(Arcachon, France)- One of the most popular events to sail all summer
long on the Baie de Arcachon on the west coast of France is the much
anticipated “18 Hours de Arcachon”. The concept for the event is
simple; everyone starts together off the beautiful beach and goes around
a fixed course for 18 hours straight. The most laps and the most
“handicap laps” (based on your rating) are computed and the winners get
their weight in champagne and the proceeds of the event all go to
various local charities. The tradition, of course, is to use up all
that champagne before you leave the fun-loving awards ceremony on the
beach at the Cercle d'Arcachon!
This
year, the YC de Arcachon enjoyed a turn-out of 100 boats for their
famous “around the buoys” version of the famous Lemans 24 Hours race.
The sailing conditions were absolutely perfect- wind, sun, lots of
smiles all around and some great battles on the water. In the end, the
local J sailors swept the top three divisions!In the big boat fleet, Division 3, the J/122 LORELEI sailed by Alain Catherineau sailed off with all the honors, sailing 13.06 laps and 109.44 nm distance based on handicap calcs! They also won overall! Not far behind them in class was the J/109 POULICO helmed by Francois Lamaignere, covering 12.18 laps and sailing a distance of 107.52 nm on handicap, good for 3rd in class
and
5th overall! Taking 6th in class was Christophe Rochereau’s J/92
SAPAJOU with 11.39 laps and a handicap distance of 104.87 nm.Winning Division 2 was the J/80 J’EAU skippered by Olivier Soule, covering an amazing 11.10 laps and showing a handicap distance of 107.97 nm.
Finally, winning Division 1 was the J/22 MARLOTTE V sailed by Philippe de Galzain, sailing 9.01 laps and covering a handicap distance of 96.37 nm. Congratulations to all the winners of their divisions and to the overall winners- LORELEI! For more sailing information and photos, see in from the local newspaper- "La dépeche du Bassin”- here.
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