As the Class 40s did on Wednesday, the nine Ocean Fifty boats raced their prologue yesterday in the Bay of Aigues-Mortes. In shifty winds and sunny skies, sometimes laden with sea breeze, the huge multihull fought on a traditional inshore course (close to the coast) in two legs. Two intense runs were scheduled, allowing them to put on a show, and delight the guests, partners and press on board. It also gave the crew a chance to fine-tune a few final details in racing mode. As Luke Berry (Le Rire Médecin – Lamotte) explained as his set foot on the quay "It was a great warm-up, in a wind that shifted and changed direction. This kind of the weather we're expecting to meet during the MedMax." Anne-Claire Le Berre (Upwind by MedConcept) also approved the outing. "We practiced the second leg as a double, with Elodie. (Mettraux, her team-mate) the same way we’ll be on the MedMax.” Matthieu Perraut (Inter Invest), couln’t resist joking about his surprising good 2nd place in the first round : "In case someone had doubts about how important it is to let go… We had the chance to trial our new sails so we're really happy". he smiled.
In the end, everyone both on and off water was satisfied, and Port-Camargue has been deemed an excellent sailing spot by all the skippers.
Round 1 results: 1. Solidaires en Peloton; 2. Inter Invest; 3. Mon Bonnet Rose; 4. Primonial, 5. Koesio, 6. Realites, 7. Le Rire Médecin - Lamotte, 8. Viabilis, 9. Upwind by MerConcept.
Round 2 results: 1. Mon Bonnet Rose, 2. Koesio, 3. Viabilis, 4. Inter Invest, 5. Solidaires en Peloton, 6. Upwind by MerConcept, 7. Le Rire Médecin - Lamotte, 8. Primonial, 9. Realites.
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