Jorg Riechers and Cedric Chateau against considerable odds they gained a third place in this weeks Normandy Channel Race, the debut event for the brand new Owen Clarke designed Cape 40, class number #157. After match racing through the last night they crossed the finish line just over a minute ahead of Route du Rhum winner # 154. Fifth over the line a minute later, was her Lift 40 sistership, #150.
Cape Racing Yachts at the start of the Normandy Channel Race - Copyright Tiphaine Riechers After running with the the lead group in the first 24 hours and leading the race out of the Solent, #157 and the rest of the fleet lost contact with the two boats that took the lead as the tide turned south of Portland Bill. With the whole fleet caught in a windless hole Earendil and Ana Enfance et Avenir caught the first of the new breeze and gained a dominant lead which although reduced, they held until the end.
On finishing Jorg said " it's top to make a podium! It was a beautiful regatta. Cédric's qualities in match-racing helped us to keep our 3rd place because the others were very quick. We are very happy with the boat in all the conditions and wind ranges we had on the edition. In the last 28 miles we managed to well match #154 Beijaflore. This 3
rd place is a great reward for the whole team involved in the construction and preparation who worked hard to get her ready in time for the start of the regatta. "
Jorg Riechers on the bow of Cape Racing Yachts - Copyright Tiphaine Riechers After shipping of the sailboat from its builders, Cape Racing Yachts in South Africa to the V1D2 yard in Caen, it was always going to be a close-run thing for the team to even make the start of their first race. So it proved, the yacht completing class measurement only 72 hours before the race start, which necessitated adding three extra batteries as corrector weights in order to bring the boat up to the minimum class weight.
There is still however plenty of work to complete prior to the start of the RORC Fastnet in just ten weeks’ time. The corrector weight must be removed from the hull and added to the bulb, along with race preparation of all the appendages. In terms of training Jörg and Cédric were ableto make only two test sailings before the start of the NCR and so there is also a good deal of scope for improving their understanding of the boat ahead of the primary race of the season, the Transat Jacques Vabres in November.
For a video recap of #157's race go to:
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