De Lamotte wins Class 40 worlds

A report from last week's Morbihan Mondial 40

At the front of a fleet of 20 boats, Tanguy de Lamotte and his Novedia Group - Set Environment won the Morbihan Mondial 40 held last week out of La Trinite-sur-Mer. De Lamotte's Rogers design won ahead Spanish Gonzalo Botin on board Tales (below), the Lombard-designed modified Akilaria and the top British boat, Tony Lawson' Concise.



“We took the race seriously. The crew members were complementary. Some have worked on the boat, others have sailed a lot, one is a sail maker. Pierre le Boucher, at the helm, was the reserve crew in the 470 for the last Olympic Games. Thursday, during the training session, we have decide each crew members’ function on the boat, that they’ve kept during the whole event. There was a great cohesion between us and we stayed very concentrate during the whole race.

"This type of race suits our boat well. She has a large cockpit so it is easier when sailing fully crewed. I would say that the boat has a 'little something more' than the other boats that makes the whole difference. We also haven’t made any mistakes, especially in the choice of sails."

The results at the Worlds shows that the Class 40 is continuing to expand internationally. Among the top seven boats at the Worlds four were either Spanish of British (in addition to French).

Next year’s World championship will be held in Hamble (UK)

Results:

1. Novedia Group – Set Environnement (T.de Lamotte) (FRA)
2. Tales (G.Botin) (ESP)
3. Concise (T.Dawson) (GBR)
4. CG Mer (W.Clerton) (FRA)
5. Gusilliam (M.Smith) (GBR)
6. Groupe PHR (P.Doin) (FRA)
7. 40 Degrees (P.Harding) (GBR)
8. Palanad II (JM.Viant) (FRA)
9. Groupe Partouche (C.Coatnoan) (FRA)
10. AXA Atout cœur pour AIDES (E.Nigon) (FRA)
11. Techneau (G.Dutoit)
12. Monbato (D.Grimont)
13. Fermiers de Loué / Sarthe (F.Angoulvant)
14. Avis Immobilier (H.Bourriaud)
15. Neurodon.fr (C.Chardonnal)
16. IMX (P.Cadoux)
17. Shere Khan 3 (T.Derville)
18. Oceans Eleven (J.Fournier)
19. IX FUN (O.Rabine)
20. Voiles sans frontières (M.Joly)


The crew of Peter Harding's 40 Degrees report:

After much of the summer spent sailing in thick fog and/or rain, twenty Class 40s have just been treated to four glorious days of blue skies and sunshine, racing in and around the Bay of Quiberon and nearby islands. Most of the fleet took part in the practice race on Thursday afternoon, in perfect 40 Degrees conditions - light airs (and of course, sunshine). We came 2nd in that race, so it's a shame we couldn't count that score!

Friday morning was dedicated to speed runs, where each boat has as many goes as possible on a set course, with the best time to count. We managed to be one of the first boats onto the course, a moment when the wind was most favourable, so our first run was our best. No telling who was helming for that one, but there was plenty of competition amongst the helms on each successive run!

The afternoon saw the first of the races around marks, in light wind, which are our conditions and we made up for our 7th placing in the speed runs with a 5th. A late return to the dock meant that we had to hurry with the refreshments......

Saturday dawned with a fresh easterly breeze, about 20kts and the offshore race ahead of us. The course contained a lot of reaching, which did not suit us at all. That coupled with a team of gremlins conspiring against us, culminated in a 12th place result, but a happy crew as the conditions were as beautiful as they can ever be. Unfortunately the offshore race carried double points, which could not be discarded so that hurt for our overall position. Later in the afternoon the committee ran a second race in a dying breeze which saw us over the line early at the same time as Concise, and both of us returned to clear ourselves and found ourselves right at the back. Some fierce concentration from the crew saw us reach the top mark in 5th place and by the end of the race we managed to get ourselves up to third - the crew were very pleased with themselves!

That evening we parked ourselves in a venue called L'Etage, where we were entertained by a fantastic band playing Jimmi Hendrix covers - all the more fun thanks to the flowing Mojitos and Caiphirinas.

The final day of racing saw a similar light easterly and baking sunshine and plenty of competitiveness from the fleet. Two general recalls followed by a "black flag" start gave Peter plenty of chances to show off his superb start helming and when we finally got away we found ourselves rounding the windward mark in first place. A varied course and shifting breeze saw that eroded to third place behind Novedia and Concise and a battle into the finish with Tales meant for a thrilling end and a third place result.

The weather, organisation, refreshments and food provided by the sponsors meant for a fantastic regatta. On collecting his prize for overall seventh position, Peter made an eloquent speech, encouraging all the Class 40s to join us in England for next year's Class 40 worlds. The 40 Degrees crew are now eager for the next event!

Crew: Peter Harding, Miranda Merron, Fred Hall, Anne Liardet, Tomaso Stella, Jean Marie Peyret, and guest appearance today by Xavier David