Eurocat Results

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Just over 300 boats turned out in Carnac for the 2007 Eurocat held on the Bay of Quiberon.

The boats were split into three groups with C1, C3-SL16 and Spitfires racing in the pink group, F18s sailing in the yellow group and Dart 18, HC16, HC16 with spinnaker and SL KL 15s sailing in the blue group.

A bright blue sky and sunshine greeted the competitors for day one. Sadly the wind was nowhere to be seen and racing was subsequently postponed. It was not until 14:00 things began to look up and crews were told to get ready for a 15:00 start. Once out on the water, though, the wind was two to four knots across the whole course. After a wait of nearly two hours on the water some fleets were able to get into a starting sequence at 17:30 for a reduced size course but the a number of general recalls alongside the light wind conditions prevented any of these races from finishing and competitors were finally sent ashore after a long day of waiting at 19:00.

Early in the morning day two looked as though it may be a repeat of the first day as the day revealed intense heat with light and hazy conditions. The race committees put up a two hour postponement whilst they once again played the waiting game. Finally the wind started to build at about 13:00 and courses were set. With ten knots of breeze the pink fleet were sent to their race course at 13:45 with blue and yellow fleets launching just over half and hour later. The steady breeze allowed all groups to get three races in over the course of the afternoon despite yet more general recalls. The F18 fleet managed to squeeze in a short fourth race at 18:00 going some way to making up for the previous day’s lack of racing.

The third day of racing at Eurocat is traditionally reserved for a long distance race. This year was to be no exception with a 17 mile course being laid. The competitors are required to make two laps of the course making a 34 mile total race. Once again the morning dawned with hot sunshine and extreme light winds. In a little over five knots of breeze all competing boats took to the water at 11:00 and prepared for the start. The wind once again was causing difficulties and it was not until 13:00 that the race was able to get underway. With all boats starting the distance race at the same time a gate start is used, this year’s path finder was former Olympic Champion, Yves Loday. After an initial recall the race finally got underway and nearly 300 catamarans set off on the 34 mile course. However, after only two and a half hours of racing the wind decided once again to put a spanner in the works and dropped dramatically. In light of the deteriorating conditions the race committee decided to shorten the course and finish at the northern end of the bay.

Despite a number of the slower boats retiring most managed to finish the race and the majority of the fleet made it back to shore at around 16:00. The best had been saved for last as competitors awoke to find a distinct lack of sunshine but a decent breeze of around ten knots covering the whole racing area on the final day. In light of the improved conditions the race committee set out to lay the courses at 9:00. All three groups managed to get in at least three races through the course of the day with some fleets managing to get four in. After racing the prize giving took place and the organisers explained how happy they were with the large turnout from eight nationalities that took part. The commented, specifically how good it was to have some entrants from Tahiti and hoped they returned next year.

The Top ten results of 2007 Eurocat in Carnac in F18:

1 NACRA

NED 007

HEEMSTERK MISCHA

2 NACRA

FRA 51

BESSON Billy

3 HOBIE

AUS 8

BUNDOCK Darren

4 NACRA

NED 3

DE KONING COEN

5 NACRA

GBR 794

STYLES Hugh

6 HOBIE

1909

PHIPPS Tom

7 HOBIE

FRA 2247

VAIREAUX Moana

8 ?

FRA 103

SOUBEN Matthieu

9 HOBIE

FRA 1

MOURNIAC Jean christoph

10 NACRA

NED 23

LARSEN GUNNAR