La Rochelle Eurocup 2007

After three days of excellent sailing hosted by Societe Des Regates Rochelaises (S.R.R) only a single point separated the top three boats of Carlo Cantu and Paolo Monciardini (ITA 452), Stuart Bailey and Zoe Noble (GBR 797) and Ian Foxwell and Hannah Packman (GBR 844 FeFe Fiasco). The Italians from UVM Lake Maggiore finally proved too good, taking two 1sts on the final day of the 10 race Championships to take the Cup from GBR for the first time.

Conditions for the week were perfect, providing a wide range of winds and sea states culminating in an exhilarating final day in F5+ winds with a 3-4’ swell.

Eight boats converged on La Rochelle for the event; six from GBR supported by the Italians and a previously unseen French father and son team from Lyon. The all girl crew aboard “TitsUp!” (GBR Buzz 480) were also newcomers to the fleet, and proved that the Buzz is easily manageable for younger and lighter crews. The results also proved that the original Mk1 Buzz sails as well as the rest in the right hands!

After a friendly and fun ‘familiarisation’ sail on registration day, the first day of racing in a fresh NW’ly saw mixed fortunes for some with retirements for either minor equipment failure or early fatigue. After 3 races, 1sts were scored by each of the final top three boats with Team Italy in pole position, with a mid-order tussle between Jane Noble and Mark Wilson in “Fritz” (GBR 1027) and Roger and Penny Eyre in “FAST&LOOSE” (GBR 987) for 4th and 5th

In the meantime, a tussle between Arthur and Benoit Frottier (FRA 448), Chris and Valma Hardcastle (GBR 1040) and Candice Clark and Lizzi Eyre (GBR 480 TitsUp!) ensued with Team France coming out on top to hold 6th place overnight.

On the second day the winds were lighter, allowing Foxwell and Packman to put in some strong results, although not quite enough to beat Team Italy in first and the Bailey and Noble partnership in second position after the first discard. In the third race of the day the wind disappeared for a short while, leaving those on the wrong side of the course stranded. This allowed the all girl Clark and Eyre partnership to bank their best result of the Championships to gain important points on Team France.

After an uncertain night when 135km winds were forecast (resulting in a midnight boat park securing paranoia), the fresher racing conditions on day three suited Bailey and Noble in the first race to secure another 1st. As the winds dropped Eyre and Eyre (rigged for lighter conditions) produced unbeatable boat speed to take the 2nd race, having led the fleet from the start. This changed the overnight positions with the second discard also taking effect putting Bailey and Noble in 1st place whilst Team Italy dropped to 3rd. Eyre and Eyre pulled ahead of Noble and Wilson to take 4th and Clark and Eyre jumped ahead of team France into 6th.

That evening a fantastic dinner and social for the Buzz and ISO fleets was hosted by SRR in their impressive clubhouse overlooking one of the largest marinas in Europe. A good time was had by all, followed by post dinner cocktails in the local Jamaican (‘respect’) beach bar where tales of luck and woe were shared by all!

The final day saw blue skies and sunshine again, but with winds building before the boats reached the start line, it was apparent that those who had checked the forecast and rigged the boats for decreasing winds would have their work cut out! With only one point separating the top three, one point separating 4th and 5th and two points separating the rest – much was at stake. Eventually the winds proved too much for the lower half of the fleet, leaving the top five boats to battle it out in what proved to be the most challenging course of the whole Championship. With Foxwell and Packman leading the 1st race it looked as though they might lead the top three into the final race, but with the winds steadily increasing they couldn’t hold their spinnaker to the finish allowing Team Italy and Bailey and Noble to pass them on the line. The final race was again extremely close, ending with a clear reflection of the overall positions of the Championships with Team Italy deservedly out in front to take the Championship.

La Rochelle proved yet again that it is a great venue for Championship sailing with great water, a beautiful and interesting town of cobbled streets with plentiful bars and restaurants. S.R.R were great hosts and excellent event organisers. Even those unable to travel were able to follow the results and photos posted on the website daily!

Results

Full Results