Browne unbeatable

At the Mumm 30 Europeans on the penultimate day of Deauville International Week

On the penultimate day of Deauville International Week the British hold pole position in most classes, the European Mumm 30 Championship looking likely to go to Louis Browne and Asterix 10 races. For the rest of the fleets, racing is so close it could still go either way as they are still contending race 10 at the time of writing.

The Franco-British duel is in full swing in the J/105 class. They, like the rest of the fleet have sailed very little today due to light winds. J-Dream and Garzette are both vying for the lead, the latter just ahead nine races. It remains to be seen if the Breton skipper Pierre Dalibot on Garzette can withstand the attack from the 7 Union Jack boats lead.

In the J109 class, Chaz Ivill's Johnny Blue II continues to lead but lost out to compatriots Philip Smith on Firestorm and Guy Knight's Beth in today’s first race. This won’t have come as much of a surprise to Ivill. “Since the start the J/109s have really upped their pace, especially Firestorm.” he said on the pontoons this morning. “They’ve sailed really well on a new boat. Today’s going to be different because it’s a coastal course.” Victory in the first J/109 European Cup still looks to be within their grasp but only time will tell.

Another British skipper is controlling the 40 foot fleet. Robin Dollar on the First 40.7 Grand Cru II lead against hot competition from the Dutch team on the IMX 40 Weerga. Crew Chris Sandison says: “It’s been great racing and it’s a great battle between ourselves and the Dutch boat Weerga. I think we’re only leading because we’ve got more people on board! Chimaena is rapidly improving too so we’re really going to have to watch our backs today. Yesterday we had more wind so there was a bit more pressure on the boat handling. It’s really good training to have such close racing!”

Among the Mumm 30s, the English are making their mark in Deauville International Week. With a lead of 29 points ten races, Louis Browne on Asterix is on a roll. This morning Browne's strategy was to sail conservatively and safely in each race without disqualification as every race counts in the Mumm class. Norman Charon is still in second place and will have to watch their backs tomorrow morning as the Dunkirk boat is on the chase!

“Once we manage to get out ahead we’re able to stay ahead," said Browne of their performance. "In two races on Friday we had a good lead but I think that’s due to the fact that you’re in clear air out the front. We are fast that’s for sure. It’s a convenient place to come to and we’ve really enjoyed Deauville. The surrounding countryside is lovely. As far as Deneen [Demourkas] is concerned I don’t think it can help to have half the crew being American and half of them French. I think it’s inevitable that they’ll have some language problems there. ’m not sure how much experience the tactician has of speaking English and given his role that must be a handicap of some sort. The Germans are doing pretty well; Bent Dietrich in particular has been pretty solid with his mostly English crew but they’ve had a disqualification. The English boat Bite the Bullet is also doing very well but they had a premature start yesterday and that’s certainly not done them any favours. But they are fast and very good sailors. They’ve got Paul Goodison as tactician. There are certainly some key people here that take things seriously.”

Finally, local French skipper Philippe Ligot in the Melges 24 has dropped only one victory in nine races, Pierre-Alexandre Jouvencon on the 747 OD is also retaining a firm hold on the helm, while Philippe Rossignol in the J/80 can almost smell victory

Results:

Mumm 30 after 10 races:

1: "Joules Asterix" Browne Louis (33 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (1,6,5,5,4,1,1,1,8,1,)
2: "Defi Basse Normandie (Espoirs)" Charon Benoît (62 pts) France. (12,15,2,3,1,6,2,11,6,4,)
3: "Courrier Dunkerque" Souben Daniel (65 pts) France. (7,5,1,7,6,2,16,12,4,5,)
4: "Topas" Dr Bruning Harald (73 pts) Allemagne. (3,12,6,OCS ,2,3,6,5,1,13,)
5: "Bite The Bullet" Christie Peter Bonham (78 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (4,2,9,OCS ,5,8,9,6,2,11,)
6: "Cotes D'armor" Biarnes Vincent (87 pts) France. (DSQj,7,3,4,8,7,5,8,7,16,)
7: "Nouvelle-Caledonie" Portugal Vincent (92 pts) France. (2,1,11,6,12,10,15,16,10,9,)
8: "Groovederci" Demourkaj Deneen (94 pts) Etats Unis D'Amerique. (6,3,12,DSQj,10,4,3,7,9,18,)
9: "Van Uden Tu Delft" Van Der Heyden Gert (105 pts) Hollande. (10,14,10,OCS ,DNS ,5,4,2,14,2,)
10: "Nantes Saint Nazaire" Petithuguenin Sébastien (117 pts) France. (8,8,18,OCS ,3,14,8,13,3,20,)
11: "Dieppe Seine Maritime" Gibon Romain (117 pts) France. (15,11,7,OCS ,7,RAF ,13,9,5,6,)
12: "Rainbow" Bent Dietrich (122 pts) Allemagne. (DSQj,4,13,1,13,11,18,18,15,7,)
13: "White Shark" Gibbons Geoff (124 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (18,16,15,8,9,12,7,15,16,8,)
14: "Alfa Laval" Richomme Yoann (125 pts) France. (9,10,8,DSQj,11,13,10,3,OCS ,17,)
15: "Triple P" Housselt Ernst Jan (126 pts) Hollande. (14,17,14,11,15,9,14,4,18,10,)
16: "Viseo - Hiolle Industrie" Dore François (139 pts) France. (5,18,19,9,16,DSQj,12,10,13,15,)
17: "Ineo Suez" Lecarpentier Nicolas (139 pts) France. (11,13,17,10,14,15,11,17,12,19,)
18: "Felicity" Harwood Hannah (142 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (13,9,16,12,19,16,21,14,19,3,)
19: "Elles En Mer" Parade Kiny (147 pts) France. (17,19,4,13,18,17,17,19,11,12,)
20: "Longshot III" Long Adrian (166 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (16,20,20,2,17,18,19,20,20,14,)
21: "Cyclone" Bonneville Bertrand (209 pts) France. (DNS ,DNS ,DNS ,DNS ,20,DNF ,20,21,17,21,)

J/105 (105) after 9 races (one discard.)
1: "Garzette" Dalibot Pierre (12 pts) France. (2,2,2,3,1,1,2,1,1,)
2: "J-Dream" Apthorp David (16 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (1,1,1,1,3,3,5,4,2,)
3: "Joujou Extra" Cathier B (22 pts) France. (3,3,5,2,DNF ,2,1,2,4,)
4: "Jump The Gun" Curtis F (38 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (6,5,3,5,4,8,4,3,8,)
5: "Jambalaya" Bird Andrew (41 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (4,4,6,RAF ,2,4,9,7,5,)
6: "Juneau" West Mike (46 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (5,6,8,6,5,5,7,6,6,)
7: "Slingshot" Murray Shawn (48 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (8,8,7,4,7,DSQj,3,8,3,)
8: "Fay - J" Griffiths Paul (49 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (7,7,4,7,8,6,6,5,7,)
9: "Just Aquaholix" Hall Debbie (65 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (9,9,9,8,6,7,8,9,9,)

J/109 (109) after 9 races (one discard.)
1: "Johnny Blue II" Ivill Chaz (9 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (1,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,3,)
2: "Firestorm" Smith Philip (18 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (3,5,4,3,2,1,2,2,1,)
3: "Bipbip" Thebaud Christophe (24 pts) France. (4,2,2,2,3,6,3,3,5,)
4: "Jahmali" Wallis Mike (32 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (2,3,5,6,4,3,7,5,4,)
5: "Beth" Knight Guy (36 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (6,4,6,5,6,5,4,4,2,)
6: "Perseverance" Herve Jean_luc (39 pts) France. (5,6,3,4,5,4,6,6,7,)
7: "Squibs" Raby Adam (53 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (7,7,7,7,7,7,5,7,6,)

40ft class after 9 races (one discard.)
1: "Grand Cru II" Dollar Robin (11 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (1,2,2,1,2,1,1,1,2,)
2: "Weerga" Liezenga W-R (15 pts) Hollande. (RAF ,1,1,2,1,5,2,2,1,)
3: "Chimaena" Walker Stewart (23 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (3,3,3,3,5,2,3,3,3,)
4: "Moonlighting" Nepveu Delarue (29 pts) France. (2,4,4,5,3,3,4,DSQj,4,)
5: "Ca Me Va Bien" de Mareuil Maxime (35 pts) France. (4,5,5,4,4,4,5,4,5,)
6: "Whisper Of Colne" Heasman Bruce (48 pts) Grande-Bretagne. (5,6,6,6,6,6,6,DNC ,DNC ,)

747OD after 9 races (one discard.)
1: "Onyx Developpements" Jouvencon Pierre-Alexandr (13 pts) France. (1,1,1,1,5,3,2,1,3,)
2: "Morning Glory" Barret Clément (19 pts) France. (2,2,2,2,3,4,3,3,2,)
3: "Techneau" Dutoit Gilles (32 pts) France. (DNC ,DNC ,DNC ,DNC ,1,1,6,2,1,)
4: "Xxl" Capard Jacques (33 pts) France. (3,3,3,DNF ,2,5,5,6,6,)
5: "Westerly" Russo Edouard (37 pts) France. (DNS ,DNS ,DNS ,DNS ,4,2,1,4,5,)
6: "Xl" Bauquin David (46 pts) France. (DNC ,DNC ,DNC ,DNC ,6,6,4,5,4,)

J/80 after 9 races (one discard.)
1: "Szellos" Rossignol Philippe (16 pts) France. (2,1,2,4,2,1,OCS ,3,1,)
2: "Jules de Chez Smith En Face" Chauvin Laurent (19 pts) France. (1,2,4,1,1,5,3,5,2,)
3: "Karver" Molin Jérôme (20 pts) France. (4,5,1,2,3,2,2,2,4,)
4: "Jacuzzi" Schipper Jean-Marc (27 pts) France. (3,4,3,3,4,3,5,4,3,)
5: "Robert Pesle (Taconet)" Peslier Maëltan (29 pts) France. (5,3,5,5,5,4,1,1,5,)
6: "Jackpot" Rousseau Arnaud (46 pts) France. (6,6,6,6,6,DNF ,4,6,6,)

Melges 24 after 9 races (one discard.)
1: "Drp-Partner Et Partners" Ligot Philippe (8 pts) France. (1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,3,)
2: "Maisons de L'avenir" Sauleau Vincent (18 pts) France. (2,3,2,2,2,3,4,3,1,)
3: "Cotes D'armor - Perros Guirec" Albaret Antoine (20 pts) France. (4,2,4,3,3,2,2,2,2,)
4: "Boch'anig" le Calvez Jean-Marie (29 pts) France. (3,4,3,4,4,4,3,4,5,)
5: "Ecole de Sport Dyc" de Moras Guillaume (39 pts) Deauville Y C (5,5,5,5,DSQj,5,5,5,4,)