Omaha landing

F18s to compete in Raid Bleu Normandie this weekend

The Raid Bleu Normandie starts this Saturday, 5 May from Omaha Beach (Colleville-sur-mer) on France's Normadny coast, with 38 crews from France, the UK, Belgium, Switzerland and Holland compete in F18 catamarans.

Among the 76 skippers competing are a number of 'celebs' including 60ft trimaran sailor Yvan Bourgnon, former Mini Transat winner Armel Tripon and F18 specialist Thibault Vauchel-Camus. Brits including former Olympic Tornado sailor Hugh Styles, sailing with Ryan Crawford, James and Gillian Power and Stuart Gummer and Ellen Foreshaw.

Gillian Power and Ellen Foreshaw are two of three women competing, the third being Amer Sport One bowgirl turned Figaro sailor Liz Wardley. Wardley is racing with former 470 and 49er sailor Eric Péron aboard their Sebago-sponsored cat.

Wardley, who most recently finished fourth in the Trophee BPE solo transatlantic race and who will be on the wire, commented: "Eric Péron, my helm, we know each other well and have sailed often together in Mumm 30s and Figaros. We obviously will give it all we, but I am looking forward to returning to a discipline for which I hold particularly fond memories."

Racing will take place off Omaha Beach (famous for the US landings there during WW2) over Saturday until Tuesday.