Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this sailing update. Ed
Having fielded just one team for the last event in 2012, France is back with a vengeance remembering how Géry Trentesaux’s French team stole victory from the powerful Irish in 2006.
Since then, France has never finished better than third, but this year they intend to put this right and to make the point, France is equalling the British line-up with their 12 boats.
The team
The line-up of the four French teams is:
France Red
Hervé Borgoltz, Grand Soleil 44R, ELEUTHERA
Olivier Pesci, Grand Soleil 40, BEELZEBUTH
Emmanuel Le Men, First 40.7, PEN KOENT
France White
François Lognoné, J/122, NUTMEG
Philippe Baetz, Grand Soleil 37, MUSIX
Benoit D’Halluin, A35, DUNKERQUE PLAISANCE
France Blue
Bernard Gouy, Ker 39, INIS MOR
Jean-Claude Nicoleau, Grand Soleil 43, CODIAM
Gilles and Samuel Prietz, A40RC, VITARIS-GOA.
France Green
Eric De Turckheim, A13, TEASING MACHINE
Gilles Caminade, A35R, CHENAPAN 3
Eric Basset, Farr 30, MOTIVE
No stranger to the Solent
Many of these boats often race off Cowes and in the Solent and will certainly be used to the longer Channel Race which forms part of the event. Jean-Claude Nicoleau’s Grand Soleil 43 Codiam, competed in the 2006, 2008 and 2010 Commodores’ Cup and after they took part in 2010 regular RORC competitor Bernard Gouy and his Ker 39, Inis Mor is also competing having ended the 2013 season fifth overall in the RORC Season’s Points Championship.
With these seasoned competitors and some very good new boats and crews this year expect the strongest French performance since 2006.
