Dubois comes out on top

Peyron nailed in final race as Charbonnier takes second at the conclusion of the Trophée Clairefontaine de Valencia.

Thanks to Luc Dubois and his crew, Pierre-Yves Jorand and Yves Detrey, the national Swiss anthem was played this afternoon in the Marina Real Juan Carlos 1st, the port of the bases of the 2007 America's Cup, after a superb victory for the Alinghi Red crew at the conclusion to the Trophée Clairefontaine de Valencia.

Winning four of the nine races, Dubois and his team snatched victory at the very end of the ninth and ultimate race of this champion of champions regatta ahead of the recent French Olympic 470 Bronze medallist Nicolas Charbonnier. Loïck Peyron, seven time winner of this competition, completed the podium.

Going into the start of the ninth final race, there was still all to play for. At this point Nicolas Charbonnier was ahead front, everyone around the Port America's Cup marina thought the young Frenchman was going to win the Trophée Clairefontaine de Valencia on his very first partiipation. However to some extent Loïck Peyron lost the regatta by being boxed in on the last start line and did not manage make a come back,

Luc Dubois later commented: "The victory was settled during this last leg, as usual in the Trophée Clairefontaine. We are really happy to have won this year as we finished second last year, only a point behind Michel Desjoyeaux. We knew it would be tough to win against the French, but Nicolas Charbonnier's second place is a great surprise as it was his first participation. He put a great pressure on us."

Charbonnier added: "It's great. I hope we'll be able to come next year to do a better result. We liked the shape of the event. The Cats are really fun boats. It's not boats we are used to sail so one needs to adapt to it quickly. Being so close to great champions. It's great!"

Loïck Peyron said: "This second day was not as good as the first one. It happens…As usual, the victory can be lost in a single tack. The starts are critical and we have been boxed in several times today, while our direct rivals, Luc Dubois and Nicolas Charbonnier, managed to cross the line in less favourable conditions compared to us. Luc Dubois and his Alinghi's crew have always been into the attack. You need to watch them seriously. They proved it last year and confirm it this year."

Final General results (nine legs):

1- Luc Dubois (Alinghi Red - SUI.), 60 pts (6,6,1,1,4,1,3,6,1)
2- Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA.), 55 pts (3,3,3,8,2,3,1,2,5)
3- Loïck Peyron (FRA.), 55 pts (1,2,2,5,1,5,6,3,7)
4- Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA.), 46pts (5,8,7,4,6,2,4,1,2)
5- Ed Baird (Alinghi Black - USA), 40 pts (2,5,8,3,5,6,5,5,3)
6- Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA.), 39pts (4,4,4,7,7,4,2,7,4)
7- Fernando León (ESP.), 36 pts (7,1,5,6,3,8,7,4,6)
8- Claire Leroy (FRA.), 17 pts (8,7,6,2,8,7, Dnf, Dns, Dns).