In 1966, the Société Nautique de Marseille organized the first edition of the International Mediterranean Nautical Week. Half a century later, the regatta is still a great success as in 2016, 130 boats are registered and 150 crew members will walk the pontoons.
For the occasion, 25 one-designs of the Surprise class will also take to the Mediterranean waters to compete in their Mediterranean championship. Designed by the architect Michel Joubert, the Surprise is a family boat, easy to handle and suitable for regattas. It celebrates its 40 years of existence and sailing in 2016.
What course?
The 130 expected boats will sail on three dedicated rounds, under the orders of three presidents of race committees of international level (Philippe Faure, Corinne Aubert and Georges Korhel). The fleet is divided between two roads, according to the class of the participating boats. Thus, the "big" boats, such as IRC 1, 2 and 3 will be gathered in the same area. The South harbor will welcome the IRC4.
80% of the starts are given on "banana" type courses (round trip in the wind). The rest of the races are on increasingly selective coastal courses, allowing the quality of upwind sailing to be refined according to the wind.
The traditional SNIM Great Race, called Night Race by the racers, is a loop of 80 to 100 nautical miles, reintroduced in the program since 2011, which concerns the IRC1, IRC2 and IRC3 classes. "The principle is to schedule the race on Friday, but above all to adapt as well as possible to the weather conditions. Because the next morning, the runners must be fresh and available to run the banana courses. Everyone understands this rule of the game which spices up the event "explains Raymond Lamberti, president of the Société Nautique.
The start is scheduled for Friday afternoon, for a coastal race, with a finish in the early evening for the first competitors.
Who is participating?
The following boats are allowed to participate in the regatta:
- Monohulls with IRC ratings 2016
- One-design (if 10 boats registered in the series)
- Big Surprise
What's special about it?
The SNIM is the nautical race that opens the season in the Mediterranean. It is traditionally organized on Easter weekend and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2016. It is also known for its particular weather conditions: capricious spring weather offering, each morning, different conditions, ranging from light winds to violent mistral winds. As a result, about thirty courses have been designed, as the wind in the Mediterranean is particularly changeable, and very quickly.
