Adrien Hardy gets the big prize

Figaro and two year campaign costs won by former Mini sailors at the conclusion of the Challenge Espoir Region Bretagne

Over the course of last week, the five finallists in the Challenge Espoir Region Bretagne slogged it out off Port la Foret for the opportunity to win a two year sponsorship and a boat in the Figaro class.

From Monday until Thursday ten races were sailed as adjudicators monitored each of the five young skippers. However in the end it was Adrien Hardy, already experienced on the Mini circuit, who won this year's Challenge Espoir Region Bretagne.

The Challenge Espoir Region Bretagne has been held over the last 14 years and is a coveted prize that has assisted many young skippers achieve their goal. Sponsored until 2007 by Credit Agricole, among its 10 past winners have been Franck Cammas, Yann Eliès, Armel Le Cléac'h and Christopher Pratt, the last winner.

"I tried to do as well as possible every time," commented Hardy on how he came to win. "At each stage of the selection, I received only good news! By contrast, the selection phase when we were sailing as a crew was not easy. I did not feel very comfortable, as it had been a long time since I have sailed with a crew. A small adjustment was needed.

"This week I trained for four days before. I felt at ease alone on the boat even if I made mistakes! The other finalists were also very strong. I will be leaving no favourite in my mind. I felt that Damien Cloarec and Francois Gabart were better prepared than me. So I was prepared not to win and I was perhaps more relaxed.

Of the competition Kerhoas Michel, Président of the Pôle France Finistère Course au Large and Président of Bretagne de Voile commented: "They are all at an excellent level, bar none. They raced in a wide variety of wind and sea conditions - the suspense lasted until the end. We are very pleased to have been able to keep the Challenge Espoir going and can never thank enough Christian le Pape to have convinced the Brittany region to join as a partner."

Christian la Pape, Director of France Pole Finistere Course au Large added: "It was a great final competition. All five competitors were very close. Some had a better control of the Figaro such as Damien Cloarec, in the breeze and the medium conditions. On the second day the wind was lighter. Adrien did not appear to be most at the top, as he had relatively little experience in Figaro Bénéteau, but he was able to master it and has the aggressiveness needed. He wanted be in front of his opponent and he was able to be."

So Adrien Hardy, 23, has won a 200,000 Euro budget, which corresponds to a Figaro and two seasons campaign budget for the Figaro class as well as training from la Pape's Pole Finistere Course au Large school.


Result of the final races:
1. Adrien Hardy, SNO Nantes
2. Francois Gabart, CN Nice
3. Anthony Marchand, CN Plérin
4. Damien Cloarec, YC Morlaix
5. Fabien Delahaye, SR Caen