Courrier Dunkerque still leads the race!

Manche – Basse Normandie (Benoît Charon) is back in the race
“Finally we’re back!” says Benoît Charon. Since the departure, when they went onto the podium, the Normans never stopped going down in the rankings. First and fifth today, Manche – Basse Normandie is now close to the top 10!

Bâtisseurs du Morbihan (Victor Lanier / Nicolas Pauchet) champion of the day
First and second today, the crew was glad to prove their capacity: “it is the first leg we win in this Tour de France Sailing Race”. In the overall ranking, they are now fifth, only a few points behind Toulon Provence Méditerranée – COYCHyères (Fabien Henry). Jimmy Pahun, skipper of Ile-de-France, is “glad to see former crews (Bâtisseurs du Morbihan) win, when we finish second!”. However, the highlight of the day is for him the good weather: “we live in difficult conditions, and the regatta is tiring, so it is good to sail with a nice sun as today, and not to finish too late”. As a matter of fact, the Tour de France Sailing Race doesn’t leave much rest for the crews!

Courrier Dunkerque (Daniel Souben) keeps the lead in the overall ranking
Daniel Souben’s crews were all smiling when they reached the pontoon this afternoon: “there is a great atmosphere on board, we have a good rhythm and we are much better now than at the beginning of the race. The sailing area was very tactical, the wind very shifty, but we went in the right place at the right moment” says Nicolas Doré aboard Courrier Dunkerque. Fifth and third today, Courrier Dunkerque is still first in the overall ranking, ten points ahead of Nouvelle-Calédonie (Vincent Portugal / Ronan Dreano / Bernard Mallaret).

Toulon Provence Méditerranée – COYCHyères (Fabien Henry) looses
Fourth in the first leg, Toulon Provence Méditerranée – COYCHyères seemed to be on the right tracks… but a tight departure during the second leg changed it all. Fabien Henry’s M 30 was alee Saint Malo Purflo Team SNBSM (François Lebourdais) and had to luff as Courrier Dunkerque (Daniel Souben) was asking him. As the buoy was very close, Courrier Dunkerque eventually fell off not to start too early. Toulon Provence Méditerranée – COYCHyères tried to stop head to wind, but they hit Saint Malo Purflo Team SNBSM, broke a stanchion, and tore their adversary’s main sail with their spreader. Both abandoned and went back to the port to repair their boats. The case is being judged tonight by the jury. After this, Toulon Provence Méditerranée – COYCHyères is now only fourth in the overall ranking, while they ranked second yesterday. Elcimaï – Ville de Marseille (Dimitri Deruelle) ranks third. As far as Saint Malo Purflo Team SNBSM is concerned, they are now fifteen points away from Val Thorens (Alexis Littoz / Lucas Millieret), whereas they shared the first place in the amateur ranking yesterday.

Good performance of INSA – Sopra Group (Simon Troel)
Student crew INSA – Sopra Group (Simon Troel) ranked third in the first leg of the day!

Tomorrow morning, the twenty-seven competitors will leave the harbour of Royan at 9am. They will sail the last race of the Atlantic in front of Royan. In the afternoon, they will start putting their M 30s on trolleys to carry them to the Mediterranean Sea!