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Rolex Fastnet Race

Vincent Riou won the IMOCA race

mardi 16 août 2011Redaction SSS [Source RP]

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After the Volvo Open 70s arrival early this morning, later there was an equally close finish between the first three IMOCA Imoca #IMOCA Open 60s. This contest for the boats best known for being sailed singlehanded around the world in the Vendée Globe, was won by 2004-5 Vendée Globe winner Vincent Riou in his orange PRB (FRA).

She was less than four minutes ahead of Virbac Paprec 3 (FRA) skippered by Jean-Pierre Dick, two-time winner of the Barcelona World Race Barcelona World Race #barcelonaworldrace , in turn less than two minutes ahead of two-time Velux 5 Oceans Velux 5 Oceans #Velux5Oceans solo round-the-world race winner, Bernard Stamm on his Cheminées Poujoulat (SUI).

“It feels good, very good,” commented Riou of his win, his second having previously been first home in the IMOCA Imoca #IMOCA 60 class in 2007. “We are glad to have had a good result, especially as there was a lot of contact between the boats for the whole duration of the race.

“Passing the Fastnet Rock itself was special because it was very windy and grey, and then suddenly the Fastnet just appeared out of the fog as we were going past with 30 knots of wind – it was rather lovely.”

Frenchman Marc Guillemot, who finished fourth aboard Safran (FRA), summed up why the Rolex Fastnet Race was special.

“It is a very nice course to go to the Fastnet and to come back because there is a lot of variation in the conditions and the sea and also there are three or four of the best IMOCA Imoca #IMOCA boats here, so it is always interesting to race against them.”

While Safran finished 45 minutes after PRB, they had been level at Bishop Rock. Guillemot admitted that they had had subsequently chosen the wrong sail to get them to the Lizard, allowing the others to get ahead.

Virbac-Paprec 3 had been leading at the Scilly Isles but did well to come home second after they had broken their starboard primary winch, causing them a few complications in the cockpit.

“It was pretty close and interesting too with sometimes quite a lot of wind or little wind, shifty – it was a nice race,” said Dick. “It was complicated with the current, but this is the nice part. It is more like the Tour de France a la Voile. It is a nice race, so I am happy to have done it.”

- Press info www.fastnet.rorc.org



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