When the Grand Prix de Fécamp finished on 29th August, the « Channel – Atlantic » chapter of the 2004 circuit drew to a close, marking the start to very specific sensations of Mediterranean sailing. Ten multihulls are expected to take part in Corsica and Marseille, as Médiatis has withdrawn from both events and Gitana X capsized in Fécamp. Back into the shed in La Trinité sur Mer, Gitana X has just begun the repair programme which should last for several weeks. Gitana 11 will be competing against Sergio Tacchini, Groupama II , Géant, Foncia, Banque Populaire , Banque Covefi , Sodebo, Sopra Group and Tim Progetto Italia.
The Grand Prix de Corse, a first for the fleet of ocean-racing multihulls
For the first time in the history of 60-foot ORMA racing trimarans, the fleet will be racing in the waters off Calvi, on the Island of Beauty. What is original about this Grand Prix is that it starts off with a race round the island, instead of a forty-mile long coastal race common to the traditional Grand Prix format. On Thursday 23rd September, the 10 multihulls will therefore be starting off Calvi, for a 250 mile long race, in other words a coastal race which should take about twenty hours and include a night sail and a race mark in the Gulf of Ajaccio.
At the end of this maritime « giro » where the sporting challenge will rival with the beauty of the paysage, the competitors will have to get into the swing of the shorter windward-leeward loops in the bay. The setting for this racing will be every bit as exceptional. At the foot of a citadel completed in 1492, the bay of Calvi forms an exceptional natural theatre for nautical events, with its 6 km inlet bordered by fine sandy beaches, and with a backdrop of high mountains.
Programme - Grand Prix de Corse
Thursday 23rd September : Start of the Tour de Corse
Friday 24th September: Finish of the Tour de Corse
Saturday 25th September : 10h 30 – one or several windward-leeward loops
Sunday 26th September : 10h 30 - one or several windward-leeward loops - 17h - prize-giving.
At the end of the Grand Prix de Corse, competitors will set out for Marseille, where the Grand Prix racing will start on Friday 1st October.
Crew lists - Grand Prix de Corse
Tour de Corse – to be confirmed
1 - Fred Le Peutrec
2 - Yann Guichard
3 - Yann Marilley
4 - François Denis
5 - Fred Brousse
6 – to be confirmed
Windward-leeward loops - Corsica
1 - Frédéric Le Peutrec
2 - Baron Benjamin de Rothschild
3 - Yann Guichard
4 - Yann Marilley
5 - Yann Eliès
6 - Christophe Lassègue
7 - François Denis
8 - Jean Baptiste Epron
9 - Nicolas Berthoud
10 - Fred Brousse
11 - Xavier Dagault
Reminder : General Ranking of the last Grand Prix (Fécamp) after 7 races
1- Karine Fauconnier (Sergio Tacchini) : 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 4 +3 = 16 points
2- Franck Cammas (Groupama II) : 3 + 5 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 18 points
3- Fred Le Peutrec (Gitana 11) : 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 5 + 3 + 2 = 18 points
4- Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant) : 7 + 6 + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 32 points
5- Alain Gautier ( Foncia) : 4 + 7 + 4 + 5 + 8 + 5 + 5 = 38 points
6- Lalou Roucayrol (Banque Populaire) : 5 + 2 + 12 + 6 + 4 + 6 + 8 = 43 points
7- Stève Ravusssin (Banque Covefi) : 6 + 4 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 8 + 7 = 46 points
8- Thomas Coville (Sodebo) : 8 + 8 + 6 + 4 + 6 + 7 + 12 = 51 points
9- Philippe Monnet (Sopra Group) : 9 + 9 + 8 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 6 = 59 points
10- Yves Parlier (Mediatis-Région Aquitaine) : 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 + 10 + 10 + 9 = 77 points
11- Marc Guillemot (Gitana X) : 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 = 84 points