100 Days to go before the start of LA DRHEAM CUP

LA DRHEAM CUP - Destination Cotentin will start in 100 days. A second edition that already promises to be a success, with entries that keep coming in: some 60 boats are ready to start. Many offshore racing professionals on flagship series such as IMOCA, CLASS40 and MULTI50 will be there, as well as Corinthian sailors, who come to race and enjoy sailing together. The start and finish towns are getting ready to welcome sailors in the best conditions; the town of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin will fly the colours of Australia.

100 days from the start of LA DRHEAM CUP - Destination Cotentin (21 - 29 July), entries are continuing to come in, with already some sixty confirmed entries. CLASS40 will be strongly represented in La Trinité-sur-Mer and Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, with 24 boats entered to date and amongst the latest entries, British sailor Phil Sharp (Imerys Clean Energy), one of the big names in the in the Class 40 series, Japanese sailor Hiroshi Kitada (Kiho), as well as two female sailors, Claire Pruvot (Sponsors, Embarquez pour le Rhum) and Morgane Ursault-Poupon (UP Sailing). The daughter of the Route du Rhum 1986 winner Philippe Poupon, is following in her father’s footsteps, since she will take part in the transatlantic Race between Saint-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre, for which LA DRHEAM CUP - Destination Cotentin 736 mile course is a qualification.

New entries in IMOCA also, with Alan Roura (La Fabrique), Romain Attanasio (Pure-Famille Mary) and Manu Cousin (Groupe Setin who will join Sam Davies (Initiatives Cœur), Paul Meilhat (SMA) and Fabrice Amedeo (Newrest-Art & Fenêtres). The five fastest Multi50 of the moment will also be there: title holder Arkema (Lalou Roucayrol), FenêtréA-Mix Buffet (Erwan Le Roux), Ciela Village (Thierry Bouchard), Réauté Chocolat (Armel Tripon) and the most recently launched 50 foot trimaran, Solidaires En Peloton-ARSEP (Thibaut Vauchel-Camus).

"It is a great satisfaction to note that 100 days before the start, we are already sure to have a very high level race, explains Jacques civilise, the delighted race organiser. The ambition of LA DRHEAM CUP - Destination Cotentin is to join the select few major offshore races such as the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Rolex Sydney-Hobart and the Rolex Giraglia. It is a "dream" that may appear excessive, but thanks to the trust of our institutional partners, the skippers and their crew, this "dream" may well become a reality from the second edition. The Fédération Française de Voile felt that way as soon as it was created, recommending that La DRHEAM-CUP Race be held every 2 years, in even years, alternating with the renowned Rolex Fastnet Race, which is held odd years."

Amongst the skippers and crew, there aren't only professionals, many Corinthian sailors will also be racing in LA DRHEAM CUP - Destination Cotentin, particularly in IRC and Osiris on the 428 miles course, and Jacques Civilise is welcoming them as warmly as he welcomes the headliners: "I often say that LA DRHEAM CUP - Destination Cotentin is the major "OPEN" offshore race, with a competition-sharing-festivity triptych that is part of its DNA. Sharing is horizontal, between professional and amateur sailors; men and women, French and foreign, but especially vertical, with a mix of generations to which I am particularly attached".

Amongst the amateurs, Patrick Ponchelet was the first to enter in IRC who already took part two years ago on his X40 Exception II. "The race ended sooner than planned, since our mast broke after Wolf Rock as we were leading the race, but we are back with great pleasure, because I love big races and it is a great course, just slightly shorter than the Fastnet. It is different to racing between three buoys, we needed a long race like this one in France. To keep your crew nowadays, you must be able to take part in great races, and this is one", explains this Parisian lawyer, whose 40 footer is based in Granville and will be manned by eight amateurs - "my wife and friends, I only sail with people I like".

He intends to fight to win in his category, and will also be able to enjoy the festive atmosphere on the pontoons in La Trinité-sur-Mer and Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. On the 100th day to go the start, the finish town announced that LA DRHEAM CUP - Destination Cotentin village will fly the colours of Australia, a theme linked to the "contract of the century" signed between Australia and Naval Group: the construction of twelve submarines in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. "LA DRHEAM CUP – Destination Cotentin is a summer nautical event for Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. Many events will be held to bring together and unite the local population and tourists on the theme of Australia and sailing", explains Benoit Arrivé, mayor of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.

The green light has been given, a great match and a wonderful party are expected!

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME of LA DRHEAM CUP - Destination Cotentin 2018

Thursday 19 and Friday 20 July: Opening of the village, Entry and safety checks
Saturday 21 July: "LE DRHEAM-TROPHY" Prologue
Sunday 22 July: Safety checks (continued) and Public Relations events
Monday 23 July: Start of the main race LA DRHEAM CUP - Destination Cotentin
Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 July: Arrival of boats in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
Saturday 28 July: Prizegiving
Sunday 29 July: Closing event LA DRHEAM-PARADE

RANKINGS 2016

The podium (all classes): 1. Arkema (Lalou Roucayrol), 2. Le Souffle du Nord (Thomas Ruyant), 3. A Capella Soreal (Charlie Capelle)

Winners by class:

Multi50: Arkema (Lalou Roucayrol) 
M2K: A Capella Soreal (Charlie Capelle)
Imoca: Le Souffle du Nord (Thomas Ruyant)
Class40: Colombre XL (Massimo Juris)
Mini 6.50: Raoul Pastèque (Romain Bolzinger)
IRC: Group 5 (Patrice Carpentier)
IRC 1: Team Vendée 192-Les Parrains (Benjamin Dutreux)
IRC 2: Fleur du Sud (Patrick Molitor)
IRC Double handed: Group 5 (Patrice Carpentier)