World Champions!

Coup de Trafalgar à Lorient

Ils étaient ultra-favoris mais les deux duos français ont été battus sur le fil par des Ecossais inconnus, ce mardi à Lorient sur la finale du championnat du monde de course au large double mixte.

"They were ultra-favourites, but the two French duos were narrowly defeated by the unknown Scots this Tuesday in Lorient in the final of the Offshore Double-Handed World Championship"

So ran the opening paragraph of an article in Le Télégramme newspaper one Wednesday in October.

A quiet belief

Going into this championships we had raced together only 3 times before but each time clinched a podium finish. With top teams from around the world including the aforementioned French pairs, hot out of the Figaro circuit and brimming with local knowledge, this was going to be by far the toughest competition we had faced yet.

So much about this event would be new or unknown. We focused on controlling that which was in our control and trying not to be daunted by the rest. If we had done all we could to prepare, given limited time and budget, then the result would take care of itself. We prioritised training time on the boat, spent a week sailing at the venue and brought in the help of a coach to accelerate the learning.

By the time the event arrived, we had done all we could and were by far the best prepared we had ever been for a race together. Upon reaching that point, we could appreciate a kind of quiet confidence. Not confident that we could win, or even finish top 10, but confident that we could give it our best.

Never giving up

The weather threw a real tantrum for the event and the races were squeezed into the available windows between each low pressure system bringing high seas and powerful wind to the Brittany coast.

Our final began in strong conditions and finished in almost nothing. A relatively short course meant to be in with a chance at the finish, you had to attack from the start. Offshore sailing always presents opportunities as long as you are in a position to receive them. From a poor start which put us in 9th place, we went pedal to the metal and worked hard to reach the leaders. 4 hours later we were in 2nd place. A parkup at the final mark put 4 boats within a stone throw of each other and all with a chance to win.

After 24hrs of racing, the podium was to be decided in final miles. We had kept in contention and would seize any opportunity.

A historic victory

Just as HMS Victory drifted to glory on that light wind day in 1805, so we drifted to victory.

Thankfully Anglo-French relations have progressed over the last 200 years and our triumph spilled only champagne, not blood.