Thursday, June 18, 2009

Deauville International Race Week

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

(Deauville, France- June5-7)- Deauville is the ideal place to go for a change of air, a change of scenery, a change of atmosphere... A prestigious resort combining the undertones of French elegance and American pizzazz.
Nestled on the 'Cote Fleurie' just 2 hrs from Paris, the resort is the gateway to the Pays d'Auge area of Normandy and amazingly has managed to preserve its early twentieth century feel with its typical Norman timber-frame houses, flanked by fine sandy beaches. Providing superb entertainment from season to season, Deauville combines traditional charm with the luxury, comfort and pace of modern-day life.
Deauville International Week was certainly born under a lucky star: four days, four forecasts with wind, four forecasts with sun and four sessions of top quality competition.
For the final day of racing, conditions were ideal once again: 20 knots of SSW breeze to delight competitors. “It’s the first time I’ve raced in Deauville and it’s been excellent, so I’ll be back!” said Bruno Staub, tactician aboard the J/80 VOG.J/80s at Deauville, France Raceweek Just minutes away from the prize-giving, the time for compliments and thanks had come". And, "...bravo to the race committee. Given the conditions we encountered, it was very good! The wind shifted every which way and the anemometer was up and down, but we still competed in 11 races that were always well marked out, which was terrific!” said an enthusiastic Philippe Szellos, skipper of the winning J/80 VOG.
In the J/80 class, local favourite of Deauville YC, Phillipe Szellos won aboard VOG and was followed by Gilles Drouet on MARINE CHERBOURG CCVS and in third was Marie Corson in JAWS!! Yikes, sounds scary!
In IRC1, Dave and Kirsty Apthorp from the RAF SC took their J/109 J-DREAM across the Channel to sail this fun series to get a fourth and immediately behind them in fifth were friends from the Royal Southern YC, Bill Blain onboard the J/133 BATFISH III. For more info Photo credits: Jean-Marie Liot