Mini-Pavois 2005
La
Rochelle / Saint-Quay Port d’Armor
start the saturday 14th of mai 2005
Friday
the 8th of april 2005
Press
Release n°1
THE 2005 MINI-PAVOIS
WILL CROSS
THE FINISH LINE IN
SAINT-QUAY PORT D’ARMOR (FRANCE) !
·
A new course: La Rochelle / Saint-Quay Portrieux
·
A technically and tactically difficult
course with a number of hurdles
·
48 sailors have signed up including 11
from outside of France
·
34 prototypes and 14 series boats
In agreement with the Mini class, the route for the
Mini-Pavois 2005, a single-handed qualifying race for the 6.50 transatlantic
race from Charente-Maritime/ Bahia, will no longer be heading for Portsmouth
(G.B.), as initially planned, but for Saint-Quay Port d’Armor, the marina in
Saint-Quay Portrieux in Northern Brittany. The start will take place on
Saturday 14th May off La Rochelle and the race covering 491 miles
will see the 48 competitors having to sail around the BXa buoy located in the
Gironde estuary, then Belle-Ile, and the islands of Yeu and Sein, before they cross
the finishing line off Saint-Quay Port d’Armor. The total race distance of 491
miles, which will count as 500 miles for the Mini Class, should be completed by
the solo yachtsmen in 4 or 5 days, according to the weather conditions.
Technically
and tactically challenging!
A technically and tactically difficult course, even if
the neap tides (30) should allow the fleet to pass through the Raz de Sein and
the Four Channel off the tip of Brittany, which are well-known for their strong
currents. Nevertheless, they are going to have to hop on to the "conveyor
belt" moving in the right direction and time it just right for the turn of
the tide. The same goes for the BXa buoy located at the entrance to the
Gironde, where huge quantities of water come together. Thus, during the six
hours as the tide comes in, 300 to 600 billion cubic metres of seawater enters
the estuary, while 20-50 billion cubic metres of fresh water are trying to get
out. An unpredictable stretch of water with low waves can be guaranteed here. This
means tricky sailing conditions may be expected from the start of the race.
They are also going to have to keep a close eye out for shipping and for the
fishermen close to the islands, as well as dealing with the little
back-currents and the effects of the coast. However, this race close to the
shore will also enable the race director led by Denis Hugues to monitor
positions using VHF to follow the progress of the single-handed yachtsmen in
terms of the rankings, but more importantly, at the same time ensure a close
watch on their safety. Denis Hugues: «The course is going to be interesting, as
I believe it will allow the competitors to discover the various points of
sailing from upwind to downwind, while at the same time it will require great
precision, which certainly means no plain sailing. On the other hand, they will
also be able to head for a harbour if they have any technical problems.»
48 sailors signed up including 11 from outside of France!
There
are currently 48 sailors signed up for this 2005 edition of the Mini-Pavois
aboard 34 prototypes and 14 series boats. We will be seeing some of the great
names of the moment like Corentin Douguet, Stanislas Maslard, Aloys Claquin,
Didier Le Vourch, Cyril Ducros, not forgetting the two women in the race,
Isabelle Joschke and Marine Chombard de Lauwe. It should be pointed out that 11
sailors from outside of France will be taking part in this single-handed event,
as there will be 6 British yachtsmen, 2 Slovenians, 1 Irishman, 1 American and
1 Spanish. The english yachtmen will be : Stephen Simpson on Blue One, Nick
Bubb on Whittlebury Hall, Nikolas James on Stormy, Phil Sharp on Les Pas
Holding, Charlie Hope-Lang on Hornet and Richard Smurthwaite on Crean.
- Name : Mini-Pavois
2005, one handed race on Mini 6.50
- Start : La
Rochelle the saturday 14th of may 2005 at 12h00.
- ETA
arrival : Saint-Quay Portrieux the 18/19th of may 2005.
- Race : La Rochelle / BXa
buoy / Belle-Ile Island / Yeu Island / Sein Island / Saint-Quay Port d’Armor.
- Miles : 491 miles
- Organisation : Grand Pavois
Organisation (GPO).
- Race Director : Denis Hugues.
Entry list Prototypes :
CHIVOT
Barnabé - FTH THIRARD / METOSTOCK
RIOU
Yann – CAMELEON
SIMPSON
Stephen (G.-B.) – BLUE ONE
LE VOURCH Didier –
SERVOMAP
FISSEUX Patrice -
BELLOT MULLENBACH & ASSOCIES
MONTAGNE Lucas -
@DOC – SOLUTIONS
CLAQUIN Aloys –
VECTEUR PLUS
GARAI Jon (Esp.) -
SRADA BIZKAIA EKP
DOUGUET Corentin –
AMAZIGH
JOSCHKE Isabelle –
PAROLE
BUNOUST Nicolas –
LOIRE ATLANTIQUE
DELPLACE Yann –
VILLE DE NICE
DUCROT Cyril – BON
PIED BON ŒIL
BUBB
Nick (G.-B.) - WHITTLEBURY HALL
MAC
CARTHY Cian (Irl.) - THE TOM CREAN
MASLARD
Stanislas - CREDIT AGRICOLE SKIPPER CHALLENGE
BLUY
Xavier – SMETS
GLADU
Sébastien – BIRVIDIK
HAJNSEK
Kristian (Slo.) – ADRIA MOBIL
MIHELIN
Andraz (Slo.) – ADRIA MOBIL
JOURDAIN Steven – Nom en attente
CHEVALLIER Yann –
IMAGINE
HOPE-LANG Charlie
(G.-B.) – HORNET
ABALAIN Erwan - WWW.DIJS.NET
BLIN Raoul – OZONE
CURRIER
Adam (E.-U.) – SABITA
JAMES
Nikolas (G.-B.) – STORMY
LANCRY
David - AREAS ASSURANCES
SUDRIE Erwann -
GWENN HA DU
SHARP Phil (G.-B.) -
LES PAS HOLDING
DE LAMOTTE Tanguy -
SET ENVIRONNEMENT pour Mécénat etc…
ROUX Frédéric –
PEPITO
BERTRAND Etienne -
AIR DU LARGE
LOHEZIC Erwann -
CASOAR
Entry list Serie :
LE DIRAISON Stéphane
- KALONIG 2
SOTTOVIA Bruno –
APROTEC – MORZINE
CROISEL Bruno –
PULCO
BOURRIE Eric –
TAQUET MAX
LE CARROU David - LE
TREPORT - TIRARD & BURGAUD
DEBLED Antoine -
PETIT AUGUSTE ET CIE
MONEGIER Quentin –
MARIOLE
BOUILLARD Philippe -
MED'EVENT
CHOMBART DE LAUWE
Marine – D.C.F.
SMURTHWAITE Richard
– CREAN
TROLEZ Ronan -
INTERNATIONAL – JARDILAND
DUC Louis – POSITIVE
VIBRATION
MESURE Sébastien -
CILTISOL - MARINS SANS FRONTIERES
DUBUCQ
Bertrand – AIRLINAIR
For
the medias :
- Press boats,
free rights pictures, start and arrival press releases...
LE GRAND PAVOIS - GPO
tél : +33 5 46 44 46 39
fax : +33 5 46 45 32
24
Pierrick
GARENNE – Tania COFFOURNIC
Communication –
Relations Presse
pgarenne@grand-pavois.com / tcoffournic@grand-pavois.com
Muriel
LAPALU
Relations
Coureurs Transat 6,50 – Mini-Pavois 2005
Technical
partner : Lycée Technique
Rompsay
