Sea, Sail & Surf news

From offshore to inshore: all the news abouts sea sports from 2000

Transat 650

Sébastien Rogues wins leg 1 in Funchal 28 minutes ahead of David Raison

"Nous nous sommes tirés une belle bourre avec David et Jorg"

Tuesday 4 October 2011Information Transat 650

All the versions of this article: [English] [français]

Sébastien Rogues, on Eole Generation-GDF SUEZ, has won the first stage of the Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50 (overall before jury). He covered 1148 miles at the average speed Speed #speedsailing of 5.40 knots in 8 days 20 hours 46 minutes and 43 seconds.

Sébastien Rogues (716 – Eole Generation-GDF SUEZ):

« It is my greatest victory. Because it’s the hardest race I’ve ever done. The more you suffer; the more it’s valuable to win. Especially because I believe I raced brilliantly. I have always been at the forefront of the fleet. But suddenly, off Portugal, when there were ​​40 knots of wind I wondered what I was doing there. What was going to break first, the mast? The hull? And at that moment the race is not your priority, you think about yourself first. We had a very combative but quite friendly race with David and Jorg. This morning, I wondered where David had gone. I did not dare to ask by the VHF and he is the one that told me "Is that you ahead of me?” What a great moment! The boat is fine. I can leave right now; I just have a few ropes to change. »

28 minutes and 25 seconds after Sébastien Rogues, David Raison on TeamWork Evolution finished this stage between La Rochelle and Funchal in 8 days 21 hours 55 minutes ans 08 seconds at the average speed Speed #speedsailing of 5,38 knots.

David Raison (TeamWork Evolution):

"I got scared this morning because I had blocked the main sail up the mast. I thought I was going to crash the boat on the rocks. I, also, have broken one batten. But, really, after the last 24 hours 24 hours 24 hours best distance covered records I was tired. And everything I have been doing was stupid. But my "Magnum" (ed., the name of the boat) is remarkable. I could not use her full potential. Because I, the man, was not able to follow. But she is made to win."

Jorg Riechers on Mare.de finished third in 8 days 22 hours 19 minutes and 07 seconds. He covered the 1148 miles at an average speed Speed #speedsailing of 5.36 knots.

"When, before the departure from La Rochelle, Bertrand Delesne collided with me, I was furious. I would have killed him if I had him close enough. I remembered that I was forced to withdraw in 2009. I did not want it to happen again. During two seconds max, I thought about giving up. But I changed my mind. I laminated from the inside all night and by day I did the outside. After that experience, I’m happy with my race. I sail against great champions and I’m third. It’s great. Nothing is definitive yet; there is still the second stage. I got a scared like David in the end. I have touched the mole, but nothing serious. We will fix it."


Ordre d’arrivée à Madère

- 1. Seb Rogues en 8 jours 20 heures 46 minutes et 43 secondes
- 2. David Raison en 8 jours 21 heures 55 minutes et 08 secondes
- 3. Jorg Riechers en 8 days 22 hours 19 minutes and 07 seconds



Head news