WATCH OUT FOR MICHEL DESJOYEAUX!

 After his spectacular win in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro single-handed race at the beginning of the week, Michel Desjoyeaux will surely be the man to beat at the end of the month in the XVIII^th Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile, at La Trinité-sur-Mer. Photo free of rights for press use, subject to the compulsory mention: Photo Jean-Marie Liot / SailingOne.

With a third title safely in the bag, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) has to be considered a safe bet for the XVIII^th Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile starting Thursday 30 August to Sunday 2 September at La Trinité-sur-Mer. His win in the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro single-handed race comes after an impressive first place in the Trophée SNSM 2007 with his new IMOCA 60 prototype on its first outing.

Be warned, "The Professor" has been having a great year and his three victories in the Trophée Clairefontaine (2001, 2003 and 2004) only strengthen his position as logical favourite for a fourth champion of champions’ crown. Hand-picked to accompany him in the race are the duo Xavier Revil (Team Veolia Environmental Services) and Christophe Espagnon, crew of Tornado (Olympic catamaran) and serious medal contenders in that category for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In short, one hell of a trio!

During the Trophée Clairefontaine, the eight champions will sail in a three-men crew (the champion at the helm and his two crew-members) on the spectacular SailingOne one-design catamaran (25’ - 7.65 m) exclusively designed and used to be entrusted by the organization once a year, to each of the eight stars of the event. La Trinité is cleared of all moored boats by the Sagemor, turning the port into a real nautical stadium. The most exciting moments, like jostling for position at the buoys, take place under the very eyes of the public.

Winner in 2006, Franck Cammas (Stève Ravussin & Pierre Pennec) has also been having a fruitful 2007 season. He picked up a series of records at the helm of his maxi trimaran Groupama earlier in the year, including the legendary North Atlantic crossing and the absolute distance record under sail in 24 hours.

Luc Dubois - Team Alinghi (Pierre-Yves Jorand & Yves Detrey) has gained a place at La Trinité thanks to his double victory in the America's Cup in 2003 and 2007.

Loïck Peyron (Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant & Gilles André) has accumulated a record-breaking seven victories in the discipline! Team manager of the Gitana team and currently skipper of monohull Gitana Eighty in preparation for the Vendée Globe, Loïck is on form too. He has just won the catamaran class Bol d'Or for the second time.

Vincent Riou (Sébastien Josse & Laurent Voiron) has been invited to take part following his recent win in the Rolex Fastnet Race in PRB and his status as the current champion of the Vendée Globe.

Jérémie Beyou (Pascal Bidégorry & Ronan Lucas), 2005 winner of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro single-handed race and the Championnat de France de Course au Large en Solitaire in Delta Dore, finished second in the Trophée Clairefontaine 2006.

Yann Eliès (Fred Le Peutrec & Franck Citeau) has a place thanks to his success as single-handed ocean racing French champion, winning with Generali in the Course des Falaises 2006.

Nicolas Troussel (Armel Le Cléac'h & Bruno Staub) was invited following his solo victories at the helm of Financo in the Trophée BPE Belle-Ile - Marie-Galante 2007 and the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2006 single-handed race.