Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai : To the last tack

The sixty Dragons left the harbour the Vieux Port, in perfect time to reach the race area under torrential rain and a very shifty breeze. The Race Committee nonetheless managed to set a course hoping to have three races. As it happens for the first one (the seventh) the wind was steady enough for the crews to complete, while for the second and third attempt the continuous shifts forced the PRO to hoist the A flag.

As usual for the class, racing was very close and the crews fought to the last tack to get precious point for the final scoreboard.

The provisional leader is still the Russian crew of Annapurna, skippered by class specialist and reigning champion at the Régates Royales Anatoly Longinov who, despite a seventh today, managed to fend off the attacks from a couple of very dangerous competitors such as Ivan Bradbury on Blue Haze and Lawrie Smith on Alfie, both from Great Britain. But nothing is for sure yet as the three hoping to jump on the podium are separated only by 12 points. In fourth tied at points are Austrian Carlos Loos on Happy Island and Swiss Ulli Libor on Sui Generis.

Racing will resume tomorrow, that hopefully will be windy enough to celebrate a much deserved grand finale of the 32th edition of Cannes Régates Royales – Throphée Panerai.