Three hours after the start of la DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE, on Monday 15 July at 16:30 in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, the MOD70 Drekan Energy (Eric Defert) was the first to round the Shambles mark on the Southern coast of England, after a fast beam reach crossing of the Channel. He was followed by ORC 50 GDD skippered by Bruno Jacob at 21:00, Rayon Vert (Oren Nataf) and Wellness Training/MG5 (Marc Guillemot), all in the Multi 2000 class on the 490 mile course.
In Class40, racing the longer 630 mile course, no great surprises as the three « round nose » boats are leading on Tuesday morning. After rounding the West Shambles mark at 21 :30 last night, title holder Groupe Snef (Xavier Macaire), was followed by Swift (Jack Trigger) and Viranga (Emmanuel Hamez). Belco (Louis Mayaud) is leading the pointy Class40 group.
In IRC crewed, Teasing Machine, Eric de Turckheim’s powerful 54 footee has as expected taken off and on Tuesday morning was already half-way on the long upwind leg between Shambles and Wolf Rock, with Fastwave (Eric Fries) and Stamina Sailing Team (Charlie Ageneau) hot on his heels. In the IRC two handed class, Figaro 3 Chilli Pepper skippered by Elie and Jim Driver is ahead, while the battle is raging, between SL Energies Groupe (Laurent Charmy) and Belgian team Red Dolphins Espoirs (Jonas Gerckens) at the front of the Sun Fast 30 One Design group.
What is on the agenda today ? « They will continue to sail upwind in a steady 10 to 15 knot west-northwesterly windexplains Manu Guédon, who is assisting Hervé Gautier at Race Management. We can see that as current shifts, they shelter in the large bays and go more offshore as soon as the current is favourable. Drekan Energy should round Wolf Rock fairly soon, around midday. »
Notable also are three retirements in IRC two handed, Cora (Tim Goodhew, IRC double), who has sailed back to England, Kestrel (Simon Bamford) and Il Corvo (Roeland Franssens) who turned back to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on Sunday evening.