It can be quite difficult to stomach a season dominated by a single competitor, in this case a green rocket that has all too often been out of reach! So the opportunity presented by this first day's sailing… in wind conditions known to be perfect for the “G11” model, saw Loick Peyron successfully negotiate some tricky situations to derive maximum benefit!
This eleventh edition of Normandy's number one regatta lived up to all its promise, with glorious sunshine and a fresh north-easterly breeze of 20/25 knots ensuring a lively surface.
Round 1: windward/leeward loop
Start, 1 reef/ staysail on a very choppy sea. Gitana 11 held the lead during the first upwind leg ahead of Groupama and Gitana 12. Géant then moved forward to take pole position at the first buoy just ahead of Gitana 11, who was a bit late tacking. Groupama tried the unfortunate option of hugging the coast, which sent her, for a time, to the back of the pack. The duel at the front between Geant and Gitana 11 finished on the line! Loick Peyron never allowed his guard to drop and commenced this Grand Prix du Port de Fécamp with a breathtaking finish ahead of Géant, Groupama and Gitana 12.
Round 2: windward/leeward loop
Start on starboard tack, 1 reef / staysail. With disconcerting ease, Gitana 11 controlled her opponents from start to finish. This time, it was with Franck Cammas breathing down his neck that Loick Peyron finished the course. Geant arrived 3rd, with Gitana 12 bringing up the rear.
Round 3: windward/leeward loop
While Groupama-2 was forced to abandon this round after the second tack, Gitana 11 was left alone out in front to confirm her domination on the day and win another round ahead of Geant and Gitana 12.
Top-notch entertainment…
“They really fly, it's incredible. You can see them much better than on TV!”, exclaimed one fascinated fan on the jetty at the finish of the first round.
For it has been impossible for the public not to be drawn to the dance of these giant dragonflies skimming along close to the beach at mind-blowing speeds! While it's clear that the reading of the water course and of the different options taken onboard the trimarans are only detectable for the casual spectator with the aid of the informed commentaries taking place in the village, the passing of the buoys and the finishes right by the coast leave no doubt as to the almighty battle going on between the competitors!
Crew of Gitana 11:
Loïck Peyron – skipper, Baron Benjamin de Rothschild – performer, Yann Guichard – tactician, Lionel Lemonchois – trimmer, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant – trimmer, Daniel Souben – trimmer, Ronan Le Goff – wincher, François Denis – second bowman, Christophe Lassègue – bowman, Antoine Mermod – piano, Alexandre Quiblier – wincher.
Crew of Gitana 12:
Thierry Duprey du Vorsent – skipper, Pierre Pennec – tactician, Pierre Boursier – navigator, Mayeul Riffet – trimmer, Mathieu Tatibouet – trimmer, Arnaud Derrendiger – trimmer, Léopold Lucet – bowman, Antoine Carpentier – second bowman, Alexandre Marmorat – wincher, Fabrice Blondel – wincher, Yann Le Govic – piano.