La Rochelle Race

THE ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB
20, ST. JAMES’S PLACE, LONDON SW1A 1NN

Race Preview by: Louay Habib

La Rochelle Race – Starts: Sunday 10th August
First warning Signal 1650

Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club with the Société des Régates Rochelaises and the Royal Yacht Squadron.

COURSE: Cowes – Needles Channel –Eddystone (P), Ushant (P), Chaussee de Sein buoy (P), PA buoy – off La Rochelle (P), – Chauveau buoy, – La Rochelle Approximately 450 miles

POINTS FACTOR: 1.20

La Rochelle typifies the French population’s affinity to the sea; not just because of the town’s seafaring heritage and beautiful old harbour but also because it is the home to many of France’s best yacht designers and builders. The RORC La Rochelle Race should be a tactical puzzle for the competing yachts; for most of the race, the effects of land and current will always be in the thoughts of navigators and tacticians.

Weather forecasts predict a wet and windy start to the race and that may suit Piet Vroon’s Lutra 56, Formidable 3 in Class Super Zero, as Boat Captain, Matt Trautman explains;

“In comparison to the TP52, John Merricks II, we probably have a better boat for heavy weather beating but we will be pushing just as hard as ever, we had a long beat in the Eddystone Race and we didn’t beat them there, so we will not be taking anything for granted.”

There is an interesting battle looking in Class Zero, Rolex Commodores’ Cup winner, John Shepherd’s Fair Do’s VII, should favour the upwind start, but the class also contains some ‘off the breeze flyers’ who may play catch up later in the race; Mark Wynne-Smith & Jack Buttell’s, Class 40, Gusilliam will be ballistic on a reach and debutant Luctor 42, Seawolf² owned by Henri Tinchant, is rumoured to be quite a weapon.

The pick of the smaller boats must include Noel Racine’s JPK 9.60, Foggy Dew and if the breeze stays up and they get the rub of the tides, they could be in with a chance but don’t discount, Pascal Mouton’s Grand Soleil 36, Foxy F Ewe, coming from La Trinite–sur-Mer, Pascal and his team will know the tidal coastline of north west France very well indeed.

RORC website:http://www.rorc.org by 31st July 2008.

RORC Season’s Points Championship 2008
The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Season’s Points Championship consists of a testing series of races which attracts an international and varied fleet. For the serious offshore sailor, trying to win the Season’s Points Championship is the real challenge. For the full RORC racing programme go to:http://www.rorc.org


For more information, please contact: –
Tel. 020 7493 2248 , E-mail racingmanager@rorc.org.uk

Press:
Trish Jenkins – J2 Communications & Events
Email: trish@j2pr.co.uk
07880 518689

Race Reports: Louay Habib
Email: louayhabib@gmail.com
07801800521