Longtze tour

15 boats to contest the first European circuit for the 6.8m Franco-Chinese sportsboat

The Longtze Premier European Tour has been finalised.

The circuit will comprise five events, the first of which has was the Primo Cup.

The schedule is:
La Primo Cup - Trophée Crédit Suisse : 12-15 February 2009 (Monaco)
Le Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale : 21-24 May 2009 (France)
La Deauville International Week : 4-7 June 2009 (France)
La Light Vessel Race, Zeebrugge : 4-6 September 2009 (Belgium)
La Constance Lake Regatta, Kreuzlingen, 16-18 October 2009 (Switzerland)

The 2009 Longtze Premier European Tour will be contested by some 15 teams coming from seven countries - Germany, Belgium, France, Holland, Monaco, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

Skippers will include Guillaume Florent, Finn bronze medalist in the Beijing Olympic Games, Nicolas Berenger, 2008 runner-up in the “Course au Large en Solitaire” (Figaro Bénéteau), Figaro skipper Erwan Tabarly, fourth in the 2008 Solitaire du Figaro, well known Swiss sailors Eckhard Kaller with Sven Niklaus, match racing and Figaro sailor Marc Emig.

A young team, led by Arthur Levaillant is also included as well as female skipper, Ariane Provost, on the Ecole Navale Longtze Premier.

To remind ourselves - the Longtze Premier is a sportboat designed by New Zealand naval architect Steve Thomson and developed in conjunction with the America’s Cup team Le Defi. Easily managed and with ultra modern styling, the Longtze Premier has quickly found popularity in Europe and Asia.

Length: 6,80m
Beam: 2,57m
Draft: 1,80m
Carbon Mast Length: 11m
Racing Mainsail: 20.6sqm
Code 1 Racing Jib: 13.4sqm
Asymmetrical Racing Spinnaker: 58.5sqm
Hull Weight: 260 kg
Keel and bulb weight: 300 kg.