Following an extremely close race and a final night spent punching into an intense current, it was Legallais (199) which finally took the win in this 15th edition of the CIC Normandy Channel Race. Skippers Fabien Delahaye and Benjamin Schwartz crossed the finish line at 09:27:28 UTC after 4 days 21 hours 17 minutes and 28 seconds of racing. They boasted a dazzling lead of 1 hour and 16 minutes over Project Rescue Ocean (162), whose crew of Axel Trehin and Erwan Le Mené secured silver in this action-packed race. Completing the podium were the stellar Italian duo of Alberto Bona and Alberto Riva aboard IBSA (186).
For a long while, the final hierarchy in this 2024 edition remained undecided given how tightly bunched the fleet were, the leaders constantly changing throughout this course taking them from Normandy to southern England and on to southern Ireland, guarded by its lighthouses at Tuskar and Fastnet. Starting out with a tactical race in rather light conditions, the race ambiance changed dramatically once the fleet passed off the south-west tip of Cornwall for a second time. Already utterly exhausted, the sailors had to contend with 25-30 knots of NE’ly breeze accompanied by a strong current associated with a spring tide in this final sprint for home across the English Channel. It was only once it had left Barfleur in its wake that the Class40 Legallais (199) managed to shake off its pursuers and relish their victorious dash for the line.
“After a few podium finishes and a few times of leading at Barfleur, this time victory was assured. We managed to put pedal to the metal at the right moment, put in some solid tacks, move back up into the lead and then extend away. We took the win with panache and with a good lead so we’re thrilled. It couldn’t have gone any better and we’ve rounded off the season in style. This performance has established the reputation of this campaign, which is just a year in the making, so it’s a very positive note to end on! It’s a genuine source of pride to be heading this Norman campaign with the backing of a local company based in Caen and to win in a place where I put in my first tacks,” beamed Fabien Delahaye at the finish in Ouistreham.
Through this performance, Fabien Delahaye has added another chapter to the history of the CIC Normandy Channel Race by becoming the first Norman skipper to win this great Norman classic.
Also sailing a fantastic race, which saw its crew leading at the start of the sprint for home across the English Channel, Project Rescue Ocean (162) finished second behind Legallais. “That’s what is so great about this race, you know that there’s everything to play for from start to finish. On the return leg from the Fastnet to Land’s End, the other boats were quicker than us on a reach, which was the missing link in our quest for the top spot,” explained Axel Tréhin as he docked in. Co-skipper Erwan Le Mené was also full of praise for this event as he shared his initial impressions: “It’s my first participation and I’m not disappointed. What a wonderful course, a wonderful line-up and a wonderful match! Axel’s experience in this event really bore fruit this year and enabled us to chase down this second place.” Bravo to these magnificent runners-up in this CIC Normandy Channel Race 2024
The Italians on IBSA (186), Alberto Bona and Alberto Riva, really came back strong in the sprint for the finish to secure a much-deserved final spot on the podium ahead of Sogestran – Seafrigo (197). The latter was another key mover and shaker throughout this edition but skippers Guillaume Pirouelle and Cédric Chateau ultimately fell just 5 minutes shy of a medal. Finally, thanks to a daring option to the north of the Casquets TSS, Alternative Sailing – Constructions du Belon (196), bagged the final spot in the Top 5.
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