First blood for Sergio

James Boyd reports from day one of the ORMA 60ft trimaran Grand Prix in La Trinite-sur-Mer

Under pouring rain and a grey sky the first regatta for the ORMA 60ft trimarans got underway today on the Bay of Quiberon off La Trinite-sur-Mer.

With the disappointing last minute withdrawal of Yves Parlier's new catamaran the field was left open to the ten 60ft trimarans. The creme de la creme of French sailing is taking part in this regatta. Aside from the usual crop of offshore sailors, there are Olympians to America's Cup sailors littered throughout the fleet.

One man making a difference to today was former America's Cup skipper and match racer Luc Pillot, calling tactics on board Karine Fauconnier's Sergio Tacchini. Pillot has raced on board once before at the Cagliari Grand Prix in Sardinia last year, and they won - the only regatta in 2003 which Franck Cammas' Groupama lost. Pillot again appears to be working his magic with Fauconnier's trimaran picking up race wins in both the first and third race today. The second race they were in third position when their starboard genoa winch blew up. They recovered to finish third and now lies neck and neck on points with Groupama.

For a full photo gallery of Gilles Martin-Raget's images from today's racing - click here

Results:

1 Sergio Tacchini – Karine Fauconnier, 1+3+1 = 5 points
1 ex æquo Groupama – Franck Cammas, 2+1+2 = 5 points
3 Banque Populaire – Lalou Roucayrol, 3+4+3 = 10 points
4 Gitana 11 – Fred Le Peutrec, 6+2+6 = 14 points
5 Géant – Michel Desjoyeaux, 4+7+4 = 15 points
6 Banque Covefi – Steve Ravussin, 5+6+7 = 18 points
7 Foncia – Alain Gautier, 7+9+5 = 21 points
8 Sodebo – Thomas Coville, 9+5+9 = 23 points
9 Sopra Group – Philippe Monnet 8+8+8 = 24 points
10 Gitana X – Marc Guillemot, 10+10+10 = 30 points