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Stéphanie Alran et Caroline Vieille en Class40’ sur Ocean’s Eleven – Episode 1

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« Normandy Channel Race » : embarquement le 22 mai pour une course de haute voltige !

Les derniers préparatifs sont en cours à l’approche de la Normandy Channel Race, qui s’élancera le 22 mai prochain, au départ de Caen. Cette course laissera certainement peu de répit au duo féminin Stéphanie Alran et Caroline Vieille, engagé à bord du Pogo 40 « Ocean’s Eleven ».

Il suffit pour s’en convaincre d’observer le parcours. Une navigation de 1000 mille avec au menu, une succession de difficultés : Traversée de la Manche, navigation dans le Solent, négociation des courants de l’île de Wight, passage de la pointe de la Cornouaille, remontée de la mer Celtique vers Truskar Rock au sud est de l’Irlande, navigation côtière le long de la côte sud de l’Irlande, contournement du célèbre phare du Fastnet, nouvelle traversée de la Manche, slalom dans les îles Anglo normandes, et pour finir en beauté, passage du Raz Blanchard et de la pointe de Barfleur… Autant dire que nos deux concurrentes favorites ne vont pas chômer ! Continue reading →

Normandy Channel Race : An event taking off!

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2010 was synonymous with the launch of this new demanding race, and it proved to be a big hit among the first participants. 2011 isn’t yet a fully matured year, but with an exceptionally high quality competitive line-up that is virtually double the size, it does reflect the interest that the concept inspires with racers from the Class40 and beyond. The event’s image has been strengthened and developed along its initial lines: an international meeting, a demanding race and course, an event carried by the Norman territory with numerous events on shore to welcome skippers.

It would certainly be hard to call the 2011 winner who will succeed Thomas Ruyant – Destination Dunkerque -, winner of the Route du Rhum the same year! Continue reading →

MaxSea sponsoring the Normandy Channel Race 2011

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NORMANDY CHANNEL RACE: DEFINITIVELY INTERNATIONAL !

With just days to go until the official closing of registration, the Normandy Channel Race boasts eighteen Class 40s (ten in 2010). Furthermore, the latest crew entries come as further proof that this race isn’t just reserved for Frenchies! With over half the participating duos having their roots overseas, this 2011 edition will be definitively international! Continue reading →

Les Voiles de St Barth second edition : It’s a wrap!

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The Weather Gods blessed St. Barthélemy from April 5 – 9, taking care to offer more than 400 competitors from 20 nations and on 48 yachts a week of perfect Caribbean sailing during the Les Voiles de St. Barth. Dominating the conditions were trade wind breezes that ranged from 17 – 32 knots, a fairly gentle Atlantic swell, and blue skies. After four days of intense racing, separated by one day reserved for competitors and friends to discover this quaint little corner of France, the second edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth seems to have etched out a place in the growing list of “must do” Caribbean events.

Like for many new regattas, the best growth is slow and steady. The first edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth, in 2010, had 23 yachts, while this year the fleet grew to 48, and with positive reports coming back from competing sailors, that number can only grow. “What’s not to like?” was the commonly asked rhetorical question. After winters in both the U.S. and Europe produced record snowfall and cold temperatures, an April trip to St. Barth was a no-brainer for most. Continue reading →

Les Voiles de Saint Bart : Down the wire

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partenaire Maxsea

As if to ensure that competitors had seen all the beaches and sights that St. Barth has to offer, race officers today sent the 48-boat Les Voiles de St. Barth fleet on its final circumnavigation counter-clockwise around the eight-square mile island: a 30-nautical mile course for the Maxis, and a 23-nautical mile course for the Racing, Racing Cruising, Classics, and Multihulls. This morning, rain clouds scudded over the island, which by the 1100 start time caused some impressive shifts in wind direction and velocity on the right side of the race course. Once around the southern end of the island, the boats were into a 17 knot east-southeasterly with a three-foot sea. While it qualified as the lightest wind speeds for the week, it still ranked as great sailing conditions. Continue reading →

MaxSea will sponsor the 2nd edition of “Les Voiles de Barth”

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We are proud to announce that MaxSea International will  sponsor the second edition of Les Voiles de Saint Barth also called the French West Indies Regatta, which is scheduled from the 4th to 9th April 2011.

MaxSea International will work with the race direction team by providing the complete navigation software MaxSea Time Zero and Mapmedia electronic charts that will allow real time monitoring of the fleet and up to date progress reports of the competition as it unfolds. Continue reading →