Opening of the regattas on Saturday 29 April 2017
The 9th e edition of the Tour de Belle-Ile will finally open this Saturday, April 29th, due to difficult weather conditions on Sunday 30th. To avoid the cancellation of the race ( as was the case last year due to a busy schedule.. ), the organisation preferred to bring forward the departure date by one day, in agreement with the Maritime Affairs and the French Sailing Federation.
Competitors will be able to arrive on Friday evening on site for an aperitif and dinner in good spirits, while latecomers can register until midnight on April 28th. The start will be given on April 29, 2017 at 12:00 noon.
Complicated weather on Sunday, but favourable on Saturday
Analysis of the latest weather files confirms an unfavourable weather situation on Sunday 30 April. "A low pressure system is forecast over the Irish Sea on 30 April with an associated cold front. The overall patterns give a 25-28 knot S-SW'ly wind that turns west as the front passes with squalls and gusts that could reach 35-40 knots. The seas will be rough to rough south of Belle-Ile", says Christian Dumard, meteorologist.
However, on Saturday 29th April, the weather conditions will be favourable, with a SE'ly wind of 10 to 12 knots strengthening to 17 knots in the evening. Ideal conditions for everyone, even the smallest units taking part in the P'tit Tour.
2,500 sailors, amateurs and professionals combined
The Tour de Belle-Ile (which starts from La Trinité-sur-Mer) will bring together on this 9 e edition about 2500 browsers, amateurs and professionals combined. Because the specificity of this regatta is to be able to sail unknown people at the same time and in the same conditions as professional skippers, on a 42-mile course around Belle-Ile-en-Mer.
This year's start line - 3 km long in Quiberon Bay - will feature Thomas Coville, Alain Gautier, Jean-Pierre Dick, Yves Le Blevec, Jérémie Beyou, Charles Caudrelier, Pascal Bidegorry, Erwan Leroux, Armel Tripon, Charlie Capelle and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede.
A variety of boats, but all over 6 m in length
The Tour de Belle-Ile is open to all yachts over 6 m. Thus, the anonymous will be sailing alongside Morgan Lagravière's Imoca Safran, which took part in the last Vendée Globe, and Charles Caudrelier's VOR 65 Dongfeng. The multihulls will also be taking part with the Ultim Actual, a 31-metre trimaran skippered by Yves Le Blévec, the Sensation Océan trimaran skippered by Alain Gautier and the FenêtréA multi 50s by Erwan Leroux and Chocolat Reauté by Armel Tripon. Faithful to the event, navigator Jean-Pierre Dick is back this time on Easy to Fly, a new 8.10 m flying multihull.
Two courses, but only one starting line
- The Grand Tour of 42 miles for "offshore" equipped yachts (Departure - La Teignouse - Les Poulains - Les Galères - La Teignouse - Arrival)
- The P'tit Tour of 37 miles for "coastal" equipped yachts along the inner coast of Belle-Ile (Departure - Teignouse - Buoy in front of Sauzon - Les Galères - Teignouse - Arrival).
This year, after the passage of the Teignouse, the participants of the P'tit Tour will no longer go as far as the North Cardinal of the Pointe des Poulains where the sea conditions are often sustained. The course now goes directly to a new buoy located in front of the port of Sauzon in Belle-Ile.
The aim is to ensure safe navigation on a more sheltered stretch of water for small units, cruisers, hydrofoil catamarans or even less experienced crews. A 2 mile reduction in the course for everyone's comfort!
PROGRAM:
FRIDAY, APRIL 28TH:
5:00 to midnight: Opening of the registration chain
SATURDAY, APRIL 29TH :
7:00 am - 8:30 am: Opening of the registration chain
9:00 am : Participant briefing under the TOUR DE BELLE-ILE tent
12 h : Top start of the TOUR DE BELLE-ILE 2017
PROGRAM OF SUNDAY, APRIL 30TH :
Prize giving ceremony under the TOUR DE BELLE-ILE marquee
Photo credits : Bernard Le Bars
