EUROPEAN SEASON OPENS WITH A BANG AS JAMIE LEA WINS SNIM REGATTA IN MARSEILLE

Article courtesy of P&P Racing Team as they report direct from the course on the opening regatta of the European season.

The Easter Weekend saw 58 Melges 24s travel from all over Europe to take part in the annual SNIM Regatta at the French Mediterranean port of Marseille. Sponsored by watch maker Michel Herbelin, the fleet were the largest taking part in this multi-class event and had pride of place on the race course immediately off the famous "Corniche" promenade, where spectators and passers by gathered to watch the racing.

The first day of racing took place in 20 to 30 knots of Mistral. Two races were completed with the first start getting underway at 3pm. The spectacle of the day was definitely the Melges fleet regularly surfing at more than 18 knots, as always very spectacular in windy conditions. As the racing area was so close to the coast, the start was very important because the boats had to tack immediately after the start to come sailing along the coast. In this game Luc Videau (Little Big Man) was the best then we find Bruno Jourdren followed by Richard Thompson.

Day one proved to be tough one for the men and their machines: Ogygie helmed by Thierry Poirey/ Thierry Berger lost the keel bulb and capsized, fortunately the crew came out of this spectacular incident unscathed, two masts broke, one knee was broken, two heads were injured, Friday 13 isn't it...........

The first start on day two was delay because the wind was too strong at 9 am (25 to 30 knots) allowing competitors to appreciate the breakfast provided each day by the regatta organisation in the harbour. Racing got underway around midday with a changing wind from 25 to 10 knots, making it very difficult to "read" the wind on the sea and forcing the crews to constantly retrim the rig and sails. In these changing conditions, Frenchman Paul Maxime on "Hotel Altea/CMF", Brit Rob Smith from "The New Barbarian" and the hot new team led by Jamie Lee aboard "Black Seal" won one race each.
That evening Michel Herbelin hosted a fantastic party in the Marseille floating Yacht Club allowing everyone to catch up on the winter’s gossip and enjoy the traditional cleansing ale.

Day three brought ideal conditions with a wind of 15 to 20 knots for the 1st race, then 20 to 25 knots for the 2nd and 26 to 30 knots for the final race. The conditions were extremely tough with back strains for all the crews with breaking seas and waves reaching 1.5 meters in the last race. Eight Melges had to retire after different equipment failures.

"P&P Racing Team's" Laurent Pagès and "Soromap/Plan Gestion’s" Cedric Pouligny were both particularly successful in these conditions. By the end of the day both teams, who are based at the La Rochelle Yacht Club, had managed to overtake the British crews in the overall rankings. "P&P Racing Team" took the overall lead going into the last racing day. William Thomas who crews at N°1 on "P&P" and was 1999 European Champion on "Eurosails" said " Races we did today where exceptional, the last one: we had a big technical problem, and the crewshow the excellent quality of their preparation both in phisycal condition on technical matters. What ever could happen tomorrow, this regatta will have been a great experience for our young crew for the future.

Battle is announced as very hard tomorrow for "P&P" and "Black Seal" with only 4 points difference and "Soromap/Plan Gestion" 10 points behind. With a 49 boats fleet staying afloat, nothing is done today. This 35 edition from The SNIM will stay in the mind of Melges crew as a very big "Vintage year"."

With 15 to 25 knots for the two last race of this SNIM a huge crowed gathered on the Corniche to enjoy the spectacle of Melges racing on a glorious sunny Easter day. The race committee needed the Black flag for the start because the competitors were so nervous. The three leading teams: "P&P", "Black Seal" and "Soromap/Plan Gestion" were so close on points that battle was immediately on and continued through the day. Cedric Pouligny won the first race and held the pressure on the other two. Thanks to a bad start "P&P" finished 9th with "Black Seal" finishing 4th take the overall lead.

With the British team first and the two French from La Rochelle second on the same points it was all down to the final race which quickly developed into a match race. "Black Seal" eventually broke the suspense and got away to win the race while "P&P" got the better of "Soromap/Plan Gestion" to finish second overall with Pouligny third.

Jamie Lea, helmsman of "Black Seal" who is a well-known Finn sailor (he was reserve in the Olympic British Team for Sydney) said: "I am very happy with this victory and the welcome we had here in Marseille. Weather conditions where perfect and the sea area is wonderful and very interesting."

Laurent Pagès, first French boat and second overall congratulated the winner saying "Jamie had a great tactics all week long and his victory is logical, he was the best."

This 35th SNIM, which looked like a small European Championship with 8 nations racing, was a great success ashore as well as afloat. The Race Committee was perfect, sailing conditions were wonderful, and there was very good organisation from the Marseille Yacht Club and Henri Samuel and the French Melges 24 Class Association. Thanks also to French Melges 24 fleet sponsor Michel Herbelin for their outstanding support.

Overall Results:

1 Black Seal Jamie Lea GBR
2 P&P Racing Team Laurent Pageès FRA
3 Soromap/Plan Gestion Cedric Pouligny FRA
4 Citta de Cesenatico Egidio Babbi ITA
5 Ste Francaise de Garantie Luc Videau FRA
6 Groupe Barriere Olivier Ponthieu FRA
7 Hotel Artea/ CMF Paul Maxime FRA