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Luc Dubois, thn Le helmsman of the Swiss Alinghi Team, leading the fleet of champions at the end of the first four legs of the 18th Trophée Clairefontaine held ia Trinité-sur-Mer (Morbihan). Photo free of rights for press use, subject to the compulsory mention: Photo Jean-Marie Liot / SailingOne. The 18th Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile started this morning at La Trinité-sur-Mer with a rapidly disappearing wind. This involved an Open Race in the Bay of Quiberon and three Runs. The Alinghi Team from Switzerland, with Luc Dubois at the helm, and Pierre-Yves Jorand and Yves Detrey on manoeuvres, ended the day leading the fleet ahead of the specialists in the class. It is the first time in the history of the Trophée Clairefontaine that a foreign helmsman is in the lead the day before the final, and, moreover, this is his first time participating. This evening, the Alinghi Team leads ahead of Nicolas Troussel and Loïck Peyron.
With no response from the God of winds this morning, the eight champions were towed out as far as the island of Houat. In the early afternoon, the sailors practised their art, showing the sharpness of their manoeuvring in the light air during the Quo Vadis Challenge, the return race towards La Trinité-sur-Mer. In a wind fluctuating between five and eight knots, the champions engaged in a superb tactical combat, since the best route to get to La Trinité is not that easy to work out. Franck Cammas ahead on leaving the island of Houat was also the first to appear in La Trinité fairway having chosen to enter to the left of the sailing area. Luc Dubois from the Alinghi Team, second in the open race, was inspired by these uncertain breezes, which probably reminded him of his own sailing area, on Lake Geneva. Another surprise in third place was Nicolas Troussel; brilliant for his beginnings on the champions' catamaran. Michel Desjoyeaux and Yann Eliès made the poorest choice of the day. The large detour attempted on leaving the island of Houat did not bear fruit and the two champions finally crossed behind the fleet, bringing up the rear of this first leg.
The eight champions then continued with three Runs in a stronger wind at the sailing stadium in the centre of La Trinité harbour. Vincent Riou and Loïck Peyron got back to business by taking first and second place in the first Run. The danger, however, came from the regularity of the Alinghi Team from Switzerland, which won the third place, then the first in the next leg, ahead of Jérémie Beyou.
The Run that finished this first day of the Trophée Clairefontaine gave Michel Desjoyeaux a chance to make a no fault on this sailing area, difficult to read because of the strong tidal current. With a few very clever manoeuvres and a fantastic come back, Nicolas Troussel ranked second ahead of the aggressive bows of Loïck Peyron.
At the end of this first day of racing, the "Rookies" - those here for the first time - were the ones to dominate the proceedings of the Trophée Clairefontaine. Luc Dubois and Nicolas Troussel have shown their worth to Loïck Peyron and Michel Desjoyeaux. Tomorrow, between 14:00 and 16:00, what will be the reaction of these two champions, who together total ten victories in 17 Trophée Clairefontaine races, for the nautical show of the last five Runs? This champions' Sunday programme at La Trinité looks as though its will be explosive, since Franck Cammas, the title holder, still has his say in the matter.
Provisional ranking after four legs: 1- Luc Dubois - Team Alinghi (Sui.), 26 pts ; 2- Nicolas Troussel, 23 pts ; 3- Loïck Peyron, 22 pts ; 4- Michel Desjoyeaux , 21 pts ; 5- Franck Cammas, 20 pts ; 6- Jérémie Beyou, 19 pts ; 7- Vincent Riou, 18 pts; 8- Yann Eliès, 7 pts.
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