St Barth Cata Cup 2014 : Game on !

The wind picked-up and the race will be heavy going for the 7th edition

The boats are ready and the sailors have all had a chance to test their catamarans in a very rigorous St-John Bay. The conditions will be windy at the start of this 7th edition of the St-Barth Cata Cup. Sailors will be facing winds from the West at 18 knots with stronger gusts at 22 knots on the first race day.

Safety first

The volunteers have been briefed on the heavier sailing conditions that await the sailors for the next couple of days. Safety of the racers is the watchword. « Everything is in place for maximal monitoring on the water. We will have 15 boats that will be following the team and that have the ability to tow them if needed », said Pierrick Contin, security manager for the St-Barth Cata Cup.

They said

James Baeckler, President of the F18 Class

On the Cata Cup: « With 7 platforms and 37 certified sails, the St-Barth Cata Cup greatly contributes to the dynamism and development of the F18 Class. »

Michael Easton, F18 US Champion (2014)

About his first time at the St Barth Cata Cup : « It’s paradise here ! It’s sunny, the winds are 15 to 20 knots and the waves are huge. I can’t complain ! These are the best sailing conditions that you can have. »

Matthieu Vandame (ODP), Returning champion of the 2013 St-Barth Cata Cup

On the windy conditions awaiting the sailors : « We ajusted the boat’s settings for the wind, the sailing is a bit different. We have a boat that is well adapted to these condiitions so we are confident that it will go well. »

Maxime Loiselle (Fille des Iles), F18 Canadian Champion

On his team’s objectives at the 2014 Cata Cup : « It’s Anthony’s 4th time at the St-Barth Cata Cup and he has had good results. We usually sail together in Canada and this will be our first time together here. Our objective is to finish in the top 10. »