The record Transmanche time for a Cherbourg boat is 6 hours 45 minutes, achieved by 'Metis', a Cherbourg Grand Surprise without a spinnaker in 2011, in a NW force 7, sailed by my friends Wilfried and Fred with a couple of mates. It was also the year we broke the boom on the way over at night in 'Protocole', a Beneteau 40!
The event is growing in popularity among French sailors from Le Havre to Granville, not least for the welcome they receive at WSC, and we look forward to a good crowd both in Cherbourg and Weymouth this year.
Normally it’s a lovely weekend, and it would be good to have a few more Weymouth boats to line up against our Norman cousins, who have already shown their strengths at Spi-Ouest and in RORC. If you join in the informal race over on Thursday night, there is also the chance for a quick spot of shopping in Cherbourg and a meal out on Friday before the start on Saturday morning - nothing like a few cases of wine on the cabin floor to maintain stability under spinnaker!
If you’re interested in doing this event, contact me at the club.
Steve Fraser
