Archambaults steady as a rock in Fastnet

5:48 AM Mon 17 Aug 2009 GMT

'Archambault A35 Prime Time won IRC Div 2 - Rolex Fastnet Race 2009' Christophe Archambault Click Here to view large photo

The trophy cabinet at Archambault's French factoy continues to expand, with an A35 and A40rc gaining podium finishes in the prestigious Rolex Fastnet Race 2009.

The A35 Prime Time won IRC Div 2 from 76 other starters, with owners Marc Alperovitch and Jerome Huillard having their first taste of offshore racing. Their meticulous approach to the race reaped dividends.

The A40rc Batistyl finished second out of 57 yachts in IRC Div 1, narrowly beaten by a Grand Soleil 43 after more than four days of racing.

With the sistership Stamina III coming 7th in the same division, it meant both A40rc's beat the new Beneteau First 40 across the line and on handicap.

This year's running of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's biennial 608 nautical-mile classic tested competitor patience as much as tactical and technical skill. Light winds at the start and end, along with powerful spring tides, favoured yachts with good all-round performance.

There were 300 entries from the UK, France, USA, Hong Kong, Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and as far afield as Australia.

The A35 remains the most successful IRC production yacht on the planet, having won 23 international titles this year alone. Included are the British IRC national championships, Spi Ouest, Transquadra race and Massilia Lexus Cup.

Added to the list are the Rolex Commodore's Cup in 2006, the 2007 Audi Australian IRC championship and the Rolex Giraglia Race in 2008.

The A40rc is also enjoying a successful year, with the 2009 Audi Australian Championship all but won.
Heading into Hamilton Island Race Week, Rod Jones's Alegria is leading the TP52 Wot Now after winning Geelong Week and the Sydney Harbour Regatta. A divisional win in the recent Sydney-Gold Coast Race was subsequently overturned due to a radio sched infringement.

Meanwhile the first of Archambault's new A31 is due to arrive in Australia this month, having been sold to a Sydney buyer after notching seven wins in European racing.

And importer Archambault Australia / Newcastle Yachting is now taking orders for the new M34, which replaces the Farr (ex-Mumm) 30 as the boat for France's Tour de France.

Being trailable, as well as capable of long offshore racing, the sporty 34-footer is perfectly suited to the Australian
market.