Remember, after several months of confinement, the Mediterranean sailor Kito de Pavant decided to launch a new challenge called "Les Griffes du Lion" (The Lion's Claws). On the programme are four Mediterranean records of varying lengths.
A first reference time on the Tartine Cup
On 19 May 2020, Kito de Pavant, funboard world champion Pierre Mortefon and kitesurfer Doris Wetzel took advantage of the mistral wind to set the first reference times for the Tartine Cup, one of the four courses of Les Griffes du Lion. Pierre Mortefon emerged as the big winner in all categories with a time of 51 min 34 s to cover the 19.54 nautical miles (36 km) between Pointe de l'Espiguette and Pointe de Beauduc.
A new reference time for sport catamarans
On Tuesday 26th May, two new sailors were tackling the Tartine Cup, the Bourgnon father and son. On their sports catamaran, Yvan and Mathis covered the 20 nautical miles in 1 hr 2 min 10 s at an average speed of 18.86 knots aboard their Nacra F20.
But this performance only came about after a second attempt. Indeed, the first time, the young man was thrown into the air by a violent gust of wind, fortunately attached to the trapeze, which led to the boat becoming unbalanced and therefore capsizing.
"We couldn't feel it, there wasn't enough wind, so decided to turn back, says Mathis Bourgnon . A few seconds later, there was a good gust we didn't expect. I did a nice glide, the boat ride on the trapeze and landed on my father at the starting point... a nice figure from style?! So this first attempt lasted only 4 minutes, we were a bit hot, because we hadn't sailed for months. This is the first time we've capsized in course?!"
It was finally on their second attempt that the Bourgnon father and son set a new speed record.
Reference time of the Tartine Cup
Category Windsurf men
Pierre Mortefon: 51 min 34 s at an average speed of 22.74 knots
Category Sport Catamaran duo
Yvan and Mathis Bourgnon: 1 hr 2 min 10 s at an average speed of 18.86 knots
Category Monohull 40' solo
Kito de Pavant: 1 h 20 min 47 s at an average speed of 14.51 knots
Category Kitesurf women
Doris Wetzel: 1 hr 25 min 54 s at 13.65 knots mean speed
