The Drheam-Cup: lively start, competition at all levels

As the weather forecast had predicted, the 70 boats that set off from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on Monday 15 July at 16:30 and 16:45 for the fifth edition of the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE got off to a flying start, with a fast reaching passage across the English Channel in 20-25 knots of westerly wind, gusting to 35.

The hundred-mile Channel crossing between the tip of the Cotentin peninsula and West Shambles, in the south of England, was over in three hours for the largest boat in the fleet, the MOD70 Drekan Energy, who then tacked along the British coast to pass the Wolf Rock lighthouse, in the south-west of England, shortly before midday on Tuesday. Just before rounding the mark, skipper Eric Defer explained in a video: "It was a pretty rough night as we tacked along the south coast of England, with lots of waves and very short seas, we are looking forwards to bearing away after Wolf Rock.»

They did just this at 11:40, before setting off on another 140 mile reaching leg, this time on starboard tack, towards the virtual point DRHEAM-CUP, around a hundred miles to the west of the Pointe du Raz, which Drekan Energy passed around 18:00. They have set course for La Trinité-sur-Mer in gradually easing winds where, according to race director Hervé Gautier, the 70-foot trimaran is expected to arrive on Wednesday late at night, after around two days of racing on the 490-mile course.

In the same Multi 2000 class, Oren Nataf has announced his retirement on Rayon Vert and is heading to Roscoff. Meanwhile the second ORC 50 GDD (Bruno Jacob) rounded Wolf Rock at 17:00, some fifteen miles ahead of Wellness Training/MG5 (Marc Guillemot).

On the same 490 mile course, the first Monohull, Teasing Machine (Eric de Turckheim), has also passed Wolf Rock, just ahead of GDD. The 54 foot yacht was then forty miles ahead his two IRC crewed rivals, Fastwave 6 (Eric Fries) and Stamina Sailing Team (Charlie Ageneau). Late on Tuesday afternoon, the bulk of the fleet will be sailing in fifteen knots of westerly breeze, synonymous with a few tacks before rounding Wolf Rock during the night.

In the double-handed IRC class, the most represented category in the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE (28 boats at the start), the predicted France/England battle is taking place, with the British Figaro Beneteau 3 Chilli Pepper (Ellie and Jim Driver) currently leading the way. The French boats Fondation Arthritis (Alexandre Noël), Timeline (Marc Alperovicth), AxeSail by Issartel/Sarbacane (Maxime Mesnil) and the current leader in the RORC championship rankings, Bellino (Rob Cragie/Debbie Fish) are hot on her heels. In the Sun Fast 30 One Design class, SL Energies Groupe (Laurent Charmy) was ahead late on Tuesday afternoon.

Finally, on the longest 630 miles course, sailed by the Class40s, we are once again witnessing a gripping France/England match, with Swift (Jack Trigger) and the title holder Groupe Snef (Xavier Macaire) neck and neck as they near Wolf Rock and Viranga, the third scow (Emmanuel Hamez) less than 10 miles behind. In the (unofficial) "pointy" rankings, Belco (Louis Mayaud) is leading the way, but TrimControl on his heels, as skipper Alexandre Legallais explained in a video: "We've managed to climb back up the rankings, so the last twelve hours have been productive. The good weather is back, which is great, and we're starting to eat more comfortably.»

This is set to become increasingly the case from this Wednesday morning, as the Class40s and the fleet as a whole, are gradually going to be confronted with easing conditions, which will no doubt considerably change the backdrop of this DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LADGE. The race has also set up camp in La Trinité-sur-Mer, where the organisers arrived on Tuesday and where the race village will be officially opened on this Wednesday morning. It is ready for visitors, and there are many at this time of year, every day from 10am to 7pm, and the first sailors are expected tonight.