The concept

Since its origins, in 1990, the Trophée Clairefontaine has been built around four key strengths:

1- Firstly, it brings together eight great French and International sailing champions from different international sailing disciplines. These champions have impressive track records established in world famous races like the America's Cup or equally famous international events like the Olympic Games. Specialists from single-handed oceanic races rub shoulders with helmsmen from the match-racing circuit. Mutlihulls and monohulls skippers are treated exactly the same way. The results prove it.

2- A distinctive characteristic of the Trophée Clairefontaine is to oppose champions coming from widely different backgrounds providing them with exactly the same equipment. This is the SailingOne 7.65m (25') one-design catamaran specially designed for the competition and exclusively used for the Trophée Clairefontaine. Very powerful and very spectacular - capsizing is by no means excluded - the SailingOne one-design catamaran with its unique characteristics completely offers equal chances to specialists of monohull and multihull alike. It is an exceptional boat for a competition that is unique in the world today.

3- The Trophée Clairefontaine has a wide public and, for that reason, a certain number of rules and regulations have been specially adapted, simplified and at the same time others have been added. Thus, everybody can follow the competition and understand what is going on. Sporting ethics are respected and monitored by the different sailing federations. The champions are particularly fond of all aspects of the rules and regulations governing the competition increasing the spectacular nature of some of the heats like the RUNS in the nautical stadium, which last no more than 15 minutes for a better show.

4- On the contrary to the vast majority of sailing events, the Trophée Clairefontaine takes place in a Nautical Stadium in front of the spectators. Access to the nautical stadium is open to all and free of charge. All the different phases of the regattas are played out before the public: starts, finishes, racing around buoys... Each spectator can see the champions sailing only few metres from him/her and can support and applaud the crews. Fun is guaranteed !

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