Blustery end

A report from the Dragon racing at the Grand Prix Petit Navire in Dourarnanez

The bay of Douarnenez went all out today to welcome the last day of the Coupe Internationale de Bretagne de Dragon and the arrival of the 188 Optimists taking part in the Grand Prix Petit Navire d'Optimist.

“As this is Brittany, we already had three seasons in the same day. I think that after the autumnal squall, the coolness of winter, and for the moment this amazing spring weather, we should have few summer hours at the end of the afternoon,” said Henry Bacchini, president of the Dragon Race Committee. “The conditions are ideal for Dragons - 15 to 18 knots south/south west - sun and a little swell. The Dragon crews have smiles on their faces, everything is perfect”. But Bacchini, too optimistic, had to review his forecast just a few hours later. The weather changed and the day ended with the start of a strong depression.

While the Irish crew aboard Shimaera, yesterday's winner, couldn't race today with one of their crew missing, another one of the favourite, Pol Jensen aboard Danish Blue, got disqualified for the first race today following the black flag start. “The Coupe de Bretagne is a test between the committee and the racers. None of us are fools,” said Henry Bacchini. “Eight of them were over at the start, I caught them, but they are very fair and showed no visible emotions…”

The beautiful show given by the sailors, small and big, was a little disturbed by the arrival of an gigantic barge carrying an enormous crane. On its way to Brest, the Italian tugboat is towing the barge came into the bay of Douarnenez to find shelter, on the advice of the Préfecture Maritime de Brest as a big depression is forecast for tomorrow.
This unannounced guest was so imposing that it cut off the wind for some Dragons, not too unhappy to get a short break.

With at least eight crews having to retire before the end of the races today was marked by much damage among the Dragons, including Dirastarc'h, Yann Kerslé's boat. The famous French plastic surgeon's boat suffered a forestay problem and nearly lots its mast.

Meanwhile this morning also saw the start of the Grand Prix Petit Navire d'Optmist at the Birou embankment, at the entrance of the harbour. Organised by Tréboul's nautical centre, it is a fun way of ending the two year long course. on the one hand there were on shore tests where half students in each class gathered into four workshops (seamanship, knowledge of sea security, finding five mistakes on an exhibited Optimist…), having 15 minutes to complete each task. On the other hand there were the regattas, with a coastal race and a change of helmsman for each race.

After two days of competition, the three best CM2 classes will meet again on Wednesday for the final round which will establish the winning class. The winners will receive their trophy from trimaran and Open 60 skipper Jean le Cam, recently second in the Vendee GLobe.

Race results (Dragon)

Round 3 :
1st Clairvoyant (Sawer Ted)
2nd Rigmarole (Ross-Murphy John)
3rd BB Swing King (Johansen Peter)

Round 4 :
1st Hanseatic Lloyd (Hoesch Vincent)
2nd BB swing King (Jonhansen Peter)
3rd African Queen (Schonherr Jorgen)

Round 5 :
1st African Queen (Schonherr Jorgen)
2nd Resi (Fritz Werner)
3rd Hanseatic Lloyd (Hoesch Vincent)
Final ranking (before protests)
1st Hll Loyd (Jensen Claus) (Swiss, Danish skipper)
2nd BB Swing king (Johansen Peter) (Danish)
3rd Hanseatic Lloyd (Hoesch Vincent) (Swiss)

More photos on page 2...