Midnight Express…. Class40 arrive in Lorient
The the fleet of 40 footmonohulls fought a battle to the finish, sometimes in conditions which took a toll on the sailors and the boats. On this short 320 miles course from Le Have.
Alla Grande Pirelli sailed by Ambrogio Beccaria and Nicolas Andrieu in the lead from start to finish, across the Bay of Seine to the Courreaux de Groix, won, arriving on the stroke of midnight. The mastery, the Franco-Italian tandem managed to open up a good gap with the rest of the fleet along north coast of Brittany.
Second place goes to the ex Figaro duo on Groupe SNEF Xavier Macaire and Pierre Leboucher who stayed ahead of a pack which was all very close to each other. Inter Invest (Perraut-Bloch) finished 3rd.
ORDER OF ARRIVAL INTO LORIENT
1 – Alla Grande Pirelli: 1 day 10 hours and 5 minutes of racing
2 – SNEF Group: +1h 15mn 29sec
3 – Inter Invest: +1h 20 mins 53 sec
4 – Legallais: + 1h 30 mins 01sec
5 – Amarris: +1h 33mn 05sec
6 – Project Rescue Ocean: +1h 34mn 50 sec
7 – Everial: +1h 52mn 22sec
8 – IBSA: +1h 52mn 46sec
9 – Sailing with a Crohn’s: +1h 53mn 30sec
10 – La Boulangère Bio: +1h 57mn 30sec
1st Alla Grande Pirelli
Ambrogio Beccaria: “We weren’t ready. Fortunately, we sailed a similar course a while back during which we didn’t sail well. We said to ourselves then that it wasn’t the ideal race to prepare for the Transat Jacques Vabre, but in the end, it wasn’t such a bad idea. We didn’t have any problems aboard the boat apart from a little damage to the sails… and a knee and two legs that got a bit beaten up. Forward, it was all a bit wild.”
Nicolas Andrieu: “The start reaching in 35 knots was incredible with all the boats speeding along at 18-20 knots. It was very emotional being on the line with everyone like that. Conditions were quite tough during the first night and I found it hard to get used to. It was a bit violent aboard the boat, but we’re pleased to have succeeded. The lead we have is big, but not really important. It is better to be an hour ahead than an hour behind. If that changes things in Martinique, we’ll be pleased. It is amazing seeing Ambrogio handle his boat. He was involved in the design and knows her by heart.”
2nd, Groupe SNEF
Xavier Macaire: “It was a nice race. It was tough and you had to work hard at every level. It was physically demanding after such a lively start. A lot happened in those 24 hours. We didn’t sleep much and gave it our all. There were squalls with wind changes, calms and gusts. We found a good option off Northern Brittany. There were some good periods and others that were less so. It all averaged out with some good tacks and manoeuvres to allow us to get second place in this first leg.”
Pierre Le Boucher: “We were really shaken around. After the Alderney Race, it was rough and that is when we learnt that Ian (Lipinski on Crédit Mutuel) had dismasted. We went through all our sails. Off the island of Groix we had 27 knots, but it ended well, which is nice, as there were a lot of traps along the way. We’re ready for the next leg, whenever that is.”
Inter Invest
Matthieu Perraut: “The goal here was not to lose the race. Above all we didn’t want to break anything. We really enjoyed ourselves and when we crossed the finish, we told ourselves how great it was to be sailing together. It was great fun. The start will stay with us.”
Kevin Bloch: “That will be remembered for the fantastic start. I think everyone was a bit afraid. There was a lot of wind and manoeuvres were complicated at the mark with so many boats there. But it was great to be there. We didn’t tell ourselves that this was the Transat Jacques Vabre. We took it like any other race and didn’t hold back.”
