ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR IN LA TRINITÉ-SUR-MER

Paris, Thursday, December 7th - This afternoon, Jean-Marie Nusse, Chairman of Papeteries de Clairefontaine (Clairefontaine Stationery), handed out the prizes for the XVIIth Trophée Clairefontaine, which was held at La Trinité-sur-Mer last September. Seven invitations were then made official in anticipation of the eighteenth Trophée Clairefontaine, which will take place for an additional year in La Trinité-sur-Mer, from Thursday, August 30th to Sunday, September 2nd.

Franck Cammas received his 2006 champion of all champions trophy during a pleasant ceremony on the Morbihan stand in the Brittany section of the Paris International Boat Show, with oysters from the bay of Quiberon for the guests. He also won the Quo Vadis Challenge for having the best result in the three legs sailed in the bay of Quiberon. The Rhodia Warm-up prize, for the eight training regattas on the Friday, was awarded to Loïck Peyron, who sailed very evenly and also won a third place in both the Trophée Clairefontaine and the Quo Vadis Challenge.

Seven champions already invited to the 18th Trophée Clairefontaine:

2006 winner, Franck Cammas, has, of course, been invited to defend his title. He is also invited for his crushing victory in the crewed multihull oceanic racing 2006 championship.

Ellen MacArthur, back to competition after a one-season break, is invited for her single-handed round-the-world record.

Lionel Lemonchois, winner of the Route du Rhum on Gitana 11 and crowned Sailor of the Year 2006 will be, for the first time, one of the champions party as helmsman after having sailed alongside Karine Fauconnier in 2000.

Yann Eliès owes his invitation to his recent and second Single-handed Offshore Sailing French Championship title he landed after his victory in the Course des Falaises in Fécamp (Normandy).

Jérémie Beyou, winner of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro and of the Single-handed French Championship on Delta Dore in 2005 is invited for his second place in the Trophée Clairefontaine 2006.

Loïck Peyron is also invited for his 2006 podium (third place) and, incidentally, for his seven victories in the event. This is a record!

Michel Desjoyeaux, three times winner of the Trophée Clairefontaine (2001-03-04) is invited for the whole of his sailing record.

There is now only one vacant place left, either for the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup, or for the winner of the America's Cup. Decision next spring.

Since it began, in 1990, the Trophée Clairefontaine is the only event in the world to unite champions from different disciplines on a totally equal footing, on spectacular catamarans exclusively designed and used for this purpose, showing that sailing is both varied and unique, in the spirit of the general policy of the Fédération Française de Voile (French Sailing Federation).

Media contact: Clémentine Chaignaud: 33 145 780 428 - 33 603 943 444