And another French team

Géry Trenteseaux to lead not one but four teams to Rolex Commdores' Cup

This year's Rolex Commodores' Cup, to be held over 25 June-2 July 2, 2006 will once again see the return of a competitive French team captained once again by RORC Vice Commodore Géry Trenteseaux, winner of this biennial regatta in 2002 and second in 2004.

Impressively this year the French Commodores' Cup effort will comprise four teams each compromising three boats - small, medium and large. Such is the interest in France that a selection procedure to be run by the Federation Francais de la Voile (FFV) will be carried out during the spring.

A pre-selection will take place during SPI Ouest France over 13-17 April and at the Obélix Trophy on 29 April-1 May. The exact make-up of the four teams will be decied after RORC's IRC championship on 9-12 June.

The selection panel for the French Rolex Commodores Cup team includes Christian Gouard (FFV), Marc Bouvet (FFV) Benoit Charron (national trainer), Mr Fries (UNCL), Jacques Pelletier (Yacht Club de France) and Jean-Michel Carpentier (UNCL).

Already many crews have confirmed their intention to try for a spot. The Synergia 40 Paprec Recyclable, the JPK Guyader, Bénéteau 44.7 Courrier du Cœur, J/109 Pen Azen, X-43 l'ange de Millon, the prototype of 33 footer of Didier Dardot, the Archambault 35 or Bénéteau 34.7 skippered by former maxi-multihull sailor Pierre Follenfant are among the contenders. Two slots are also being left open for boats making the journey from the Med to the Solent.

Géry Trentesaux: "The Rolex Commodore's Cup is a very enjoyable race in particular because of the mixture of offshore and inshore races. Racing in teams is interesting at a technical and a sporting level. And then, to sail on the Solent with all its currents is always magical... "