2014 eurOcat edition was definitely a good one, and all competitors did appreciated the efforts made by YC Carnac to provide them with improved service and welcome.
Apart on Thursday, where wind strength was over 27 knots, wheather conditions did permit the Race Committee to manage 6 windward/leeward races, plus Round Houat Long Distance on Saturday, under shiny sky and gentle breeze…
It was once more a pleasure and honour for the Class to welcome Sailing Champions coming from a wide range of top Classes, in order to contest the supremacy of our “usual” F18 top teams, such as Gurvan Bontemps and Benjamin Amiot, as well our “rookies” Solune Robert and Riwan Perron, 2013 SL 16 Worlds Medalists …
Please have a quick look on to some of the participants:
- Iker Martinez, Gold and Silver Olympic medalist, Volvo Ocean Race skipper, and currently campaining in Nacra 17 series, who seized the opportunity to taste F18, crewed by Ferdinand van West, with some success, finishing first overall;
- Morgan Lagravière, Top Offshore Figaro skipper, sailing together with F18 World Champion Arnaud Jarlegan, and winning Round Houat Long Distance;
- Fred Duthil, other Top Offshore Figaro skipper, crewed by Fred Moreau;
- Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, multiple Raid and Long Distance winner (Archipelago, Costarmoricaine, …) waiting for receiving his brand new 40 Foot Ocean Racer;
- Jean-Christophe”Kinou” Mourniac, triple F18 World Vice Champion, former French Olympic team member, Extreme 40 skipper, sailing together with his son Tim for the first time in an international competition;
- Lamberto Cesari, 2010 F18 Youth World Champion together with Vittorio Bissaro, finishing third in Round Houat Long Distance with helm Carlo de Paoli;
- William Sunnucks, First Finisher in Texel and Round Houat races, and by the way Chair of UK F18 Class Association;
- Grant Piggott, talented UK Sailmaker;
- tbc…
It was then nice to hear the kind words Iker expressed on the podium after receiving his trophy, clearly assuming he was more than pleased by F18 racing, and that he will certainly come back asap, according to his Olympic commitments.