8mR World Cup at Société Nautique de La Trinité-sur-Mer
by Daniel Gilles 17 Sep 2014 21:18 BST
8-12 September 2014
8mR World Cup in the Bay of Quiberon © Christophe Favreau /
www.christophefavreau.com
A dazzling show on the Bay of Quiberon
From Monday through Friday, 8 to 12 September, the Bay of Quiberon was the stage of exceptional jousting. No less than 27 challengers participated under idyllic racing conditions in this unforgettable championship. About ten nations spread out all over the world were represented by a selection of 8mR boats which simultaneously testified both to the Class' glorious past and to its current prowess.
A beautiful story
Fist, the fleet of competitors was truly representative of the Class' history. Amongst these, two astonishing ancient boats were present: "Lucky Girl" with its gaff sail on a small mast, and "Elfe II" with its wishbone rigged on two masts (First Rule). Both have marked the great moments of the hundred-year-old Class' earliest days. Then there was the greater part of the fleet including 20 Classic boats (Neptune and Sira), the one more magnificent than the other, all decked out in varnishes, lacquers and silky sails. Finally, on the cutting edge, four recently built units which make up the Modern series, the most efficient. Although this diversity was difficult to manage on water in terms of ranking, it did provide a tremendous dimension to the fleet as a whole.
The proficiency of the "Classic" and the "Modern" series testifies to the healthy vitality and renewal of the Class. The 8-metre used to be the boat of kings. Today it is that of contemporary vassals who are keenly intent on ensuring that their noble steeds – weighing ten tons and measuring fourteen metres –are kept alive and racing in the years to come! As Tan Raffray, skipper of "Hispania" and organizer of the event, has stated: "the level of the races has stepped up a notch to the advantage of the competitions. This World Cup is proof that the days of our Class are far from over! "
Furthermore, the 2014 fleet gave a fabulous show. The Indian summer conditions which reigned on the water and a ten to fifteen knot east wind blowing on an almost flat sea allowed the boats to do their best. The performance was brilliant. Time and time again, the black flag (disqualification of a boat crossing the line too early) flew on the mast of the Société Nautique de la Trinité sur Mer Race Committee boat, proof of the challengers' enthusiasm. The jockeying at the start and the rounding of marks were spectacular. Twelve knots of wind, an ideal strength for dynamic sailing, agitated the stretch of water and allowed the racers to accomplish some beautifully stylish manoeuvres, some of which of great temerity. Jacques Fauroux, naval architect, fine connoisseur of the J Class and skipper of "France", admits that he had been really pleased to participate in this dream World Cup on a stretch of water which was not as easy as it appeared.
The big tidal ranges (over 100) complicated matters by strengthening the current while proximity to the land provoked subtle wind oscillations. In the architect words: "we ran under serious weather conditions which were pleasant for our boats. The quality of racing has improved considerably during the last ten years and I like working on the design of an evermore successful 8mR. The 8-metre Class is in perpetual evolution. "Miss U", one of my latest designs was recently equipped with a tandem keel carrying a bulb. "
Tight fights, tight results. In real time, "Hollandia", a Doug Peterson design, came out ahead of "Yquem II" after a fantastic duel. In the Sira category, the Canadian " Raven " dominated her series and even came to play the spoilsports amongst the Moderns. The boat was designed in 1938 by the Scottish silversmith of shipbuilding, Alfred Mylne, who shared his talents with William Fife. The boat has just been splendidly rebuilt in Canada. She outstripped the Norwegian entry "Wanda" and one of the Finnish challengers "Luna". As for the Neptune category, "Caron II" of the Société Nautique de Genève came in ahead of "Falcon" a British contender. All of the actors who participated in this prestigious spectacle deserve to mount the podium. Which they did, cheerfully, promising to attend the next World Cup to be held on the waters Geneva in 2015. Placed between the 6-metre and the 12-metre Classes, the 8-metres are firmly decided to put up a good fight!