September Tuesday 23rd : a dream day!

If we had to give a score for the start of the Classic and 5.5m races on Tuesday, September 23, we would hesitate between 18 and 19/20... knowing that we never give a perfect score! The 140 competitors raced on the two courses to the east and west of the Cannes Yacht Club in a fresh south-southwesterly wind reaching over 20 knots in the middle of the afternoon.

The day began with a moment of silence during the morning briefing led by Jérôme Nutte, the PRO (Principal Race Officer), followed by a tribute from Jean-François Cutugno, president of the Cannes Yacht Club, to one of the most loyal competitors of the Régates Royales, Yvon Rautureau, one of the many owners of Viola, who died suddenly at the age of 78 from a stroke, just as he was about to join his friends in Cannes to race on the sublime William Fife III design. For this crew of epicureans, who never go unnoticed with their purple polo shirts, sideburns, and sometimes fine cigars, there was no question of canceling their participation “because he would have been right to yell at us...” says one of the co-owners of this wonderful sailboat dating from 1908. After the applause, a cannon shot fired from Viola, and a long black flag hoisted at the top of the rigging, the crew set off on a fifteen-mile course, finishing sixth. 

For regulars at the Royales, the return of the NY 50 Spartan (United States) was eagerly awaited after a few years of absence. The sublime design by Nathaniel Herreshoff, nicknamed “the Wizard of Bristol,” dominated the race in real time, winning by more than a length. Seeing his crew gybe (change tack downwind) in the breeze with devilish precision and mind-boggling panache, it's no wonder he dominated in such fashion.

Nevertheless, year after year, the overall standard continues to rise, and observers who have seen the highest level of competition continue to be impressed by the quality of the maneuvers. Beer in hand, an Australian giant, competing in his first “Royales” despite having sailed all the world's seas, couldn't believe his eyes: “I understand better now why my friends have been telling me for a long time that in Cannes, just because you're sailing traditional boats doesn't mean you don't race tooth and nail, wiping the canvas! I love it...”

He should be back in action tomorrow, Wednesday, when even stronger southwesterly winds are forecast.

All results : manage2sail.com