Raid Corsaires 2011: Report by Francis Ferrari

Photos: Pierrick Contin www.pierrickcontin.fr –
Report sent by Francis Ferrari – www.sailfast.fr – Line Hounours on a Nacra F20C.
“C1 and F18 were on the same race, but with 2 differents start.
A quick report for C1: Yvan Bourgnon and I were on 2 Nacra F20 Carbon. I had line honours on race 1 and 3, Yvan on race 2.
On race 1 the two Nacras made the race in a around 3 hours, the next boat was one hour later.

Wind was 5 to 8 knots. In race one both Nacras stayed close all the time, but on the finish we took 2 differents strategies and Yvan finished 2 mins after me.
In race 2 (20 knots , waves, choppy sea) half of the fleet didn’t want tosail and stayed on the beach.
We made an error of navigation and lose few mins, we finished 6 mins after Yvan.
Lots of boats went to the wrong side of a mark and Jury give them a penality.

In race 3 (18 knots, and some lulls) again a close match between the two F20C, we took advantage and Yvan broke a foil on a rock so we won with a big margin.For final results we have a big advantage (probably around half hour on Yvan, and more of 1 hour on the first Viper).G. Griziaux and Claire Berranger (mixed crew on Viper) were the most consistent after the Nacras but had some ptoblems at the end ( a trapeze line broken and a capsize, took a penality for an error on a mark side, and broke a daggerboard…) but they kept the 3th place.

They made a fantastic first race (finish 4th on the line few meters ahead a Tornado, and with more than 20 mn of advantage on others F16)P. Thareau and F. Mairelle are on Viper and mixed crew (4 th)T et C Wibeau on Falcon and mixed crew. (5 th)

I think in real time and global (the 3 races) there’s a gap around 1 h 30 between me and Mischa.There were around 15 Vipers. “