No less than 30 F18s entered the 15th edition of the Raid Emeraude organised on 1st & 2nd July by Yacht Club Saint Lunaire, sailing together with some other classes including Viper, Dart 18, Hobie 16… and Diam 24 trimarans, for a total of 60+ registered boats.
After facing a strong and gusty wind (21 to 28 knots) generating a rough sea on Saturday, forcing the Race Committee to cancel the first scheduled raid, weather conditions turned into a better shape on Sunday, permitting the whole fleet to enjoy the magnificent landscapes offered by Fort la Latte and Cap Frehel.
It has been a tense fight all along the course between leading boats, including Ferrec-Delaplace, Champanhac-Valer, Berndt-Lagardère and mixed team Le Formal-Neiras, first task for competitors being to round Pointe du Décollé in a long remaining swell.
Then, the course went upwind to Ile Agot, Pen Guen Beach and Laplace wreck buoy, just in front of Fort la Latte, before a long downwind leg coming back to Saint Lunaire beach, where the regatta turned into a gybing battle.
At the end of the game, Antoine Ferrec and Foucauld Delaplace got line honours, 1 minute 06 sec ahead Benoît Champanhac/Pierre-Jean Valer, and 2 minutes 28 sec ahead Nicolas Berndt/Louis Lagardère. A good training for Antoine & Foucauld before the next F18 Worlds to be sailed next week in VSK denmark.
It is to stress the very warm welcome provided by Yacht Club de Saint Lunaire volunteers to all competitors, including a superb party dinner served under the main tent on Saturday evening.
This nice event definitely deserves an increased attendance, and IF18CA can only recommend all European teams to think about entering 2018 edition.
Complete results at https://www.facebook.com/RaidEmeraude/photos/pcb.913431758819458/913431745486126/?type=3&theater
All pictures © Raid Emeraude – Pierrick Contin