Two announces in one: a new boat and a new race

9.00 am today in la Seyne-sur-Mer, right before the last race of the 2009 Tour de France à la Voile: the race director William Borel revealed the monotype to replace the Farr 30 in 2011. He exposed her name to the 23 teams of the TFV and in the presence of Henry Bacchini, vice president of the French Sailing Federation, and Frédéric de Watrigant, the Tour de France à la Voile director: the M34 project, built by the Archambault boatyard and designed by Joubert-Nivelt Design, a French yacht design office.

Top fight in the breeze

Sailors need to be patient when it comes to the Mediterranean Sea! This racing day in Saint-Cyprien began with a forced nap under the palm trees: the wind was too light for the race comity to ask the fleet to leave the pier. At 1.00 pm, a solar wind allowed the crews to sail two legs in a seven to eight knots southeastern wind. It was just a starter compared to the breeze, which rose up to 27 knots for the third leg. A first sign of the "Tramontane" storm, this North local wind, announced for tomorrow in Port-Barcarès.

Day off for the 23 Farr 30 arrived in La Trinité sur Mer

Having finished the Tour de Bretagne, the longest leg of the Tour de France à la Voile 2009, which meant a deserved victory for Courrier Dunkerque, the crews are now enjoying a day off at La Trinité sur Mer. Therefore, all the crews were to meet at noon for a special briefing organized by the race comity.

Courrier Dunkerque wins a three-ratio offshore leg in La Trinité sur Mer

Cancellation of the inshore race and inauguration of the Saint-Cast, Côtes d'Armor marina

There was no wind at all today in Saint-Cast, Côtes d’Armor. The sun disappeared while the wind remained too light for the boats to race. The fleet waited for several hours between the rocks and in the sea mist before to go back to the port on the race comity behalf.

Espoirs Ile de France, winner of the triangle race held instead of the offshore leg between Saint-Cast and Saint-Quay, Côtes d'Armor.

The wind has been particularly erratic since the beginning of the Tour de France à la Voile 2009. It obviously turned to the advantage of the student and amateur crews, as it was the case today when they showed their talent under a light 5 to 6 knots wind.

Brest Grandes Ecoles wins the offshore leg from Dieppe to Saint-Cast, Côtes D'Armor

The Raz de Barfleur and Blanchard are famous for being difficult to cross. For this second offshore leg, it is the opposite : wind is erratic on a glassy sea. It actually went into favour of the student crew of Brest Grandes Ecoles, inspired winner of this especially tactic leg!

The fleet of the Tour de France à la Voile is heading toward North Britany

At 12.05 am, the 23 Farr 30 of the TFV left Dieppe. A 190 miles long offshore leg will lead them to Saint-Cast, Côtes d’armor.

Nouvelle Calédonie is still leading the overall ranking by winning the only race of the day in Dieppe

The wind was very light today, the only day for triangle races to take place in Normandy. Indeed, with such a light wind, the race committee had to postpone several times the start of the race, which was finally the only triangle race of the day.

Second success for Toulon Provence Méditerranée - COYCH before the departure of the first offshore leg tonight

The 23 Farr 30 should leave Dunkerque for Dieppe tonight at 8.00 pm, second stop-over of the TFV. For the last northern racing day, Toulon Provence Méditerranée - COYCH won again, and in a brilliant way, the two turns triangle.

A southern day

- An inshore race and a cancelled one
- Departure of the first offshore leg tomorrow at 8.00 pm
- François Verdier (TPM - COYCH) and Bert Schandevyl (TU Delft) interviews
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Tour de France à la Voile 2009 : let's go !

First racing day for the 23 Farr 30 competing for the Tour de France à la Voile 2009. The rather sporty weather spiced the prologue and the first race to count for the overall ranking up. Ville de Genève - Carrefour Prévention won the prologue and Elcimaï - Ville de Marseille the first race (ranking to correct after jury).