Gearing up for the Tour Voile

35 teams expected on this year's start line

This year's Tour de France à la Voile gets underway on 29 June once again from Dunkerque. Once again this arduous anti-clockwise lap of the French coast, including a trucking from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean coast will see top competition in the Mumm 30s between French and international names.

Competitors this year are being treated to 37 races, including 27 inshore and 10 offshore legs, requiring a versatility to their crew work.

This year there are more competitive teams than ever. The line-up for this the 29th running of the race includes 35 boats (14 professionals, 10 teams in the Amateur ranking and 11 student crews). Since 1978, over 20 000 sailors have taken part in the race.

Last year’s winner Toulon Provence Mediterranee Coychyères goes into this race as favourite. But the defender isn’t alone. For example could this be the year Defi Partage-Marseille comes through having finished runner-up now two years in a row?

We can also expect a good showing from the highly experienced Italians on Joe Fly, seventh in 2003 and the perennial Ile de France, this year helmed by Jean-Pierre NICOL who has taken over the helm from race veteran Jimmy Pahun, who remains manager of the team. Other contenders for top place on the podium are Dieppe Seine-Maritime, Courrier Dunkerque and La Rochelle Jeunes managed former Jet Services V skipper and a familiar figure on the circuit, Serge Madec.

Another major challenger is Nouvelle Caledonie managed and helmed by Vincent Portugal and his army of big names such as Bernard Mallaret and Damien Hiel. Cotes d'Armor, Entreprises et Collectivities Manche et Basse Normandie, EBSCO and Espoirs Aquitains could also pose a serious threat.

Former EF Education crew King Parade is entering an all-girls team on Elles En Mer, followed her victory in the final offshore last year.

In the amateur class, there are two Mumm 30s from Switzerland - Bienne-Voile and familiar competitors Ville de Geneve.

T-Service Interim Region de Bruxelles Capitale is competing in their 14th Tour de France à la Voile while other familiar names, Espoir Ile de France and Nantes Saint-Nazaire are trying out a new generation of skippers on each one boat.

11 student crews are also expected on the start line to take on Port Autonome La Rochelle, first in the class last year. To be watched this year are Alfa Laval and Groupe HEC-OP Search who both notched up victories in offshore races last year in front of professional crews.

The competition between all the engineering schools will be intense as well, including Centrale Paris, Centrale Nantes, L'Eigsi Charente-Maritime, Mer-Montagne-Les Saisies-INSA, Brest Grandes Ecoles Ensieta ESC-Brest and X-Ensam.

Information:
Start: 29 June; Finish : 29 July
29th edition, 12 stop-cities, 1000 miles of racing
35 pre-registred crews: 14 in the professional ranking, 10 in the amateur ranking and 11 in the student ranking.
Departure city: Dunkerque. Arrival City: Hyères
Stop-cities : Dieppe, Le Havre, Saint–Quay Portrieux – Côtes d’Armor, Camaret sur Mer - Finistère, La Roche Bernard – Morbihan, Talmont Saint-Hilaire – Port Bourgenay en Vendée, Royan, Saint-Cyprien, Marseille, Sainte-Maxime.

Winners in 2005: Toulon Provence Mediterranee Coychyères, Espoir Ile de France (Amateur), Port de Commerce la Rochelle (Student).

Championnat de France des Equipages 2006

- Grand Prix Atlantique in Pornichet 4-8 May 2006 (APCC Voile Sportive)
- Tour de France à la Voile 29 June-29 July 2006
- Grand Prix Méditerranée Hyères 5-8 October 2006 (COYCH)