Back to Back Win’s for “Finito”….

Martin Payne with Dominic Bakker (left) & Olivier Bakker (centre), followed up their success in La Baule by winning the Open International Dragon de Deauville this weekend.

This years runner up prize went to NED 318 Gerard Laamens, crewed by Just Zandhuis and Dees Zonjee, with 3rd place taken by GBR 633 Ron James, crewed by his wife Julia Walsh and Alar Volmar.

It was a very well organised 7 series event sailed in a variety of wind strengths, which kept the President de Comite’ de Course, Jean Claude Travert busy with many course changes. These changes were well signalled and always the correct thing to do. Making all the remaining leg’s of the course challenging and not turning it into a “soldiers” race or follow the leader because the buoy’s have not been positioned correctly.

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to catch the leading pack of boats on a reach or a one sided beat, just due to a poorly placed mark of the course. So congratulations to Mr Travert and all of his “on-the-water” team for making it such an excellent regatta.  Next year with the “New” Yacht Club near to completion and event being held later in June, Deauville expect many more boats to join them and sail on this super race course off the northern beaches of Brittany.

Higher, Faster, Longer………………..      Stavros…   (GBR 771).  Finito.