No racing for the opening day of the 40th edition of the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. An Easterly wind, exceeding 30 knots, a confused sea state out on the bay forced the race organisers to keep the boats at the pontoon and abandon racing. Tomorrow the weather should be improving, enabling the 200 crews to dock out and get the battle underway.
At 8am the Yacht Club de Cannes’ anemometer recorded a solid 27 knots Easterly, gusts putting to the test the flagpoles in the race village. After waiting for the breeze to abate for some time, Principal Race Officer of the Régates Royales Jérôme Nutte, informed the crews that racing for the day was abandoned. A very sensible decision if a giant like the five-mast rigged Club Med 2, 187 metres long, opted to get shelter in the more protected waters of the inner bay.
So far, only the 50 Dragons managed to score a result in yesterday’s race with light wind. The classics’ debut is then delayed to Wednesday at 11 hours as per the official programme.
Tomorrow’s weather forecast
The Easterly will still be blowing in the early hours but should decrease in the afternoon, enabling the classics to finally get the battle for the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai battle started. Yet, if the wind should be less intense the sea-state will still be uncomfortable, the crews will know more at 9:30 when they will meet for the traditional morning skippers’ briefing.
Dock talk
Gérard Blanc, Tsuica II – Dragon
“50 boats, 15 different nationalities, the level is extremely high in the Dragons’ fleet. The Régates Royales attract the best sailors, like Danish Olympian Lars Hendriksen, the European champion Pedro Rebelo de Andrade and defending champion Anatoly Loginov from Russia. Three new boats were launched for the Régates Royales, which proves the class’ vitality. The Dragon sailors love coming to Cannes, this place is unique for us, racing is close and the atmosphere is great. The Dragon looks very much like classic boats and we feel we’re part of the family.”
Gilles Mallet, Sovereign – 12 m I.R.
“This will be Sovereign’s last regatta, we will be celebrating the occasion during this 40th edition of the Régate Royales. Not bad, isn’t it? I’ve been sailing on Sovereign for 27 years and this is my 31st consecutive participation to the event. Cannes is one of my favourite racing venues: the backdrop is stunning, the race area is both tactic and technique. You can do some hat-tricks, provided you stay focused on what’s happening on the water. You need strength and focus to win here. From a weather perspective, our boats can sail in different conditions, from 5 to 25 knots, over that it does no longer make sense…”
