TOUR DE FRANCE À LA VOILE 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006 -
Press Release 13 – July 15th 2006
TOUR DE FRANCE À LA VOILE 2006
When experience makes the difference
The crew of NOUVELLE CALÉDONIE, reinforced by double winner of the TFV, Bernard Mallaret, won their second inshore race today in Talmont-Saint-Hilaire Port Bourgenay (Vendée). The shifty wind hindered racing, altered the final result of the first windward leeward race and prevented the Race Committee from starting the second race. In the overall ranking, DÉFI PARTAGÉ MARSEILLE has increased their lead ahead of ILE DE FRANCE. JOE FLY SAILING TEAM took advantage of today's disappointing result of MATONDO CONGO – Route de l'équateur to take third place on the overall scoreboard.
'I think from now on we can expect to see our boat on the podium again', said Bernard Mallaret after the race. The double winner of the Tour de France à la Voile (1995 and 2003) will be skippering NOUVELLE CALÉDONIE for the next races until Marseille. 'The race was pretty tight today and the wind conditions were a little tricky. There was a lot of turbulence near the coast. We rounded the last windward mark second and the wind shifted radically. We had to work hard reading all the puffs to take the win'.
In such conditions, the last downwind leg was enough to have great effect to the finish positions. Ninth at the last windward mark, DÉFI PARTAGÉ MARSEILLE then crossed the finish line in second position. And the Swiss team of VILLE DE GENÈVE – CARREFOUR PRÉVENTION, who are doing very well today by leading the fleet at each mark, finally ended up third. But the biggest disappointment was probably for MATONDO CONGO – Route de l'équateur. After finishing 23rd, the french team loses their 3rd place in the overall ranking and drops to 4th. 'We started behind on the second start, because of the black flag ruling. This was a mistake because we struggled to try to catch up. The Italians now have a few more points than us, but this can change. There is still one more offshore leg in the Atlantic, and all the Mediterranean legs'.
Tomorrow at 10.00, the 31 Mumm30 will leave Port Bourgenay to head to Royan, south of La Rochelle. A 64 mile leg that should be raced downwind in a north-easterly breeze between 8 and 12 knots.
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