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The Trophée Clairefontaine is held on the natural sailing stadium of La Grande Motte. The show is free and the crowds of spectators can watch from the seawall bordering the playing field. The eight sailing champions taking part in the 22nd edition of the Trophée Clairefontaine arrived in La Grande Motte today and have taken possession of their 7.65m (25') catamarans. They all have exactly the same equipment. The traditional sea battle between foes at sea, friends on shore, can now start. With the free practice sessions this afternoon, the Rhodia Warm-up (with eight heats in two hours) tomorrow afternoon and the first official gunshot at 10:30 on Saturday morning, the meeting of champions is a gruelling competition.
There are nine legs in the programme for the three-handed crews, consisting of the champion and two crew members on the trapeze. There are two RAIDS (traditional coastal regattas) and seven RUNS, a characteristic feature of the Trophée Clairefontaine, each of them high-speed, high-intensity regattas lasting about eight minutes. All the results are taken into account and it is not unusual for the overall winner to be decided in the last tacks of the final regatta, at 15:45 on Sunday.
The line-up of champions invited to take part in this year's edition of the Trophée Clairefontaine consists of:
Michel Desjoyeaux, two-time Vendée Globe winner, who has already been crowned "Champion of Champions" in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2007 is logically this year's favourite.
Pascal Bidégorry, current record holder for the transatlantic crossing, who finished third at La Grande Motte in 2010, will be going all out to win this year.
Carolijn Brouwer (Netherlands) is the only woman to have helmed a Tornado catamaran in the Olympic Games (Beijing 2008). She has everything it takes to shine in La Grande Motte.
Nicolas Charbonnier, bronze medallist in the 470 class at the Beijing Olympics, is taking part in the Trophée Clairefontaine for the fourth time. He has already taken second place (2008).
Armel Le Cléac'h, two-time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (2003 and 2010), who finished second in the 2008 Vendée Globe, took seventh place last year. He'll be out for revenge.
François Gabart crewed for Michel Desjoyeaux last year. He's taking part this year as the current French Single-handed Offshore Racing Champion.
Jean-Pierre Dick, two-time winner of the Barcelona World Race (2006 and 2010) and IMOCA Champion 2010, has entered with Jérémie Beyou, twice winner of La Solitaire du Figaro (2005 and 2011). This is his third participation in the Trophée Clairefontaine.
Roland Jourdain has been invited to La Grande Motte for his two consecutive wins in the Route du Rhum monohull category in the IMOCA 60 class (2006 and 2010).
Media Contact - Bénédicte Etienne: 33 (0)6 87 30 12 83 and 33 (0)6 03 94 34 44
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