Open 60s head for Douarnanez

Five boats due to line up at Grand Prix Petit Navire

The Grand Prix Petit Navire continues to progress and innovate. The event held in annually in Douarnenz will this year host not only the first European kitesurfing championship at the end of the Grand Prix, on 5 May, but from 27 April-2 May, the Open 60 fleet.

To date five boats have entered including Vendee Globe winner Vincent Riou aboard his new PRB, Jean le Cam on his pink/red VMI Materiaux, Dominique Wavre on his new Temenos and Jérémie Beyou aboard his green and white Delta Dores and finally Arnaud Boissières, who will sail Akéna Vérandas (the former VMI Materiaux/ Sodebo of Sebastien Josse).

For these skippers and crew this event around the Bay of Douarnanez will be the first outing of the 2007 season.

“It is great for us," says Vincent Riou, "it is ideal. The place is superb, the people are sympathetic and they had created an event which suits us well: Two days of racing and two days of spectacle (the Trophy of the Council General and that of the City). Moreover we will be able to take customers and friends sailing around the bay.

Race Director Loïc Ponceau has devised the program for the 60s and this will include on 27 and 28 April, speed trials on a line that will remain open all day in front of the port of Rosmeur. Then on the Sunday at 1500, the boats will leave port on an offshore course lasting 48 hours, with an aim of finishing on 1 May in the afternoon. The course will take them out from Douarnanez towards Plymouth and the Lizard. Whether they will sail down to the Glenans islands will depend upon the conditions.

The new addition to the Grand Prix Petit Navire is supplementary to the regatta which already includes racing for the Dragon class of which 80 boats are expected, plus the Melges 24 and the French sportsboat, the Open 7.50.