9:38 AM Wed 31 Mar 2010 GMT
A new race reserved for Multi 50s has been created: the Vend?e Saint-Petersburg. The first edition of the race is due to start from Saint Gilles Croix-de-Vie on 16th May with a total distance there and back of 3790 miles. Eight crews will be lining up at the start, including two of the latest racing machines in the class: Actual and Cr?pes Whaou !
While most races see the competitors heading off to the west to cross the Atlantic, Vend?e has come up with something new offering a brand new route to the Multi 50s, (50-foot trimarans), with the Atlantic, the English Channel, the North Sea and the Baltic ahead of them. In all, the race will cover the territorial waters of 14 countries before they finish in Saint-Petersburg in Russia on around 20th May 2010. The best boats like Franck-Yves Escoffier's new Cr?pes Whaou ! and Yves le Blevec's Actual could complete the first stage of the race in less than five days at an average speed of 16 knots. The race will be holding a stopover for around ten days in Russia, before the start of the return leg on 31st May 2010, with the finish forecast in the port of Saint-Gilles Croix de Vie on around 4th June 2010. Sunday 30th May is a date to remember: It marks the anniversary of the founding of Saint-Petersburg by Tsar Peter first, and the Multi 50s will carry out a parade on the Neva, under the windows of the famous Hermitage museum.
With a crew of three
The other original feature of this race between Vend?e/Saint-Petersburg is that it will be raced with a crew of three sailors, and the members of the crew can switch over between the two legs. Mathias Lallemand has been appointed as Race Director, after serving as Assistant Director for the last two editions of the Vend?e Globe and the Solitaire du Figaro. He will be able to count on the expertise of Alain Gautier, who will be the safety consultant for the event. It should be noted that the official race website will be updated in French and English, but also in Russian.
Eight crews registered
For the moment, eight Multi 50 crews have already signed up for this very first edition of the Vend?e/Saint-Petersburg. Alongside Yves Le Blevec (Actual) and Franck-Yves Escoffier (Cr?pes Whaou !), there will be Herv? Cl?ris (CLM), Erwan Leroux (Fen?tr?a-Cardinal), Anne Caseneuve (Croisi?res Anne Caseneuve), Etienne Hoch?d? (PIR2), Philippe Laperche (Gamin) and Lalou Roucayrol (R?gion Aquitaine-Port M?doc).
For the locals in Vend?e
We can note also that his race, which is due to take place every four years alternating with the Vend?e Globe, is an initiative from the Vend?e Council, which - as with the Vend?e Globe - has created a public-private partnership for the event. Around fifteen famous firms based in Vend?e are joining with the Vend?e Council and have invested in this partnership taking up 17% of the share capital. According to its founders, the Vend?e/Saint-Petersburg race fulfils three requirements: 'Creating a sporting event, widening the reputation of Vend?e as a tourist destination and encouraging economic development.' Around forty business leaders from Vend?e will be taking part in a business mission to Russia, and an organisation will be receiving the Russian visitors at the foot of the Peter and Paul Fortress.
- Number taking part: 8 crews, FY Escoffier, Y Le Bl?vec, E Le Roux, H Cl?ris, A Caseneuve, L Roucayrol, P Laperche, E Hoch?d?.
- Crewed race for three, with the possibility of changing crew in Saint-Petersburg.
- Start on 16th May 2010 from Saint Gilles Croix-de-Vie: finish expected in Saint-Petersburg around 23rd-24th May 2010.
- Start from Saint-Petersburg on 31st May 2010: finish expected in Saint Gilles Croix-de-Vie around sixth - 7th June 2010.
Philippe de Villiers, President of the Vend?e Council:
'Just as with the Vend?e Globe, this is a race for the general public. It is aimed at the public, sailors and their teams, and is for all those, who love the oceans. I'm increasingly convinced that this is the start of a big adventure. If the Multi50 class has a bright future, this race too will also have a great future.'
Franck Yves Escoffier, President of the Multi50 class:
'This is going to be a very technical and tactical race. It is an extremely interesting route, as it takes the fleet northwards. The skipper and his crew of two will have to be very vigilant in these waters, with their strong currents, and with boats, fishermen and cargo vessels everywhere. But we can look forward to having a great time.'
Philippe Laperche, skipper:
'If I had to choose between a transatlantic race and the Vend?e
Saint-Petersburg, I would have chosen the Vend?e Saint-Petersburg without the slightest hesitation!'
For more information, log on to
www.vendee-saintpetersbourg.org
(website up and running in mid-April).
by Liliane Frett? Communication
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