Press Release 17 – July 20th 2006

TOUR DE FRANCE À LA VOILE 2006


The Mumm30s back in their element

The Tour de France à la Voile fleet has arrived in Saint-Cyprien (near Perpignan), where the competitors will start the third and last part of the course tomorrow in the Mediterranean. The 31 teams made the most of this non racing day to repair or clean their Mumm30 before launching them again for three offshore and nine inshore races up to Hyères, last stop of this 29th edition.

At 14.00 this thursday, 16 boats were moored in the marina of Saint Cyprien, 5 were about to receive their mast and the last 10 boats were on their trailer, out of the water. Since yesterday, the crew are checking, repairing, sanding, cleaning their Mumm to have them ready for the Med. The equipment did not suffer much in the Atlantic legs, but this small refit is more than welcome at this stage of the race, because the rankings are really close and everyone wants to have the best preparation possible to make the difference.

Nine days before the last race, there are many potential winners, but some of them will have an advantage : the knowledge of the playing ground. DÉFI PARTAGÉ MARSEILLE and TOULON PROVENCE MÉDITERRANÉE COYCHYÈRES are 'at home' in the Mediterranean. The course will stop in their home port, Marseille on the 23rd and 24th july and Hyères from 27th to 29th. The issue is big: TPM COYCH, who won the race last year and is now seventh overall, will have to avoid the mistakes if they want to reach the podium, and DÉFI PARTAGÉ MARSEILLE, who is leading the scoreboard with a bit less than 10 points, will have to fight hard against the other competitors if they want to keep the 1st step they have been dreaming of for the last two years. The team to watch will be the Italians of JOE FLY SAILING TEAM. Third overall, 16 points behind ILE DE FRANCE, Giovanni Maspero and his team are not really from the Mediterranean (they are based in Lake Como, near Milan) but they feel comfortable about the next races. 'We are used to the heat and the light wind, said their manager, Federico Michetti. We finished 7th in the 2003 TFV, but it was our first time and we were a bit disapointed. Now we know what to expect and we want to make it to the podium'.

According to Meteo France Weather forecast, the fleet should race in a moderate northerly to easterly wind tomorrow in Saint-Cyprien. Then the breeze will increase to 20 knots with gusts up to 30-35 knots for the offshore leg to Marseille on saturday and sunday.

http://www.tourvoile.fr/