Class40, never before has so much excitement for the races on the programme materialised so early in the season.
The Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre will close the 2021 championship and in a big way! More than fifty Class40s have announced their intention to take part, almost double the previous record...
Furthermore, as many as 70 Class40 are announced for the Route du Rhum 2022! There is no doubt that Class40 is becoming increasingly popular and is continuing to develop at a steady pace.
Halvard Mabire, reappointed as President
There are several reasons for the good health of the class: the undisputed success of the last Vendée Globe, which opened up ocean racing to as many people as possible at a time when the planet was confined; a support that is increasingly attractive with the new generation of boats that stand out in terms of performance; an unwavering desire to keep costs reasonable and to maintain the balance between amateurs and professionals, which is its hallmark, and to do this, the constant involvement of the Board of Directors on many fronts.
The members will not be able to deny it since, as every year, they have renewed their confidence in the outgoing candidates, Halvard Mabire from Normandy and Pietro Luciani from Italy, unanimously re-elected by the Board of Directors as President and Vice-President, while Kito de Pavant joins the Board for the first time.
The 2021 programme can be found at www.class40.com/fr/calendrier