French girls on tour

Class secretaries band together to go skiing in aid of cystic fibrosis

This is a first! Secretaries from all the French offshore racing classes, including IMOCA, Class 40, Figaro Bénéteau and Class Mini gathered last weekend at Grand Bornand, in France's Haute Savoie region for the second 'Riding for the heart' skiing event. This aims to raise charitable donations to help in the fight to prevent cystic fibrosis. This genetic disease is the deadliest for any child, affecting 200 newborn babies alone each year in France.

The 'water girls' were:

Mathilde Airaudi - Classe Figaro Bénéteau
Estelle Graveleau - Classe Figaro Bénéteau
Isabelle Jacquet - Class IMOCA
Isabelle Magois Grand Pavois Organization (GPO)
Annabelle Moreau - Mini Class
Sandrine Pelletier - Mini Class
Ariane Pehrson (Worden-Travellunch)
Muriel Robin - Class40

Of the 57 teams competing the posse of class secretaries raised the most money: 1025€. The event was a 24 hour non-stop skiing relay event.

Aside from the event, it also provided a good forum for the class secretaries to get together and discuss common issues.

The girls are certain to be back in 2010, when the next event will take place over 13-14 Match. Next time they hope to raise even more money.

Other sailors taking part in this event included Vendee Globe skippers past and present: Yannick Bestaven, Thierry Dubois, Karen Leibovici, Benoit Parnaudeau.