European Tour Act 2 La Rochelle – Day 3 Results

From F18 European Tour Press Release

After an intense opening day with five races on Friday, Day 3 delivered a full and varied programme: two windward-leeward races in the morning, followed by the highly anticipated coastal raid around Fort Boyard and Île d’Aix. A day to remember.

Argentina flies on the day’s races

The day belonged to the Argentinean crew Smith Cruz Gonzalez / Mariano Heuser (ARG 11), who swept all three races with remarkable consistency and pace. Sailing the F18 Cirrus R3 by Boulogne Conception Marine — a very promising new design making its competitive debut — they demonstrated the full potential of this exciting new boat throughout the day. After a quieter start to the event, their progression has been nothing short of spectacular: they now sit second overall, just one point behind the Belgian leaders.

At the top of the overall standings, Patrick Demesmaeker / Gilles Tas (BEL 1) hold firm with the kind of steady, disciplined sailing that has defined their entire event. Aboard the Akurra by Goodall Design — a hull now widely adopted across the fleet and a firm favourite among the top competitors — the Belgians take the overall lead from Cédric Bader / Yves Peters (FRA 1), who had led after Day 2. A difficult day for the French duo, now third overall with a growing gap to the top two. The regatta is not over, but the road back looks steep

Just one point separates Belgium and Argentina at the top — everything is still to play for on the final day.

The Fort Boyard Coastal Raid — Beyond the Race Course

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the coastal raid. Leaving the windward-leeward courses behind to sail along the Charente coastline, round the legendary Fort Boyard and skirt past Île d’Aix before heading back to La Rochelle — a format that always delights those who love offshore racing. The competition is still fierce, but your eyes lift, the scenery takes over, and the race becomes almost secondary for a few glorious miles.

Conditions were ideal for this kind of event: a 8 to 12-knot breeze, a comfortable medium that suited every boat in the fleet — not too light to drift, not too strong to struggle. The kind of sailing day that makes you want to come back.

This is exactly the spirit the F18 European Tour aims to carry: high performance and competition, but also the pure pleasure of sailing in exceptional surroundings. Fort Boyard and Île d’Aix from a Formula 18 catamaran — that is a privilege few get to experience.

Tomorrow — The Final Day

Sunday’s forecast calls for a strong breeze of 15 to 20 knots. Three races are scheduled with a warning signal at 11:00. With just one point between the top two, nothing is decided. The entire fleet lines up for a final day that promises to be electric.

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Provisional Overall Standings — After 8 Races · 1 Discard

Pos	Sail #	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Tot	Net
1	🇧🇪 BEL 1	Demesmaeker, Patrick	Tas, Gilles	RBSC	2	(8)	2	4	3	2	3	3	27	19
2	🇦🇷 ARG 11	Cruz Gonzalez, Smith	Heuser, Mariano	—	(20)	3	11	2	1	1	1	1	40	20
3	🇫🇷 FRA 1	Bader, Cédric	Peters, Yves	YC Saint-Tropez	4	1	3	3	4	(12)	10	6	43	31
4	🇫🇷 FRA 5	Erussard, Victorien	Moreau, Frédéric	SNBSM	3	5	10	1	DNF(29)	5	7	2	62	33
5	🇫🇮 FIN 67	Silen, Victor	Muikku, Anssi	Ristiinan Pursiseura	5	6	1	5	(8)	4	8	8	45	37
6	🇫🇷 FRA 901	Boulogne, Emmanuel	Boulogne, Jean	Dunkerque YC	1	2	(15)	6	10	7	13	5	59	44
7	🇫🇷 FRA 7	Dary, Emeric	Fanouillere, David	SN Sablais	7	(15)	6	10	2	6	5	9	60	45
8	🇦🇷 ARG 111	Vilate, Christian	Dorbessan, Octavio	CUBA-CNP	11	(12)	5	9	9	3	4	7	60	48
9	🇸🇪 SWE 7	Karlsson, Fredrik	Nordblom, Niklas	KSSS Sweden	9	9	9	11	13	(14)	2	4	71	57
10	🇳🇱 NED 2	Becker, Wik	Becker, Rob	WV Dburg	12	10	4	12	5	9	6	(14)	72	58
11	🇫🇷 FRA 2135	Trecul, Yoann	Cahierc, Pierre	CNPA Île de Ré	6	7	(17)	7	6	8	11	17	79	62
12	🇸🇪 SWE 100	Busck, Peter	Wersäll, Oscar	KSSS Sweden	(19)	13	7	13	17	10	9	10	98	79
13	🇫🇷 FRA 16	Marette, Paul	Boulogne, Vincent	VADK’Sports	14	4	(21)	14	14	11	12	12	102	81
14	🇧🇪 BEL 24	Blockeel, Vincent	Meyers, Jean-Michel	SYLOD	(21)	19	8	18	11	15	15	13	120	99
15	🇺🇸 USA 008	Gorgues, Thomas	Dayot, Damien	BBN	10	16	14	17	DNF(29)	16	16	11	129	100
16	🇧🇪 BEL 11	Joly, Claire	Runet, Antoine	CN Paul Vatine	8	11	19	22	DNF(29)	13	14	16	132	103
17	🇵🇱 POL 4	Bassak, Krzystof	Sicinski, Piotr	YKP Warszawa	13	(26)	12	16	16	19	17	15	134	108
18	🇳🇱 NED 51	Van Toorenburg, Maud	Gijsbers, Theodoor	ZV De Roerleoning	16	17	13	15	12	17	(20)	19	129	109
19	🇧🇪 BEL 6	Bolle, Annelies	Braeken, Win	RBSC	(28)	24	25	8	7	21	27	21	161	133
20	🇫🇷 FRA 129	Bezon, Eric	Chapenoire, Emmanuel	BBN	(27)	20	26	21	15	20	18	18	165	138
21	🇧🇪 BEL 510	Bruyneel, Tom	Boels, Ellen	—	18	21	16	19	DNF(29)	24	19	22	168	139
22	🇫🇷 FRA 18	Blin, Vincent	Blin, Frank	Surf School St-Malo	15	25	22	20	DNF(29)	26	23	20	180	151
23	🇫🇷 FRA 206	Josselin, Michel	Lochtenberg, Tanguy	SN Locmariaquer	22	18	20	DNF(29)	18	27	21	26	181	152
24	🇫🇷 FRA 2067	Llonch, Thierry	Hyounet, Philippe	CN Castelnaudary	24	14	23	23	DNF(29)	23	24	25	185	156
25	🇫🇷 FRA 2041	Montier, Patrice	Roy, Justine	La Rochelle Nautique	17	23	18	DNC(29)	DNF	25	25	28	194	165
26	🇫🇷 FRA 110	Kummer, Stéphane	Ardeois, Julien	US Gazelec Paris IDF	25	22	24	24	DNC(29)	28	26	24	202	173
27	🇫🇷 FRA 1017	Dujardin, Mattis	Walther, Willy	St Georges Voiles	26	28	DNC(29)	DNC	DNS	18	22	23	204	175
28	🇫🇷 FRA 17	Cottreau, Gabriel	Orrillard, Téo	CNPA Île de Ré	23	27	27	DNF(29)	DNF	22	DNS	27	213	184

Italics = discarded race · DNF = Did Not Finish · DNC = Did Not Come to startline · DNS = Did Not Start · Provisional standings before jury