Speed runs in Douarnannez

Defi Petit Navire gets underway.

In 15-20 knot southwesterly breeze competitors in the port of Rosmeur set off for the third running of the Défi Petit Navire - the speed run series off Petit Navire's base in Douarnanez. At present this year the event is being dominated by the stunning form of Fred le Peutrec on Gitana XI.

After brisk conditions the previous day it was with relief that Gwen Chapalain and the his organisation team saw the skies clear and the bay of Douarnenez become navigable once more. After the race briefing, the start line was opened at 0900 GMT as planned.

On the first runs, it was the two multihulls from the Gitana team (Gitana X and XI) who got things going with a sequence of runs. Skipper of Gitana XI, Fred Le Peutrec, proved to be the fastest across the water with a run from Morgat to Douarnenez of 17 mins 21 secs, at an impressive average of 31 knots.

Behind the only two ORMA trimarans in today’s race was singlehanded round the world record holder Francis Joyon on IDEC and a number of windsurfers, the latter seriously
hoping to have neough breeze to outpace the trimaran. “I completed the first run towards Morgat in a little over 30 minutes with Toselli," Gérald Pelleau. "We then went straight into the next run so as to be able to make the most of the conditions. Unfortunately mid-course the wind dropped out and we finished in around 22 minutes. For the moment I’m waiting. Four to five extra knots would enable us to sail to the maximum. Apparently tomorrow’s forecast promises some more sustained conditions.”

This news should also satisfy the kitesurfers, including double world champion Fabienne d’Ortoli. “Conditions at the start in Rosmeur didn’t enable us to set off from Douarnenez so we set out from a beach in Morgat, but the lack of wind at the start remained a problem. It's also physically hard and we can’t do one run after another like the multis.”

A promising introduction nonetheless with 63 attempts to delight the large crowds. Tomorrow promises to be equally breathtaking despite the fact that Michel Desjoyeaux winner of the Route du Rhum and the Transat on Géant has had to back out at the last minute in the multihull section. The category which will be bumped up instead by Alain Gautier on Foncia, Swiss sailor Stève Ravussin on Banque Covefi and Yves Parlier's radical catamaran Médiatis Région Aquitaine.

Parlier's catamaran was unable to line-up today following the breakage of a shroud this morning but with its recent 24 hour averages in excess of 500 miles during the Québec- St Malo race everyone is waiting to see what she will achieve.

Results after 63 attempts
Best time of all the categories over a 9 mile run
Fred LE PEUTREC (Gitana XI) in 17’41’’, 30 knot average

60 foot multihull category
1- Fred LE PEUTREC (Gitana XI) in 17’21’’, 30 knot average
2- Marc GUILLLEMOT (Gitana X) in 19’10

Windsurf category
1-Pascal TOSELLI in 21’59
2- Gérald PELLEAU in 22’01
3- Yann DALIBOT in 25’47’’

Kitesurf category
1-Manu BERTIN in 27’35’’
2- Guillaume MARIANNI in 27’51
2- Nicolas BOUYER in 29’55’’

Speed machine category
1-Francis JOYON (IDEC) in 21’16"
2- Arcanes 17 in 34’47’’

Translation by Kate Jennings

More pics on page 2