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Pascal Bidégorry, already present at the Trophée Clairefontaine 2006, has been invited for his fantastic record breaking Atlantic crossing this summer. Photo by Jean-Marie Liot / SailingOne La Grande Motte, Wednesday 2nd September - The catamarans of the 20th Trophée Clairefontaine of Sailing Champions started to be assembled yesterday morning on the technical zone of La Grande Motte Harbour, near Montpellier (France). The Trophée Clairefontaine will be raced on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th of September on the natural Sailing Stadium of Grande Motte, with prior to the start two training days scheduled for the eight sailing stars invited to this traditional event organised at the start of each school year.
Team Alinghi, winner of the last America's Cup and of the Trophée Clairefontaine de Valencia 2008 (Spain), had to withdraw last Friday because of the extension of their training sessions onboard the giant catamaran that will be used to face the Americans in February 2010. Without the presence of Luc Dubois, Pierre-Yves Jorand and Yves Detray - they will be back next year - the door was open to welcome this summer oceanic hero: Pascal Bidégorry, invited at La Grande Motte for his swift Atlantic crossing (3 days 15 hours and 25 minutes) and the 24-hour record he demolished at the same time (908 nautical miles) at the helm of the maxi tri Banque Populaire V.
Michel Desjoyeaux, with his second victory in the Vendée Globe and his four victories at the Trophée Clairefontaine, will be one of the party, in between two legs of the Istanbul Europa Race at the helm of Foncia.
Loïck Peyron, seven-time winner of the Trophée Clairefontaine and third of the 2008 edition will be there as well as Franck Cammas, former holder of the Atlantic crossing record onboard the giant tri Groupama 3 and double winner of the Trophée Clairefontaine.
On the Olympic sailing side, the most recent Tornado Gold medallist, Spanish Fernando Echavarri, last summer winner in China on this Olympic catamaran, will be there to add spice to the successful recipe that is the Trophée Clairefontaine. Nicolas Charbonnier, invited last year in Spain for his Silver medal in 470 at the Beijing Olympic Games, finished second, which was quite an achievement as he did not know the support at all. He is back this year with even more ambition to beat his last record.
It was decided that the winner of the 40th Solitaire du Figaro, raced this summer would be invited, with as crew, Nicolas Troussel, winner of the 2008 Solitaire du Figaro and Nicolas Bérenger, who lives in La Grande Motte. The invitation was sent to Nicolas Lunven, brilliant winner of this Solitaire, but as he was already booked for another race at the same dates, he ask for valiant runner-up, Yann Eliès, to take his seat and the helm of this 100% Classe Figaro Bénéteau Catamaran. This will be his second Trophée Clairefontaine.
Last but not least, the Trophée Clairefontaine 2009 wishes to highlight the exploit of German Boris Herrmann, who won the first edition of the Portimão Global Ocean Race around-the-world race through the three capes onboard a Class40 racing yacht (12.20m). He will also be at La Grande Motte.
Since its creation, in 1990, the Trophée Clairefontaine is the only event in the world reuniting champions from the different international sailing fields, on equal footing, on spectacular sailing catamarans exclusively designed and used for this purpose (7.65m catamarans)
Media Officer: Bénédicte Etienne: 33(0)6 87 30 12 83 and 33(0)6 03 94 34 44 Download press release PDF RECENT PHOTOS
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