Cammas and Vandame Winners On Day Two

      The second day of the regatta, sailed under the colors of Allianz-Saint-Barth Assurances, was very busy: the race committee launched all 55 boats for two fantastic races. Cammas and Vandame (Guanahani) were the day’s winners, taking the lead over the rest of the fleet for the first race, while the Hainneville brothers (Hotel Association) won the second race.

Winds from the North/East at about 12 knots and calm seas characterized this second day of racing in Saint Barthélemy.

During the morning race, the competitors sailed about the first buoy near Pointe Milou to then head toward Chevreau and Toc Vert, then between the two buoys of the Marine Park, passing Fourchue on port side, before going toward Pied du Bœuf and completing the circle at Pointe Milou.

The battle was intense for almost the entire race. Cammas and Vandame, had a rough start, but were able to make up the difference on the upwind stretch. Franck Cammas: “We were too far on the right on the water at the start but were able to catch up. We did not take a wide option but rather many smaller ones that worked out well. We were fast with the wind on the beam.”

The Boulogne brothers (Allianz-Saint-Barth Assurances), who kept within reach of the winners, actually gave a bit of a challenge to Cammas and Vandame. Emmanuel Boulogne, who came in second on the morning’s race with his brother Vincent, also had a bad start: “We managed to sail downwind to the halfway mark. The tack was tight with a lot of large lateral pressure. These are generally difficult conditions for the sailors, but my brother is strong and we succeeded in improving our overall standing!” said the sailor from the North of France, who was pleased with his results after the first race.

The unlucky ones during the first race were Luke Ramsay and Jon Casey (St Barth Properties) who, after leading the fleet for most of the race, were caught at the end due to a bad tactical choice that cost them 400 meters and a victory.

During the afternoon, the winds remained stable at 12 knots.

The second race started in the bay of Saint Jean. The first marker was near Pointe Milou, and the boats then headed toward Tortue, sailed past Fourmilles, and hugged the coast as far as Toiny, before returning to Tortue. Then it was time for a major tactical decision: sail close to Pointe Milou or continue toward Frégate, and toward the finish line. The first option turned out to be the better choice: some of the boats gained ground.

The conditions were especially delicate in passing Toiny: the swells and winds made the sailing very technical, yet the boats tried to maintain their speed in spite of the waves.

The Hainneville brothers, Charles and Maxine (Hotel Association), remained among the top three boats in the race.

After winning third place in the race yesterday, and a little dispute during the race this morning: “It is not always easy to sail with a relative!,” said one of the two. They were able to show their potential against more experienced sailors. “We set out in the top ten then climbed up a few notches during the race, and were in fifth place by Grand Fond. At that very moment, our luck was with us: we caught the wind and managed to pass the others. Toward the end, we were in first place! Bundock, Dalton, and Cammas had been in the lead… but in the end we won the race, it was quite intense…”

The day’s prize, Allianz-Saint Barth Assurances, was presented to Franck Cammas and Mathieu Vandame at the Guanahani in the evening.

Anibal Da Cunha, founder of Saint Barth Assurances and honorary president of the Saint Barth Cata Cup, has sponsored the regatta since its original edition in 1992. After three successful editions (1992-1993-1994) the island was sadly devastated by hurricane Luis in 1995, which led the organizers to take a pause. In 2008 Thierry Lhinarès, Jeff Ledée, and Vincent Jordil decided to take over the reins of the organization and recreate the same ambiance as in the 1990s. Anibal Da Cunha did not hesitate and once again lent his support to this event, which is very dear to his heart. His company, in Saint Barth for 30 years, helps out on several fronts: “Our goal is to develop sports and culture in Saint Barthélemy. That is why we support the Saint Barth Cata Cup as well as the windsurfing competition in February and two music festivals.

Tomorrow the participants will once again meet at the race village to get ready for the race they are particularly fond of: the race around the island, which is perfect for those who like coastal racing.