Sea, Sail & Surf newsTRANSAT JACQUES VABRE
Groupama, Fujifilm & Belgacom, three green giants, streak into the lead
Protest lodged against Kingfisher-Foncia by Sergio Tacchini
dimanche 4 novembre 2001 –
As the 14 giant three-hulled speed machines were towed out of the Paul Vatine Basin in Le Havre mid-morning to begin their 5,300 mile transatlantic drag race, the sky cleared, the breeze filled in from the North at 12 – 15 knots, and the sun lit up the bay off St. Adresse – all the finest ingredients for a truly spectacular start !
Photo : G.Martin-Raget / Royale Production
In the final five minute countdown these giant butterflies slowly congregated towards the line, full main and gennakers ready to fly, a number of helicopters swarming over head, and a mass of spectator yachts on the left hand side. The brand new Belgacom (Nélias/Desjoyeaux) took the far left spot, with Fujifilm (Peyron/Le Mignon) standing out midway, and far over to the right Pindar Systems (Richards/Von Koskull). At the gun, the whole fleet of 14 multihulls was filed up on the line, and it was Nautica (Bourgnon/Y. Ravussin) who sprung out of the starting blocks first, followed by Groupama
(Cammas/S. Ravussin) and Kingfisher-Foncia (Gautier/MacArthur).
It was a full-on start, like letting greyhounds out of their cages, as the fleet powered up to 20 knots & fled downwind towards the beach, dangerously close to each other. The first to reach the Paul Vatine buoy just 5 minutes after the gun was the green & white flash Groupama, rounding clearly before
second placed Fujifilm coming up behind. Then it was pure madness, watching as at least 5 boats tried to round within seconds of each other and at extremely close proximity. Sergio Tacchini (Fauconnier/Proffit) hugged the buoy with Belgacom & Nautica stacked up next to her, and just then
Kingfisher-Foncia crossed behind, to pull in to the buoy in 4th place and keep the others out, surely her bows ’interlocking’ with Sergio Tacchini’s. In the aftermath Sergio Tacchini suffered the most, unable to get moving again after putting in their tack, with so many boats rounding seconds behind & blocking her path. In fact a protest was immediately lodged by Fauconnier against Kingfisher-Foncia for not giving her enough sea room to round the buoy, which is with the international Jury right now.
Pindar Systems was also caught out, having to put in a last minute gybe behind everyone else before the mark, which naturally slowed her up, considering how long these manoeuvres take on a multihull with just two aboard. And to add further to their difficulty, after rounding 10 minutes after the leader, the gennaker started unfurling at the top and the girls had to bring the halyard down onto the deck… not what they would have wanted for starters !
Meanwhile, the three green giants were really pulling away up front, Groupama to the left, Fujifilm in the middle and the Belgacom to the right. The latter was giving it some real air time, lifting up on one hull as the wind rose to their advantage, certainly the most impressive looking machine out on the water. Before half an hour had passed this flock of birds was in full flight upwind, diminishing into the distance, Bahia bound.
– Multihull Positions at 1300hrs French time
– Postn Boat Latitude Longitude Speed Hdg DTF DFL
– 1 Groupama 49 35.24’ N 0 12.44’ W 15.1 291 5177.4
– 2 Belgacom 49 34.96’ N 0 11.16’ W 14.3 291 5178.3 0.9m
– 3 Fujifilm 49 34.80’ N 0 10.68’ W 14.0 292 5178.6 1.2m
– 4 Eure & Loir 49 35.16’ N 0 09.96’ W 14.2 297 5179.0 1.6m
– 5 Biscuits La Trinitaine - Team Ethypharm 49 35.16’ N 0 09.76’ W 14.7 296 5179.1 1.7m
– Open 60 Monohull Positions at 1300hrs French time
– 1 Sill Plein Fruit 48 18.16’ N 5 13.00’ W 12.4 223 4105.7
– 2 Bobst Group Armor Lux 48 26.20’ N 5 14.20’ W 13.5 221 4112.0 6.3m
– 3 Casto - Darty - But 48 23.12’ N 5 06.60’ W 11.2 221 4112.6 6.9m
– 4 Ecover 48 38.88’ N 5 38.52’ W 14.7 240 4113.8 8.1m
– 5 Temenos 48 30.72’ N 5 08.80’ W 14.2 244 4117.7 12m
– Open 50 Monohull Positions at 1300hrs French time
– 1 One Dream : One Mission 48 41.56’ N 4 44.44’ W 13.3 234 4148.1
– 2 Tredicci 48 51.80’ N 4 31.96’ W 12.9 240 4148.8 0.6m
– 3 Saving 48 57.48’ N 4 18.42’ W 12.2 236 4149.9 1.8m
Portfolio
Dans la même rubrique
-
en : Offshore racing | Cowes - Cherbourg
Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 : Loison and Kelbert’s JPK 1050 crowned overall winner
Alexis Loison and Jean-Pierre Kelbert’s JPK 1050 Léon has been crowned overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race. No other boat still racing on the 695 nautical mile course can catch the French doublehanded duo for overall honours in this, the 51st edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s offshore classic. -
en : Cowes • Team racing
The Admiral’s Cup : Yacht Club de Monaco wins the 2025 edition
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is delighted to announce the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) as the winner of the 2025 Admiral’s Cup. After an intense battle during the RORC Channel Race, six inshore races in the Solent and the prestigious finale, the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Yacht Club de Monaco team is victorious. Runner-up for the Admiral’s Cup (…) -
en : Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue
Tom Laperche, winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race : "This is my first victory as skipper"
Aboard Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue, skipper Tom Laperche and his crew claimed victory this Monday, July 28, in the 51st edition of the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race, from Cowes (UK) to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (France). Already winners of the previous edition and current course record holders, the crew delivered a strong performance just months ahead (…) -
en : New York Yacht Club & Royal Ocean Racing Club
Transatlantic Race 2025 : Line Honours for Christian Zugel’s Volvo 70 Tschüss 2
Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs. Tschüss 2 Crew : Christian Zugel, Johnny Mordaunt, Al Fraser, Andrew McLean, Campbell Field, Christopher Welch, Edward Myers, Fredric (…) -
en : International Maxi Association
Maxi victory for local heroes in 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar
It has been a long time coming after spending much of the 2024 season finishing second and even continuing this in the recent IMA Maxi European Championship, but finally Guido Paolo Gamucci’s Cippa Lippa X has won a race. On Saturday morning at 1012 off Marina di Punta Ala, the white-hulled canting keel Mylius 60 crossed the finish line of the (…) -
en : Leg 1 : Antigua - Panama
McIntyre Mini Globe : 15 boats set sail from the Caribbean Island of Antigua Barbuda
The inaugural McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR) has officially set sail, and what a start it’s been ! The first leg from Antigua to Panama has already delivered drama, camaraderie, and a masterclass in offshore sailing in these Mighty Mini’s. With 15 ALMA Class Globe 580s battling it out over 1,200 nautical miles, the MGR is proving to be (…)
A la une
Articles les plus récents
-
en : VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Australian Victory For illbruck
image 300 x 158Photo : Illbruck on the way to the finish with the Sydney Opera House in the background. Photo : Daniel Forster illbruck
illbruck’s victory on the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race was anything but straight forward. It is the story of disaster and a determined comeback in great style. With less than 24 hours at sea, the yacht flooded her bow section so bad that the bow was under water. In a dramatic team effort the crew managed to keep the yacht afloat and got (…) -
en : Rolex Osprey Cup
Baylis Wins, Fauré is second
Liz Baylis of San Rafael, Calif. won the Rolex Osprey Cup today, topping off four days of match racing here on Tampa Bay. Sailing with Baylis at this ISAF Grade 1 regatta were an all-California team of Aimee Hess (Oakland), Karina Shelton (Watsonville) and Stacie Straw (Marina del Rey). After a lack of wind yesterday afternoon forced the (…) -
fr : Furtif 60 : Naissance d’un monocoque Open
Partie 3 : Fin de la phase ‘imprégnation’
Troisième partie en image de la construction du Furtif 60. La construction de la coque se termine. Il est déjà temps de penser à l’après coque : Quille, safrans, dérives et surtout le gréement avec un mât et des voiles. Une coque ne suffit pas. Photos et commentaires : Elie Canivenc -
fr : VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Les premiers VO60 ont passé le Détroit de Bass
image 300 x 158NewsCorp au passage de l’île d’Eclipse. Photo : Rick Tomlinson Electronic Image / Volvo Ocean Race
A 23h hier soir, les 2 concurrents leaders de cette deuxième étape de la Volvo Ocean Race, illbruck en tête, SEB dans son sillage, suivis de près par News Corp, Assa Abloy, Amer Sports One et Djuice, s’engageaient dans le Détroit de Bass qui sépare l’Australie de l’île de la Tasmanie. -
fr : Route du Rhum
Soixante solitaires attendus à Saint Malo en novembre 2002
image 300 x 158Le port de Saint Malo en novembre 1998. Photo : Ch.Guigueno
Le Salon Nautique 2001 a été lancé dans une grande salle en mezzanine du premier hall. Loïck Peyron, Thomas Coville, Michel Desjoyeaux ou Karine Fauconnier rejoignent, entre autres skippers, une salle bondée. Il est 11h30 vendredi. C’est la présentation officielle de la Route du Rhum 2002. Avec un an d’avance, ses organisateurs sont prêts, tout (…) -
en : Serie Mini
Is the Pogo being under fire of new serie designs ?
image 300 x 158Mistral 650 built in the South of France. Photo : J.Dubois
Mistral 650, TiZef, a Magnen design are the new designs that tries to follow the SuperCalin. They will try to break the supremacy of the Pogo. Jerome Dubois of the AMC Marine yard, is underway in the construction of his first Serie Class Mini. In the same time Ollivier Bordeau of the Latitude 4824 yard, known as the builder of Rolland designs, (…) -
fr : Furtif 60 : Naissance d’un monocoque Open
Partie 2 : De la strat, de la résine et les bordés s’ajustent
Deuxième partie en image de la construction du Furtif 60. Les “1100 kg de résine, 1500 m2 de fibre et 6 m3 d’Airex” sont utilisés petit à petit pour construire les bordés latéraux de la coque de 18 mètres de long à bouchain. Photos et commentaires : Elie Canivenc -
fr : Furtif 60 : Naissance d’un monocoque Open
Partie 1 : Du mannequin à la première peau intérieure
image 300 x 158Elie Canivenc, étudiant en architecture navale à Southampton, ancien participant de la Mini-Transat 1999, construit un 60 pieds Open dans le but de participer au prochain Vendée Globe. A Pacques 2001, le mannequin est assemblé. “Nous visualisons l’engin… et l’ouvrage qu’il représente !” commente Elie qui pose devant son futur voilier. Le (…) -
fr : Mini Série
Le Pogo menacé par une nuée de séries ?
image 300 x 158Le Mistral 650 en chantier dans le Var. Photos : J.Dubois
Jérôme Dubois du chantier naval AMC Marine poursuit à Roquebrune sur Argens dans le Var la construction de son mini de série. Pendant ce temps à Brest, Ollivier Bordeau du chantier Latitude 48° 24’ lance aussi un “bateau conforme à la jauge série”. Avec le Super Câlin et le plan Magnen qui serait en chantier en Normandie, la chasse au Pogo est (…) -
en : Mini 2002 programm
Second edition of the Select 650 in may
image 300 x 158Start of the 2001 edition. Photo : Ch.Guigueno
The CNBPP will organize from May 1st to 5th the second edition of the Select 650. This race did take the place of the 300 miles of Concarneau this year. The minis and their single handing skippers will leave again La Baule for a 300 miles long course away form the coast of South Brittany.
