The 23 Farr 30 should leave Dunkerque for Dieppe tonight at 8.00 pm, second stop-over of the TFV. For the last northern racing day, the race comity set up a two turns triangle in a closer zone than usual (2,5 miles away). The stream was two knots strong and the West - North West wind was blowing between six and eight knots. Light airs, then, but also a sea mist, which reduced the visibility at 200 meters. Toulon Provence Méditerranée - COYCH won again, and in a brilliant way. The amateur team of Purflo - Les thermes marins - Saint Malo finished second, and Courrier Dunkerque third.
According to the overall ranking, Toulon Provence Méditerranée - COYCH is still leading. The South project, winner in 2005 and 2007, can therefore keep the leader's Honda red spinnaker. The Malongo amateur ranking is dominated by Purflo - Les thermes marins - Saint Malo, who is also fourth overall. The CSC spinnaker belongs to the first student crew and tenth overall, Normale Sup - Lagardère.
These three Farr 30 will fight for their places as soon as tonight, during the Dunkerque - Dieppe leg. It should be the first offshore trial of the TFV 2009. The 90 miles promise to be rather hectic because of the cap Gris-Nez stream and the night lulls along the coast. The race director William Borel is speaking about a "very strategic" leg, with a light West - North West wind (interview available below).

Inshore race report :
12.50 am : the two turns triangle starts. The upwind buoy is moored one mile away, in the 280°. In very light airs, the Stream is pushing the fleet to the start line, but none of the Farr 30 crosses it too early. Toulon Provence Méditerranée - COYCH is quickly leading and will not let it go until the finish line. The sea mist is getting thicker while the fleet remains packed behind the leader.
Fabien Henry's team is once again winning the inshore race, 200 meters ahead Purflo - Les thermes marins - Saint Malo. This result remains an amazing performance for this amateur team, followed by Courrier Dunkerque, third.

Interview of the winner
Fabien Henry, skipper (Toulon Provence Méditerranée - COYCH)
« Today, like yesterday, airs were light. We did pretty well for the start, crossing the line next to the comity boat and tacking quickly to sail on the right. We took advantage of the stream and were immediately ahead. Then we avoided errors and managed to remain first. The team is doing well. So far, so good !
Tonight's leg should be difficult and unpredictable, in light airs. Three crews are leaving and replaced by François Gabart, Clément Giraud and Adrien de Belloy. »


William Borel, race director, explains us tonight's offshore leg
« A strategic leg, not a powerful one »
« The route should be classical as the Channel maritime rail does not allow us to sail anywhere. The fleet will follow a straight track between the rail and the coast until the cap Gris-Nez. This is a strategic point as the stream may be stronger, especially with the current tide coefficient (96).
Game will really start after the Ophélie buoy. The competitors could choose to keep themselves from the tide along the coast, but they might suffer from a lack of wind. The night lulls in the Somme area are also risky.
During the race, the North - North West wind should be low (force two). Light airs then, but the stream could be three knots strong. The leg will be about strategy and not about muscle ! Tacticians gonna be of main importance on board. »

Interview of a freshman
Mathieu Aveline, mainsail trimer (Supelec Dauphine)
« I have never made an offshore leg on the TVF, We will have to manage our tiredness in order to end with some stamina left. According to what we have been told, with those kinds of legs the end is the most challenging part, the ranking can change easily, the less tired ones will move up in the ranking. That's what we fear the most, we can handle our boat, but we're not sure that it will still be true with long distance trip.
Dunkerque to Dieppe, that's not a very long offshore leg, just two steersmen should be enough and we will be one after the other on the rail, depending on the wind. Aboard, we make a change on who is on the rail every 15 to 30 minutes.
Our crew makes the meals, starchy food, lots of vitamins bars and hot beverages.
We aim to reach the middle place of the student ranking. The crew did pretty good during the offshore part of Pornichet event. We hope that we can make it here and improve our standard. We are a fresh team but we intend to get more into the competition. »