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Loïck Peyron winner of the Warm-up Rhodia. Copyright Jean-Marie Liot / SailingOne Friday 1st September 2006 - The seventeenth Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile has started this afternoon in the harbour of La Trinité-sur-Mer that became a real sailing stadium. Eight Runs were sailed within two hours during the Warm up Rhodia. With two victories and three times second, Loïck Peyron sheered of the win. Follows Pascal Bidégorry, with an impressive start and Franck Cammas, among the leaders, as usual.
After a so-so first participation last year, Pascal Bidégorry has shown quite some determination on the starting line of the first Run. He burst forth as a bull-nose, had no problem keeping the lead the whole way through the run. Vincent Riou came second followed closely by Loïck Peyron and the rest of the sailors.
Michel Desjoyeaux, winner of the Trophée Clairefontaine 2004, showed his colleagues he was still to fear by winning the second Run in front of Pascal Bidégorry, once again quite quick on the starting line. Franck Cammas came third, before winning the third Run in front of Loïck Peyron and Pascal Bidégorry, steadfastly always in the top three since the beginning of the afternoon.
It was then Jérémie Beyou’s turn to see how it feels to lead a Run sailing with a 10 to 12 knots west - northwest wind. Mike Sanderson and Vincent Riou, his former Trophée Clairefontaine 2005 skipper came second and third.
For his first participation and keeping in mind that he is still recovering from the last Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro, Jean-Pierre Dick suddenly woke up in mid-afternoon, and won two Runs in a row without warning anybody! Loïck Peyron, his former Transat Jacques Vabre 2005 crewman, was in his furrow, closely keeping watch on the tall blond guy, coming twice second precious rankings enabling him to win the Warm up Rhodia. Today’s ranking is not taken into account in the Trophée Clairefontaine overall ranking, but enables everybody, sailors, umpires and the race officers to get ready for the following days.
Michel Desjoyeaux, quite irregular this afternoon, was back on track in the seventh Run. He won it and Pascal Bidégorry and Mike Sanderson respectively came second and third. In order to ascertain the conquest of the cup, Loïck Peyron finished the afternoon winning the last Run, in front of Franck Cammas and Jérémie Beyou.
Even if Loïck Peyron, actual titleholder has had quite a nice start today, reminding that he is still the boss, it seems that the issue of the Trophée Clairefontaine has never been so opened. The traditional suspense will surely be increased tenfold this year.
4 to 6 strength of wind is expected tomorrow. During the last three years, the wind was not strong enough for the bolides of the Trophée Clairefontaine (7,65m - 25pieds) skid beyond 25 knots ans. Three Raids in the Bay of Quiberon, stopover on the Ile de Houat, and Run on the nautical stadium of La Trinité-sur-Mer at 5.00pm. Anyway, it will be quick, humid and there should be some champions who will experience unforgettable capsizes due to such a breeze…
Rankings of the Warm up Rhodia: 1- Loïck Peyron, 50 pts; 2- Pascal Bidégorry, 44 pts; 3- Franck Cammas, 41 pts; 4- Vincent Riou, 39 pts; 5- Jean-Pierre Dick, 37 pts; 6- Jérémie Beyou, 36 pts; 7- Michel Desjoyeaux, 36 pts; 8- Mike Sanderson (New Zealand), 29 pts.
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