Gitana 11 best performance two years running
In the three days of the Défi Petit Navire in Douarnenez, Frédéric Le Peutrec and his crew lined up one speed run after another, finishing with the top three times each days and the best performance overall. But beyond this result which was achieved in a fun atmosphere, the Gitana Team takes place of honour overall as Thierry Duprey du Vorsent on Gitana X took second place overall in the Défi Petit Navire. A total hundred speed runs were made altogether by the boats participating in the three day long competition.

Gitana 11 started the competition as current titleholder and finished by putting on a repeat performance this year, reaching an average of 32.60 knots over the five mile long course. Frédéric Le Peutrec's results on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively: 9'12'' – 10'33'' – 10'22'', the best time each day of the event. Gitana 11 was the most tenacious setting out seventeen times on the course laid off Rosmeur harbour in Douarnenez.

Both Gitana exploited this event to validate work carried out recently in the build shed after the Grand Prix de Galice (in mid July) and before the Grand Prix in Fécamp (9th – 11th  September). Thierry Duprey du Vorsent and Erwan Le Roux (Gitana X) set out at the end of Monday morning to get in some training for the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre and as a sort of reconnaissance mission around Ushant. Frédéric Le Peutrec and Yann Guichard are also sailing Gitana 11 back two-handed to home port of La Trinité/mer. The two trimarans will be completing their preparation in La Trinité before getting down to a week long session of crewed training before setting out Normandy bound for the start of September and the Grand Prix du port de Fécamp.

Erwan Le Roux (Gitana X)

« This was an interesting weekend. We sailed on unusual wind angles of 90°-120° with the solent of the gennaker trimmed tightly. New sensations, new trimming. We progressed in terms of speed and were even faster than Géant ! We tested new rudders and also not fully conclusive yet, we are encouraged to get down to a new campaign of trials. »

Fred Le Peutrec (Gitana 11)

« Three brilliant days in steady wind enabling us to exploit the three wind angles on offer. My personal preference is for Saturday where we pipped Géant at the post in spite of her having dominated the event throughout the whole day. After having won in 2004, this is a second win for me but also for the Gitana Team as Gitana X finished second overall. »

Overall rankings – best absolute time

1-Gitana 11 - Fred Le Peutrec (60 foot multihull) 9'12'' (32.60 knots)
2-Gitana X - Thierry Duprey (60 foot multihull) 10'20'' (29.03 knots)
3-Géant - Jean-Philippe Saliou (60 foot multihull) 10'37'' (28.25 knots)
4-Orange-2 - Bruno Peyron (Maxi-multihull) 11'19'' (26.50 knots)
5-Bruno André et Gérald Pelleau (Windsurfing) 11'28“ (26.16 knots)
6-Crêpes Whaou - Frank-Yves Escoffier (50 foot multihull) 11'45'' (25.53 knots)
7-Paolo Rista (Kitesurfing) 13'41'' (21.92 knots)
8-Acanthe Ingenierie - Francis Joyon (50 foot multihull) 14'14'' (21,07 knots)

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