2022 Spirit Marine Beneteau Cup and Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers French Yacht Challenge - Preview
by QFYOA 11 Oct 2022 14:38 PDT
29-30 October 2022
French Yacht Challenge 2021 © Natasha Hoppner
The 17th 2022 Spirit Marine Beneteau Cup and Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers French Yacht Challenge Regatta organised by the Queensland French Yacht Owners Association Inc (QFYOA), hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron will be held on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October 2022.
In 2022 the Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers French Yacht Challenge will be held over the two days to align with the Beneteau Cup.
Rod Johannessen, Chair of QFYOA and the regatta committee commented, "Over seventeen years the regatta has grown to become one of the major social regattas on the Moreton Bay racing calendar. Following feedback from skippers in last year's regatta we are making this a two day event for all French Yachts to compete."
"In 2021, despite pandemic restrictions, we had a record number of 35 competitors including visiting yachts and crew from the Wynnum Manly Yacht Club, QCYC, Southport Yacht Club and even from Mooloolaba. We expect an even bigger turnout this year. It's a great two days to compete, socialise and revel in all things French on and off the water. For some crew it's a toss up if the highlight of this regatta is the competitive sailing or the fancy dress competition".
"For 2022, with the support of our long standing sponsor Alliance Francaise, we are bringing some additional French sailing spirit to the Regatta with video footage and photography of the world famous French ocean race La Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe."
La Route du Rhum is a transatlantic single handed yacht race which takes place every four years in November. The course is over 3,543 nautical miles, or 6,562 kilometers between Saint Malo, Britanny, France and Pointe a Pitre, Guadaloupe - where the magic of rum is found. The Current record is 7d 14h 21m 47s, set on November 11, 2018, by Francis Joyon.
The "inaugural" 2-day Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers French Yacht Challenge is open to all French designed/built boats (Beneteau, Jeanneau, Dufour, Archambault, J Boats etc) and is held in conjunction with the Spirit Marine Beneteau Cup. Divisions include Performance, Cruising Spinnaker and Rally.
Open to all French designed/built monohulls event activities include:
- 3 Divisions: Rally, Cruising Spinnaker and Performance
- Best dressed "French Themed" boat and crew
- Après race activities including Saturday BBQ and Sunday Trophy Presentation (complementary finger food) and fancy dress competition
Our generous sponsors are providing fantastic prizes and supporting après race activities. We welcome new Gold Sponsor Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers, taking 2022 naming rights for the French Yacht Challenge and Spirit Marine taking 2022 naming rights for the Beneteau Cup. New Bronze sponsors include: Paper Sailors Rock, Moet & Chandon and the restaurant C'est Bon.
Join us on Moreton Bay for a relaxed and social sailing celebration of all things French including the enjoyment of champagne and the magic of rum!
View Notice of Race details and online entry.
Entries close at 1500 hours on Tuesday 25 October 2022.