A small and large record bringing together amateurs and professionals
The 11 e edition of the SNSM Trophy will take place from June 19 to 23 in Saint-Nazaire, for two race formats, the Grand Record and the Petit Record. Enthusiasts, whether amateurs or renowned skippers, will meet to share a good time for the benefit of the SNSM. This is a way to thank the work of the volunteer sea rescuers, who ensure the safety of each sailor. Created in 2004, the SNSM Record allows " to salute the action [of] the volunteer sea rescuers, embarked as rescue swimmers on [the] beaches" says Xavier de la Gorce, president of the SNSM. In 2013, the Petit Record will be added, for water sports enthusiasts.
The start of the Grand Record will be given on Sunday at 8 pm and the Petit Record, dedicated to light sailing, is scheduled for Saturday at 5:30 pm. For this 11th e edition, the Grand Record will be articulated around 4 courses, a change that is explained by security reasons, but also by strategic reasons. " These are more open courses, with fewer marks, which promise great tactical battles", explains Bernard Duval, race director. Four routes of 130, 180, 240 and 330 miles, adapted according to the different sailing categories, have been devised to allow a grouped finish, scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Originally, the Record consisted of a departure from Saint-Nazaire with an arrival in front of the ramparts of Saint-Malo. Since then, the format has evolved and is based on the play on words formed by the letters SNSM. SN for Saint-Nazaire, city of departure and SM, for Saint-Marine in the Finistère, city of arrival. The Petit Record, for its part, is for light boats such as kayaks, rowing boats or paddle boats. Competitors will have to sail a 7-mile course in front of Saint-Marc (SM, always this famous pun) starting and arriving in Saint-Nazaire. Great names in ocean racing will be present such as Armel Le Cléac'h, Tanguy de Lamotte, Morgan Lagravière, Alan Roura or Jean Galfione or Michel Desjoyeaux, godfather of the Record.
"This Record is an event that I particularly appreciate, and to which I am faithful, it is important to me to support the SNSM. We took part with BP V four years ago, with BP VII in 2013, and we're back as soon as we can. This edition will be special for us, as it will be the first race with the IMOCA Mono Banque Populaire VIII, which will be launched at the end of May. From a sporting point of view, it's difficult to judge what we can do, as we don't know the boat, we'll be testing it, fine-tuning it, adjusting it and still fighting against the others! It's good, killing two birds with one stone: we're going to stand together and tack with our friends" says Armel Le Cléac'h, who already has 3 participations to his credit.
A big party on land
For the occasion, Saint-Nazaire, and in particular the harbor basins, are the scene of all kinds of nautical animations: prevention and safety at sea with rescue demonstrations, visits of rescue boats, meeting with volunteers, first aid workshop, first aid station¦ but also discovery of port and maritime trades, with the presence of fishermen, tugboats and pilots, privileged meetings with famous skippers, musical festivities. On Saturday, a nautical baptism is offered to the public on a Filao type boat as well as a visit of the boat Team Jolokia, skippered by Pierre Meisel. The village will open its doors to the public every day from 10 am until late in the evening. On Saturday evening, a big popular party will set the port on fire: sardinade, concerts, nautical parade and fireworks.
"After this beautiful anniversary of ten years of Record SNSM, the 11th edition of the sea rescue event will mark the beginning of a new cycle. Many professional and amateur skippers will of course once again set sail from Saint-Nazaire to defend a single color, that of the volunteer rescue sailors of the SNSM, orange. To start this new decade, the emphasis will be placed even more, alongside the sailors of the open sea, on the new practices of the sea, kayaks, paddles, oars, and light sailing. They will always and together, convey the messages of prevention and safety of the volunteer lifeguards at sea. But the highlight of this new era is the commitment for the next three years of our founding partners, the City of Saint-Nazaire and the Pays de la Loire Region. This trust granted by our historical partners will allow the SNSM Record to enter a new dynamic, that of making the SNSM Record in three years an even more radiant event for the SNSM, more accomplished in its ability to generate active support for the action of the Sea Rescuers. The objective will be to build together this new format over three years, which should find its final maturity in 2017, date of the fiftieth anniversary of the big orange house. We are therefore very happy to continue this adventure with all the key players of the city of liners and the many loyal public, who make this event a great festival of the sea with colors of solidarity. Ãeuros soon on the quays of Saint-Nazaire!" said Damien Grimont, organizer of the SNSM Record.
The SNSM in figures
An association under the law of 1901, recognized as being of public utility, whose main mission is to save human life at sea and whose activities are financed essentially by the generosity of the public;
- 7000 volunteers
- 4400 rescuers volunteer boaters who operate offshore. In 2014, they carried out 3488 interventions or 6272 hours in sea rescue and rescued 5957 people . 24% of their interventions take place at night
- 1300 rescue swimmers seconded during the summer to ensure the safety of the beaches
- 1437 interventions , 1,198 people rescued , 9,960 people cared for on the beaches in 2014
- 1200 volunteer managers in the stations and the IFC (Training and Intervention Center)
- 800 volunteer trainers
- 70 employees divided between the Paris headquarters, the National Training Center in Saint-Nazaire (PNF), the CERO (Regional Maintenance and Repair Center of the West) in Saint-Malo and the workshop in Palavas
- 219 rescue stations
- 32 centers training and intervention centers throughout France
- 400 rescue units (canoes, speedboats, SR, inflatables, jetski).
