This Grand Prix, the eighth event of 2015 Diam 24od season, in the wake of Grand Prix de l’Atlantique, the Grand Prix Guyader and the GPEN, was the fourth stage of the « Diam Series » calendar. The majority of competitors were amateur sailors who were able to perform against professionnal crews.

This Grand Prix was the occasion to welcome two new crews : the SERENIS and GUYADER Diam 24od crews.

It also enabled the british team VMG to discover the Diam 24od

5 races were validated over 2 and a half days of sailing. Not so bad considering the weather conditions – irregular winds oscillating between 0 and 8 knots.

Friday
The teams competed in a « warm up session » in the bay of Port La Forêt – won by Armel LE CLEACH on Diam 24od BANQUE POPULAIRE followed up by a second « warm up » again won by Armel LE CLEACH . The tone was given .
Saturday
The objectif was to sail to the Glenan Islands – with a start line perpendicular to the wind. After several individual recalls, the wind completely dropped and the race comittee canceled the race. The Diam 24od were then towed to Saint Nicolas for a friendly picnic on the beach of La Pie.
Despite the lack of wind, the race comittee risked the organization of a 12,5 NM coastal race.

Benoit CHAMPANHAC took head position after an upwind start followed by a long stretch of rock skimming, counter current sailing in non existant wind conditions, a tide turnover and wind switches before picking up stength.

The long downwind course was heavily disputed and followed by a tack in the Bay – and CHEMINEES POULOULAT, skippered by Bertrand STAMM crossed the finish line closely followed by Benoit CHAMPANHAC on ACCOR NATIXIS. The young Vianney BERGOT on the Diam 24od GUYADER – took a noble third place.

Sunday
The sun was present but the wind was not. Patience was required after a cancelled start and two races were eventually sailed in the Bay of La Forêt : between the Beg Meil headland and le Scoré (inside the bay). The first race was taken by Armel LE CLEACH and the second by Loïc FEQUET .

This new series of sailors enabled a good cohabitation between professionnal, amateur and young talented crews. The third place won by the young skipper of GUYADER Diam 24od demonstrates this point.

 

RANKING :
Friday 28th
1st races :
1/ BANQUE POPULAIRE / A le Cleac’h, P.Pennec et K Escoffier – 2/ ACCOR NATIXIS : B . Champanhac, B. Gautier et H. Dhalenne – 3/ TECHNEAU / A Daval, B. Daval et JG Michon
2nd race :
1/ BANQUE POPULAIRE : A. Le Cleac’h, P .Pennec et K Escoffier – 2/ ACCOR NATAXIS : B. Champanhac, B.Gautier et H. Dhalenne – 3/ ARMOR LUX : E.Tabarly, P.Legros et S. Lorziou
Saturday 29
3rd race :
1/ CHEMINEES POUJOULAT : B. Stamm, JP. Nicole et A.Joubert – 2/ ACCOR NATIXIS : B.Champanhac, B.Gautier et H.Dhalanne – 3/ GUYADER : V.Begor, E.Dubois et J.Rouillon
Dimanche 30
4th race :
1/ BANQUE POPULAIRE : A.Le Cleac’h P.Pennec et K.Escoffier – 2/ TECHNEAU : A.Daval, B.Daval et JG.Michon – 3/ ACCOR NATIXIS : B. Champanhac, B.Gautier et H.Dhalenne
5th race :
1/ VOTRE PLUS LONG PERIPLE : L.Fequet, M.Bessec, L. Bodiou – 2/ ARMOR LUX : E.Tabarly , P.Legros, et S.Lorziou – 3/GUYADER : V.Bergot, E.Dubois et J.Rouillon

All over ranking :
1/ BANQUE POPULAIRE : A.Le Cleac’h, P.Pennec et K.Escoffier – 2/ACCOR NATIXIS : B.Champanhac, B.Gautier et H.Dhalenne – 3/ GUYADER : V.Bergot, E.Dubois et J.Rouillon – 4/ TECHNEAU : A.Daval, B.Daval et JG Michon – 5/ARMOR LUX : E.Tabarly, P.Legros et S.Lorziou – 6/CHEMINEES POUJOULAT : B.Stamm, JP.Nicol et A.Joubert – 7/ LE PAL .COM : B.Jourdren, T.Jourdren, S.Moriceau – 8/VOTRE PLUS LONG PERIPLE : L.Fequet, M.Bessec, L.Bodiou – 9/TEAM VMG : A.Butler, L.Butler et T.Yeabsley – 10/DIAM AND FUN : E.Renault, G.Tanguy, R.Censier – 11/SERENIS : J.Galfione, E.Kerscaven, C.Dulot

The ADH team render particular thanks to all the volonteers from the Club de la Vallée des Fous, Christian GUYADER from GUYADER GASTRONOMIE and Christian DEMUR, owner of Château Montagne Saint Emilion « Le Chêne Vert » to have made this an exceptionally friendly event…