Big winds cancel Saint-Tropez again

'The statue of Bailli de Suffren overlooks the Port of St-Tropez - Les Voiles de St. Tropez 2008' &copy Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Big winds cancelled racing again in Saint-Tropez. At 1100 this morning racing was cancelled for the second consecutive day. With waves as big as 2.5 metres and gusts of wind rising sharply from 18 to 40 knots outside the bay, all fleets were kept in port to assure the safety of the participants and spectators.

Pierre Lasnier, a well-known local meteorologist, explained that Saint-Tropez is experiencing a typical weather pattern for the region where sharp winds set in but just as suddenly disappear. The overriding hope on the dock is for the wind to abate sufficiently tomorrow to allow one more day of racing before the prize giving ceremony scheduled for Sunday. In the meantime it is status quo for the Rolex Trophy, until the formal announcement Saturday night of the 2008 winner.

Today we take a look at French designer Andr? Mauric, famous for designing Pen Duick VI and remembered, among many other achievements, as the first French designer to draw a 12-Metre that would go on to be seriously involved in the America's Cup.

Andr? Mauric, a Frenchman making waves.

Born in 1909 in Marseille, Andr? Mauric began his career designing yachts whilst studying mathematics. Mauric's father was a passionate sailor and in 1927 Mauric senior encouraged his son to draw his first racing sailboat. The result was Le Morwark, which from 1928 to 1929 won 22 out of 29 regattas in which she participated. Mauric was forced to put his studies aside in the face of the world economic crisis of 1929, and, he sought employment at the Charles Baudouin shipyard where he became involved in the construction of work and fishing boats. He continued with his sailboat designs and from 1930 to 1939, Mauric focused his energy on Star class designs, one of the Olympic classes. His designs won many races and were a great success.

In 1940 Mauric began a unique project on a 60-foot (18.35 m) bermudan, cutter-rigged sailboat for Mr. Paul Blanchet. Ariel, now known as Sylphe, was little more than mid-way through her construction when the Germans invaded France. In order to prevent the 13 tons of lead that made up her keel from falling into German hands, Mauric ordered her to be sunk in the harbour of Marseille. This decision most likely saved the yacht, and when the war was over she was brought to the surface and finished, setting sail for the first time in 1947.

In the years following the war, Mauric became the designer for the Est?rel shipyard producing a series of motorboats for French Customs and Navy, which were later exported all over the world. In 1970 he began working with his longtime friend, the Baron Marcel Bich, on the America's Cup. France and France II were two successive 12-M designs by Mauric destined for the 1970, 1974 and 1977 Cups. Although neither boat made it to the Cup match itself they marked the beginning of the Challenger series becoming a key part of the competition. France I in particular was recognised as an'inspired' design.

Mauric's Half-Tonner Impensable, winner of the 1973 Half-Ton Cup, continued the process of building his name. Modified plans of this design eventually led to the birth in 1976 of B?n?teau's First 30, winner of the Paris Boat Show 'Boat of the Year' award in 1978. The First 30 was also the boat used in Tour de France ? Voiles in the early 1980s and became the first boat of its size to be produced in great numbers.

Also in 1973 Andr? Mauric built the 22m, 23-ton Pen Duick VI for Eric Tabarly, who had it in mind to sail the first fully-crewed round the world race, the 1973/74 Whitbread. While unsuccessful in her attempt, Tabarly went on to win the single-handed transatlantic race aboard Pen Duick VI in 1976.

In 1983 Andr? Mauric retired having designed thousands of boats during his career. He passed away in 2003, just a few days after the 3rd edition of the Mauric Trophy, a regatta that is held in his honour in Marseille.

This year the 10.8 m Sloop Giraglia, designed by Andr? Mauric in 1963, is present at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. Additional Mauric participants in previous editions of this great event include Pen Duick VI and Sylphe.

Current standings after two days of races see Mariquita on top of the rankings followed by Moonbeam III and Altair (Schooner A). The rankings in the Schooner B category are respectively Bonafide, Oriole and Maribel. Rowdy is currently leading the Marconi A division, followed by The Blue Peter and Agneta. Everything is on track for the Rolex Trophy as we all cross our fingers and hope for a day of great racing, weather permitting, tomorrow.