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4th in the Pornichet Select
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- Published on Thursday, 10 May 2007 09:56
- Written by Administrator
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The Pornichet Select: 4th place in this 300 mile solo tactical race (with many islands and rocks affecting both the breeze and tide) was a good result.
Local knowledge from winter training in Pornichet helped me to 2nd place at Belle Ile - just behind the eventual winner, Fransisco on 607. At this point I started to feel very ill and by the time we had rounded the island I was back in the middle of the 41 strong Series fleet.
The next 18 hours were spend VMG running in a pack. I had a lot of work to do if I was going to finish in the top 10 but still not feeling 100%, I took a few 10 minute cat naps.
I rounded the Bourgenay mark in 9th place. The tough decision was how far to head offshore before tacking on the expected shift to clear Ile de Groix. My choice of 20 minutes seemed sound and I gained six places. The breeze built and lifted giving a less than comfortable ride across the lumpy seas with waves breaking over the boat. It reached 25 knots and I was down to a double reefed main and solent. I overhauled Stephane on 539; he had rigged his Mini as a cutter with a storm jib on the baby stay and a reefed solent.
Rounding Ile de Groix saw me in third place with Stephane and Koen on 589 close behind. During an exciting reach surfing down the waves at around 10-11 knots I gained a small lead on Koen but Stephane did a nice job setting his Gennaker early and pulled ahead. Once we had cleared the Goué Vas du Four the angle freed to allow those of us who dared to set fractional spinnakers with a double-reefed mainsail - and to hit speeds of 15 knots for the final 20 miles. By now both the boat and I were soaking and the thought of a comfortable bed and a hot shower in Pornichet provided plenty of motivation to finish the race quickly. Some chose to drop their spinnakers for the final gybe in 24 knots but I kept mine up. Luckily all the winter training paid off and I crossed the finishing line in third place behind Stephan - a great improvement on last years 26th.
The big story of the race was Hervé Piveteau who rescued two French military divers. They had missed their rendez-vous with a RIB when he saw them in the water and picked them up. The divers were then lifted off by helicopter. He was awarded 30 minutes moving him into 3rd and myself off the podium into 4th. Still a good result.