Please select your home edition
Edition
ETNZ Store 2024 728x90 TOP

15th CIC Normandy Channel Race Finish

by Normandy Channel Race 20 Sep 05:59 PDT 20 September 2024
Fabien Delahaye and Benjamin Schwartz on Legallais (199) wins the 15th Normandy Channel Race © Jean-Marie LIOT / CIC NCR2024

Following an extremely close race and a final night spent punching into an intense current, it was Legallais (199) which finally took the win in this 15th edition of the CIC Normandy Channel Race.

Skippers Fabien Delahaye and Benjamin Schwartz crossed the finish line at 09:27:28 UTC after 4 days 21 hours 17 minutes and 28 seconds of racing. They boasted a dazzling lead of 1 hour and 16 minutes over Project Rescue Ocean (162), whose crew of Axel Trehin and Erwan Le Mené secured silver in this action-packed race. Completing the podium were the stellar Italian duo of Alberto Bona and Alberto Riva aboard IBSA (186).

For a long while, the final hierarchy in this 2024 edition remained undecided given how tightly bunched the fleet were, the leaders constantly changing throughout this course taking them from Normandy to southern England and on to southern Ireland, guarded by its lighthouses at Tuskar and Fastnet. Starting out with a tactical race in rather light conditions, the race ambiance changed dramatically once the fleet passed off the south-west tip of Cornwall for a second time. Already utterly exhausted, the sailors had to contend with 25-30 knots of NE'ly breeze accompanied by a strong current associated with a spring tide in this final sprint for home across the English Channel. It was only once it had left Barfleur in its wake that the Class40 Legallais (199) managed to shake off its pursuers and relish their victorious dash for the line.

"After a few podium finishes and a few times of leading at Barfleur, this time victory was assured. We managed to put pedal to the metal at the right moment, put in some solid tacks, move back up into the lead and then extend away. We took the win with panache and with a good lead so we're thrilled. It couldn't have gone any better and we've rounded off the season in style. This performance has established the reputation of this campaign, which is just a year in the making, so it's a very positive note to end on! It's a genuine source of pride to be heading this Norman campaign with the backing of a local company based in Caen and to win in a place where I put in my first tacks," beamed Fabien Delahaye at the finish in Ouistreham.

Through this performance, Fabien Delahaye has added another chapter to the history of the CIC Normandy Channel Race by becoming the first Norman skipper to win this great Norman classic.

Also sailing a fantastic race, which saw its crew leading at the start of the sprint for home across the English Channel, Project Rescue Ocean (162) finished second behind Legallais. "That's what is so great about this race, you know that there's everything to play for from start to finish. On the return leg from the Fastnet to Land's End, the other boats were quicker than us on a reach, which was the missing link in our quest for the top spot," explained Axel Tréhin as he docked in. Co-skipper Erwan Le Mené was also full of praise for this event as he shared his initial impressions: "It's my first participation and I'm not disappointed. What a wonderful course, a wonderful line-up and a wonderful match! Axel's experience in this event really bore fruit this year and enabled us to chase down this second place." Bravo to these magnificent runners-up in this CIC Normandy Channel Race 2024

The Italians on IBSA (186), Alberto Bona and Alberto Riva, really came back strong in the sprint for the finish to secure a much-deserved final spot on the podium ahead of Sogestran - Seafrigo (197). The latter was another key mover and shaker throughout this edition but skippers Guillaume Pirouelle and Cédric Chateau ultimately fell just 5 minutes shy of a medal. Finally, thanks to a daring option to the north of the Casquets TSS, Alternative Sailing - Constructions du Belon (196), bagged the final spot in the Top 5.

Find out more at normandy-race.com/en

Related Articles

The CIC Normandy Channel Race preview
A cardinal event on the Class40 circuit With the growing competitive appeal of the CIC NORMANDY CHANNEL RACE 2024, the deadline for registration has been extended to 1 April to ensure that everyone has a chance to secure a golden ticket for this star event. Posted on 26 Mar
CIC Normandy Channel Race: 15 editions & counting
Sirius Evenements is proud of its history and excited about its future Created in 2010 by Sirius Evenements in partnership with the Norman authorities, the CIC Normandy Channel Race is proud of its history and excited about its future! Posted on 2 Oct 2023
14th CIC Normandy Channel Race Prize Giving
Held at noon today in Caen The prize-giving for the CIC Normandy Channel Race took place at noon today in Caen. The Italo-French crew on Alla Grande Pirelli lifted the crown, rounding off this splendid 14th edition of the great Norman classic in style. Posted on 11 Jun 2023
14th CIC Normandy Channel Race winner
Alla Grande Pirelli wins, just 33 minutes ahead of Crédit Mutuel After last night's impassioned struggle around Le Raz Blanchard and a final sprint across the Baie de Seine, ultimately victory went to the Class40 Alla Grande Pirelli (181) in this 14th edition of the CIC Normandy Channel Race. Posted on 9 Jun 2023
14th CIC Normandy Channel Race Day 5
Taking on the passage of Le Raz Blanchard, famed for its mighty currents The skippers in this 2023 edition of the CIC Normandy Channel Race are currently negotiating the sprint back up the English Channel. In reality, the situation is akin to a final gruelling ascent with Caen at its summit. Posted on 9 Jun 2023
14th CIC Normandy Channel Race Day 4
The pack slinks eastwards en masse With the Fastnet ticked off for most of the fleet, the Class40s are now making for the south-west tip of England. Squashed together, the duos competing are close-hauled so conditions aboard are much less comfortable than they've had so far. Posted on 7 Jun 2023
14th CIC Normandy Channel Race Day 3
Beautiful racing along the Emerald Isle The bulk of the fleet in this 14th CIC Normandy Channel Race has now rounded the Tuskar Rock course mark. Alla Grande Pirelli (181) had the edge at the south-east tip of Ireland after being the first to leave the lighthouse in her wake. Posted on 6 Jun 2023
14th CIC Normandy Channel Race Day 2
English tactics After a tactical passage along the south coast of England, Groupe SNEF's strategic decision to hunt down more breeze offshore before heading back to the coast to benefit from a favourable current has paid dividends. Posted on 5 Jun 2023
14th CIC Normandy Channel Race underway
A spectacular start as the Class 40s put the pedal to the metal After a little less than a week on show in the port of Caen in northern France, the crews were more than excited to put pedal to the metal! In teams of two, ultimately some 60 sailors set sail today on the 14th edition of the CIC Normandy Channel Race. Posted on 4 Jun 2023
The love affair with the "Normandy" continues
11th edition of the Normandy Channel Race this September After a 2019 edition coloured by the post Route du Rhum transition, the 11th edition of the Normandy Channel Race in 2020 will likely see a return to its top form (record participation of 27 boats in 2016 and 2018). Posted on 15 Feb 2020
Henri-Lloyd - For the ObsessedSelden 2020 - FOOTERArmstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOM