IRC class in the spotlight
The IRC 0 class, which brings together the largest units, joins the IRC 1, 2, 3 and 4 categories. The TP 52 are in the running, with one of the big favourites, Team Vision Future by Jean-Jacques Chaubard, and a certain Mickaël Mergui, as well as Arobas, the boat from Tropezium, which had a few minor scares during the big race, with a man overboard at the 10pm mark. But to all lords all honour, with the presence - a first - of Lorina 1895, a Swan 601, which will be one of the attractions of this edition. The landscape of the IRC category has changed significantly since the last edition of NICS in 2016. The faces remain the same, but the boats have changed significantly. The holding of the IRC European Championship, which will take place from 5th to 9th July in Marseille, is no doubt no stranger to the new ambitions displayed by all those involved.
The traditional Big Race
If the Mediterranean International Nautical Week has a special place in the regatta calendar, it also owes it to its traditional Great Race, called night race by the racers. A loop of 80 to 100 nautical miles which involves the IRC0, IRC1, IRC2 and IRC3 classes. "The principle is to schedule the race on Friday, but above all to adapt as best as possible to the weather conditions", explains Raymond Lamberti. "Because the next morning, the runners have to be fresh and available to follow the banana routes. Everyone understands this rule of the game, which spices up the event. And we can say that it was spiced up last year, with weather conditions that really shook the fleet... "
Departure is scheduled for Friday afternoon, for a coastal boat, with arrival in the early evening for the first ones.
Return of the Surprises
The Surprises, which were already present in 2016 with around fifteen boats, will make their return in 2017. They will be competing in the Mediterranean championship on the SNIM, and will double the contingent of those present last year.
"We are very happy to be back to compete in our championship at the heart of this great regatta," said Gérard Lopez, General Secretary of the association that represents the class of these 7.65m monohulls. We hope to bring together around thirty boats..." With French competitors from Languedoc-Roussillon, PACA and a few foreigners (Italians, Swiss), Gérard Lopez hopes that this event, held in an idyllic setting, will revive a class at a crossroads. "There are currently 1700 boats in the world, with great opportunities to acquire them at a reduced cost. Moreover, the Surprise is a boat that is easy to handle and interesting in terms of competitiveness for an enlightened amateur... "
The Great Surprises loyal to SNIM
Loïc Fournier-Foch's Team Winds fleet, based in Frioul, will be nicely represented with around twenty units at the start of the one-design round in the southern harbour. "This is the fourth year that we have come to SNIM and it's a real pleasure. I realise that our customers from all over the world love this race and love to come and race in Marseille at this time of the year..."
The crews are made up of works councils. Regulars, such as Airbus (Toulouse and Marignane), Thalès, Areva and newcomers who come to "test" the SNIM, after having passed through the Spi Ouest, in La Trinité.
"SNIM is a really fun race." says the boss and winner of the last edition on his Old Prancer. "These rental formulas are simple and effective for companies or groups of friends who all find themselves on the starting line with identical boats that are all prepared in the same way. This is our leitmotiv, so that each crew has a chance to win."
