2018 will be the year of the 10 e Is there anything special about this anniversary?
First of all, there will be more animations in the village during the event. But above all, we will organize interviews throughout the weekend, at the arrival of the boats, under the village tent of professionals and amateurs, regulars and novices, those who have done all the editions of the race and who would not miss it for anything in the world so that they can tell us what they like about the Tour de Belle-Île..
What is the program of the Tour de Belle-Île?
The boats leave at 10 am from the middle of Quiberon Bay for the Tour de Belle-Île with the objective of returning to land at the end of the day, beginning of the evening to participate in the big party of the evening. There will be a concert, the possibility to eat (pancakes, seafood...) and an evening with a DJ. Everyone joins the party, all generations included. In case the weather conditions are too bad, we shorten the course to avoid giving up. It already happened to us an edition with very little wind and when we saw that the participants gave up to be back on land for the night we reduced the navigation. Even if they like sailing, they want to enjoy their family and friends on land, it's a nice meeting.
It is above all a race to have fun. No one is here to prove anything to themselves, even if the Tour is already an event in itself. It's still a race, a bit tactical, with currents, steep hills. It's more than a ride, it's a real and beautiful course. Everyone likes to participate, we often have several generations on board the boats, from the oldest to the youngest.
Who can participate?
All the people! The only limit is the ban on solo sailors. So you have to be at least two sailors. After that, there are no limits, it all depends on the boat, but there can be crews of 16 people.
So we have small boats from 6 m to Ultimates, the whole range of sailboats. The ranking is done in "free class" that is to say in real time. Then we have the possibility to make a more detailed classification according to its category (IRC, regatta, multihull...) in compensated time.
If the yachtsmen enjoy the ride, the regatta sailors see the Tour de Belle-Île as a real regatta with strategies and tactics. The first ones often arrive a few boat lengths behind. They are real competitors, they are not here to have fun!
This edition is organized by a 100% female team, a coincidence or a will?
It's a combination of circumstances. We organized this race with Romain, my partner and husband, 10 years ago and every year we had a mixed team. This year, we have another project, which is the Route du Rhum 2018 on Ellen MacArthur's former trimaran, with which she set the round-the-world record in 2005 and which was christened for the occasion Use It Again. Romain will carry the circular economy project.
As a result, he withdrew from the organization for this edition and I found myself, somewhat by chance, putting together a team of young women. It's rather funny, because sailing is more of a man's sport! But it's quite appropriate since the Tour de Belle-Île is also a regatta for families, but also for women who never race.
Why the choice of Samantha Davies as godmother?
Sam Davies was asked to be the patron of this 10 e edition. She is a sailor, but also a mother. She came last year to participate with Yves le Blévec on Actual and found it great. She is English and in England, there is a regatta she knows very well called the Isle of Wight Tour, which inspired us.
It is an unquestionable appointment in England and she saw the parallel between the two races.
Has the Tour de Belle-Île finally found its place in the calendar? Initially scheduled for May 8, it was cancelled in 2016 and took place at the end of April in 2017.
Initially, we had a fixed date of May 8, but there are many regattas that take place on these public holidays and sometimes it interferes. In 2016, it fell on the Ascension Day, so we did not have the agreement of the federation.
This year, we have moved the date again, to June 2nd this time. We are quite happy with this date, as it will be more stable in terms of weather, the days are getting longer so it will be darker later which is better for the safety of our fleet and to enjoy the event on land.
It is not said that next year ( EDITOR'S NOTE: 2019 ) we were changing the date again. Not necessarily at the beginning of May, but rather at the end of May. However, we don't always get what we want.
