YACHT CLUB DE MONACO 2 TEAM VICTORIOUS IN THE COUPE DE FRANCE
On the final day of racing in the gulf of Saint-Tropez with 20 knots of Mistral and beautiful sunshing, the Coupe de France du Yacht Club de France crowned a new champion: the TEAM "Yacht Club de Monaco 2", which consisted of the crews of Peter de Ridder on Mean Machine (Mumm 30), Philippe Bundle of firelighters on Direct Flor (Melges 24) and of Arnold Tas on second Mean Machine (Dragon). Theirs will be the new name engraved on the plate of this prestigious trophy created in 1891, after that of "Island of France - SR Douarnenez" victorious in 2003 on this same water.
"The competition in Saint-Tropez this year was of an excellent level" declared president, Pierre-Paul Heckly, underlining the quality of the some 165 team-members representing 11 countries which took part in this 54ème edition. "The sea conditions and the reception that we received once again in Saint-Tropez consolidate us in our choice to open again the season of the regattas tropéziennes the next year."
Satisfaction seems shared by all the runners at the end of this very special competition. "It is this team spirit which lured us" summarizes Thierry Leret, sporting Directeur of the Monegasques teams, "By gathering these various types of boats and competitors it ensures that, for us, the “Club” spirit is maintained.
To ensure the final victory, the Monegasques, who had finished second in 2003, did not hesitate to enter two very competitive teams this year. The team of the "Yacht Club of Monaco 2" which took the overall honours, is indeed one which looked most impressive on paper. Lead by its Mumm Mean Machine, owned by Dutchman Peter de Ridder with Ray Davies of New Zealand calling tactics (will known as a member of the victorious crew of the last Volvo Race), which adds another first place adds to a series of successes gained recently in the USA in their Farr 40, in Key West Week and Sorc. Philippe Bundle of firelighters on Melges Flor Direct, took second in the series with three victories, and Arnold Tas on the Dragon Mean Machine finished with a place of second in the last regatta, consolidating the victory of this brilliant international team.
Crowned in a beautiful second place, the team of the "Yacht Club of France" sailed impressively: Maxime Lebessou and Coal Nicolas on Challenge Shared (Mumm), were second in class with equal points with the winner. Henri Samuel on Guy Zag (Melges 24) was fifth and Jean Breger on Ulysses (Dragon) seventh in their respective categories but could not stop the victorious run of the Monegasques.
The final place on the podium goes to the international team "The Really Random TEAM" of the Dutchman Fezi Khaleghi Yazdi on his Mumm 30 Triple P, the outstanding British crew of Quentin Strass’s Gill, overall winner in the Melges 24, and the Irish skipper Don O' Donoghue on the Dragon Sea Bird in Dragon which took third in class.
In the overall series results, it is also necessary to underline the very beautiful competition between and performance of Jean-Sebastien Ponce on Pistou and Gerard Blanc on Tsuica which finish respectively first and second in the Dragon class on points, underlining the expectional quality of the competitors and competition in the series. On these same waters next October, an exceptional event will be held to mark the celebrations of the 75th birthday of the International Dragon class, which will gather more than 250 boats in Saint-Tropez.
Finaly we much acknowledge the presence of a high level team under the colors of the French National Navy (6th overall), supported personally by the Admiral Van Huffel and by the patrol craft "Grebe" which was berthed in the port of Saint-Tropez during three days of the regatta. As president Heckly pointed out, the first President of the Yacht Club de France was himself a Vice-Admiral and Minister for the Sea, which explains the strong bonds which link the French National Navy with the Yacht Club of France since its origin.
FINAL OVERALL RESULTS AFTER 7 RACES
1 - Yacht Club de Monaco 2 69 pts : Peter de Ridder - Holl (Mean Machine, Mumm), Philippe Ligot - Fra (Flor Direct Melges), Arnold Tas - Holl (Mean Machine Dragon)
2 - Yacht Club de France 81 pts : Maxime Lebessou - Fra (Défi Partagé Mumm), Henri Samuel - Fra (Zig Zag Melges), Jean Breger - Fra (Ulysse Dragon)
3 - The Really Random Team 82 pts : Fezi Khaleghi Yazdi - Holl (Triple P Mumm), Quentin Strauss - UK (Gill Melges), Don O'Donoghue (Martin Payne) - Irl (Sea Bird Dragon)
4 - Toulon Provence Méditerranée 89 pts : Pierre-Laurent Garnero - Fra (Magy Mumm), Christophe Barrue - Fra (Denis Infante) (Euro Voiles Melges), Gérard Blanc - Fra (Tsuica Dragon)
5 - Yacht Club de Monaco 1 95 pts : Claude Rodelato - Fra, (Toroscatenato Mumm), Benjamin Cohen - Fra (Sogeti Melges), Christian Boillot - Fra (Tamm ha Tamm Dragon)
6 - Marine Nationale 99 pts : Nicolas Pauchet - Fra (Ile de France Mumm), Jean-Paul Douchy - Fra (J'gaulo Melges), Didier Cuny - Fra (Gwaien Dragon)
7 - Suisse Allemand 100 pts : Thomas Studer - Sui (Bienne Voile Mumm), Eddy Eich - All (Vamp Melges), Michael Schatten - All (CHI Dragon)
8 - Voiles sans frontières Suisse 124 pts : Julien Di Biase - Sui (Ville de Genève Carrefour Prevention Mumm), Gilles Guyon - Fra (Nova Melges), Jean-Sébastien Ponce - Fra (Pistou Dragon)
9 - Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez 165 pts : Jean-Albert Gabriel - Fra (Bred Reunion Mumm), Thibaut Garnotel (Nicolas Novara) - Fra (Ville de Saint-Tropez Melges), Julien Desmet - Fra (Tara Dragon)
10 - Team X 169 pts : Vincent Portugal, Marc Pajot - Fra (Belvedere pour Téva Mumm), Silvio Santoni - Ita (Devotissimo Melges), Enric Carreras - Esp (Tico Dragon)
MUMM 30
1- Mean Machine Peter de Ridder - Holl (8, 1, 1, 3, 5, 2, 1, 2) 15 pts,
2 - Défi Partagé Maxime Lebessou - Fra (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 7, 2, 4) 15 pts,
3 - Toulon Provence Méditerranée P-Laurent Garnero - Fra (4, 8, 3, 1, 1, 1