The 2010 Sailing Challenge

We are delighted to bring details of the 2010 Challenge, sponsored by Investec and in partnership with Clipper Ventures, Britannia Corporate Events and Hanover House UK Limited.

 

 

 

 

These partnerships are an amazing development for Le Tournoi and take us to an unprecedented level in offshore sailing - we firmly believe that the Challenge will be unique in south coast waters and the best aspect is that ANYONE can take part - the Le Tournoi, Clipper and Britannia ethics are virtually identical in that we believe strongly in taking folk from all walks of life and enabling them to rise to new personal challenges whilst remaining in a risk-managed environment.

 

 Fleet 1 - The Clippers - 68 feet of Global Pedigree

 

In January, Andy Le Seelleur from Le Tournoi met up with Clipper Ventures and was delighted to spend some time with Sir Robin Knox Johnston, Chairman and Founder of Clipper, and the first person to sail single-handed non-stop around the globe in 1968                 A deal was struck and the Clipper fleet became the lastest coup for us - we remain committed to developing challenging, innovative and fun events which are accessible to all

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will have the chance of a lifetime to sail around the south coast and channel islands in what must be the most exciting fleet of identical yachts available for charter anywhere in Europe.   Whether you are an individual or can get a corporate or private crew together, you will not regret your decision to take part.   The ten-strong fleet of 68-foot yachts will have just undergone an extensive maintenance and refit period following the completion of the next round-the-world Clipper Challenge, which sets off in September 2009 and returns in July 2010. These boats are the thoroughbreds of the yachting world, tried and tested in the most treacherous oceans of the world and taken to the absolute limits by the crews who dated to take on the Challenge

 

 Fleet 2 - Beneteau 40.7's

 

 

Britannia Corporate Events is the leading organiser of corporate sailing events and industry regattas in the UK, including the Manches Cup, PPP/PFI Challenge, Mobile News Regatta, Silicon Cup, Lutine Lineslip Regatta, Profile Cup, and Banking & Finance Regatta. From their base in Hamble, many major corporate sailing events and industry focused regattas are staged for the legal, construction, insurance, retail, charity and other sectors.

 

A Bruce Farr design, the Beneteau 40.7 is a real delight to steer upwind with little more than fingertip inputs required from the helmsman to keep her moving easily through the waves. They are fast and sleek with an impressive racing sail wardrobe. The cockpit is big enough to race, yet compact enough for family cruising. Deep enough for security yet wide enough for efficient trimming. Expansive enough for a big crew yet small enough not to impinge on interior space. The side benches are wide and comfortable to sit on while the sculpted side decks provide useful and comfortable sitting space while healing. The winches are well sized and effectively placed for efficient trimming. Similarly the fractional rig looks and feels secure with all the real sailing control coming via a hydraulic backstay. Carefully configured to bend the mast and tighten the jib luff in unison this is about as simple as it gets.

 

  

 

Specification:

 

Designer - Farr Yacht Design
Overall length - 11.99 m
Hull length - 11.93 m
Max. beam - 3.75 m
Draught - 2.40 m
Displacement - 6,900 kg approx.
Sail area - 98 m²
Fresh water capacity - 320 Litre
Fuel capacity - 130 Litre
Berths - 8 person
CE navigation class - A

 

 

The Route

 

 

 

About The Route

We have worked hard and listened to the 2008 Challenge feeback and other senior sailing figures to bring you what we consider to be the most diverse sailing programme available in any challenge along the south coast of the United Kingdom. Almost every sailing discipline will be provided from overnight crossing of the English Channel to short 'around-the-cans' racing, of short duration but high adrenaline. Add to that some of the finest scenery in the UK and some social events rick in wow factor, and you'll understand why we are so proud of the Le Tournoi Challenge and so confident that it will in time grow to become a major event in the south coast sailing calendar.

 

 

Race 1 - Round the Isle of Wight

Designed as a 'shake-down' race, you will be given a good opportunity to put your yacht through its paces before the first crossing of the Channel. The Organising Committee have been asked to design a race which enables your crew to get to know the boat better and to start working more closely as a team, as well as practicing 'big boat' spinnaker drills and checking the equipment out one last time before the long channel crossing. Any defects or other issues will be resolved during the rest period at the end of Race 1 before the start of the next leg.

 

Sunrise from the marina front of the Royal Corinthian YC

 

 

You'll relax in Cowes for the night, ready for an early start the following morning for the first big challenge south.

Race 2 - Cowes to Guernsey

Your first real test of endurance - a 95Nm night crossing of the English Channel. The busiest shipping lanes in the world become your home for around 18 hours as you head south to Guernsey. You'll be considering splitting your crew into watches to ensure maxinum effectiveness on deck for the race, although some of you may find your crews are reluctant to sleep, preferring to stay on deck to enjoy the whole experience of the passage!

 

Course Details to Follow

 

St Peter Port Marina ranks amongst the prettiest and most hospitable in the United Kingdom		Castle Cornet is Guernsey's landmark defence of St Peter Port - a wonderful port of call and where local hospitality is guaranteed

 

 

 

Race 3 - Guernsey to St Malo

A new one for the Challenge - St Malo has been requested many times since we started and we are determined to make the wish come true in 2010. St Malo must rank amongst the most picturesque cities in northern France, having been razed to the ground in World War 2, it was rebuilt stone by stone in the decades following the end of the conflict. Rest assured, the welcome and the festivities in St Malo will be one to remember for a long time!

 

The smaller islands of Herm (left) and Sark (right) will pass to your port side as you leave St Peter Port and race south to the historic French port of St Malo, for your first taste of Breton hospitality

 

Course Details to Follow

 

Race 4 - St Malo to St Helier

Following the stay in St Malo, we head north to Jersey, home of Le Tournoi. a relatively short race of some 36Nm, but with the notorious Les Minquiers reef to avoid, smack bang in the middle of the course. Expect a hero's welcome upon arrival and a few days of hospitality to match. 

 

Course to Follow

Rounding La Corbiere, the southernmost lighthouse in the British Isles, you'll be hugging some of the most beautiful coastline in Jersey on the way to the finish line

 

Race 5 - Jersey Bay Racing

Bay Race Day will see the fleet compete in the confines of St Aubin's Bay over a number of short races, to be designed by St Helier Yacht Club, who have kindly agreed to act as Organising Committee for the day. There is an opportunity to take families and corporate guests and staff out into the bay to see the racing close-up, so if you have access to a motor boat, then please feel free to do so.

The bay race results will not count towards the overall Challenge scoring, which makes it a perfect opportunity for some of your crew to relax whilst you entertain families, friends, clients or staff on an amazing day around the bay.

 

Race 6 - St Helier to Portsmouth

 

The Decider! A fast hack back across the Channel but this could be the race which decides the overall Sailing Challenge 2008 Champions!