Press Release n° 4
Sunday 15th June 2003

Bona, the Italian in ambush.
A big day for the 8M IC which raced today in the Bay of Quiberon, the first race in what looks like a very promising World Championship. Things looked exciting from the very start. Fleur de Lys (Modern series), current titleholder from the 2002 edition in Finland, took the lead of the provisional overall rankings, although Gaulois (Modern) and Lafayette
(Modern) gave her cause for concern in the first few miles. More surprising still : Bona (Vintage series), designed in 1934, upset the cookie jar a little. Not only did she finish in the lead eleven minutes ahead of the second placed yacht, she took second place in the provisional overall rankings, just behind the championship?s current titleholder.

The fleet set out at 10h 36 to be precise, in a light steady breeze and under a slightly veiled sunny sky. For this first start, the competitors played things safe and made sure they positioned themselves well in relation to the start line ? in light airs tacticians have to keep a sharp eye on proceedings. Lafayette (Modern) rounded the windward mark in the lead, followed by Fleur de Lys.

The downwind leg to the leeward mark was raced on a reach vent an with the spinnaker up. The second leg close-hauled was a little clearer but the easterly wind soon showed sings of fading. Racing Committee President, Jean Paul Vallégant decided to reduce the course and to set the finish line on
the last leeward mark.

1h35 minutes into the race, Fleur de Lys was first across the finish line, before a small group comprising four boats (Fleur de Lys, Bona, Lafayette, Aluette). Behind them, two minutes later, there was still everything to fight for. It was finally Cutty, who came out tops in a spectacular jousting match of gybes against Sposa II, Yquem and Vision. A mere 17 seconds separated these boats.

This first meeting demonstrates how homogenous the fleet is in light air. All three series are represented Modern, Vintage and Classic, in the first five boats of this first race. Just one round was raced today, the first day in the Championship. The second event of the day was cancelled at 15h50 as the wind was too unstable.

Close-up on Bona
Built by Baglietto in Italy in 1934, this Vintage yacht is driven splendidly by a crew who knows her inside out. Perfectly well maintained, judiciously suited to the top level of her rating, this fine Italian boat has a number of assets which explain the magnificent performance she gave today.

A perfectly smooth hull, steering gear which has been the subject of a great deal of research, pushed to the extreme (the measurement rules provide no details as to rudder form), a particularly well-designed mast, with a full core from top to tail (19 m) covered with four laminate components.. A number of horizontal holes have also been drilled to lighten the spar in neuralgic places which respect loads and stress points. (The measurement rules impose a minimum mast weight of 145 kg and a position for the centre of gravity located 6.46 m above the deck).

Round 1 and General overall ranking after Round 1

Place; Sail; Sponsor; Club; Skipper; Time; Corrected Time; Points

1; FRA 29; FLEUR DE LYS; French; Jacques Fauroux; 01:35:35; 01:35:35; 1
2; ITA 16; BONA; Italy; Giovanni Mogna; 01:38:23; 01:38:23; 2
3; NED 2; LAFAYETTE; Holland; Jos Fruytier; 01:38:44; 01:38:44; 3
4; SUI 11; ALUETTE; Switzerland; Peter Groh; 01:39:05; 01:39:05; 4
5; FRA 25; CUTTY TOU; France; G. & A. Minos; 01:41:27; 01:41:27; 5
6; GER 5; SPOSA II; Germany; Josef Martin; 01:41:30; 01:41:30; 6
7; SUI 8; YQUEM; Switzerland; Jean Fabre; 01:41:35; 01:41:35; 7
8; KC 3; VISION; France; Tan Raffray; 01:41:44; 01:41:44; 8
9; SUI 7; GEFION; Switzerland; Pierre-André Bonjour; 01:42:44; 01:42:44; 9
10; FIN 4; SPHINX; Finland; Antti Toukolehto; 01:43:10; 01:43:10; 10
11; FRA 28; GAULOIS; France; Jean-Pierre Gourio; 01:43:17; 01:43:17; 11
12; CAN 33; MYSTERY; Canada; Ronald B. Palm; 01:45:03; 01:45:03; 12
13; SUI 1; CATINA VI; Switzerland; Fred Meyer; 01:49:14; 01:49:14; 13
14; GBR 27; IF; Great Britain; Peter Wilson; 01:49:17; 01:49:17; 14
15; GER 6; AYANA; Germany; Karl Biller; 01:50:34; 01:50:34; 15
16; SWE 16; AMOREVITA; Great Britain; Avia Willment; 01:50:57; 01:50:57; 16
17; FRA 8; ENCHANTEMENT; France; Alexandre Geffroy; 01:59:33; 01:59:33; 17
18; K 24; SUZETTE; France; Steven Urien; 02:35:07; 02:35:07; 18
DNF; FRA 1; AILE VI; France; J. Brunet-Moret; 21
DNC; FRA 48; SILK; France; François Polart; 21

Coupe Cartier over all
Place; Sail; Sponsor; Club; Skipper; Time; Corrected Time; Points

1; ITA 16; BONA; Italy; Giovanni Mogna; 01:38:23; 01:38:23; 1
2; SUI 1; CATINA VI; Switzerland; Fred Meyer; 01:49:14; 01:49:14; 2
3; SWE 16; AMOREVITA; Great Britain; Avia Willment; 01:50:57; 01:50:57; 3
4; FRA 8; ENCHANTEMENT; France; Alexandre Geffroy; 01:59:33; 01:59:33; 4
5; K 24; SUZETTE; France; Steven Urien; 02:35:07; 02:35:07; 5
DNF; FRA 1; AILE VI; France; J. Brunet-Moret; 7