The Seychelles Regatta sailing competition is in full swing. The fourth edition of the Seychelles Regatta sailing competition entered its third day on Wednesday, with nine boats vying to be declared the champions at the end of the race on Saturday. For the third leg on Wednesday, the nine boats sailed from Praslin Island going around Curieuse in a change of itinerary, as Cousine was originally featured on today’s schedule. STB’s Chief Executive, Sherin Francis, and Regional Director for Europe, Bernadette Willemin, joined Wednesday’s race.
The Seychelles Regatta kicked off on Monday, with the competing teams departing Eden Island mid-morning, heading to Silhouette. The nine boats registered for the sailing competition are: Driget – skippered by Roland Jourdain; Seychelles Tourism Board skippered by François Gabart; 727 Sailbags: an all-female crew skippered by Justine Mettraux; Los Angeles Lumière – skippered by Romain Attanasio; C’est La Vie (Eden Island) – an all-lawyer crew skippered by Anthony Marchand; Julbo – skippered by Alexis Loison; YEMA – skippered by Michel Desjoyeaux; ISPC/Mason skippered by Franck-Yves Escoffier and Pangia Beach – skippered by Seychellois Gilbert Hoareau.
After the third race on Wednesday, the all ladies team, 727 Sailbags skippered by Justine Mettraux claimed victory, Julbo skippered by Alexis Loison claimed second place, while C’est La Vie was third. On Tuesday, at the end of the second leg from Silhouette to Praslin, it was ISPC/Mason – skippered by Franck-Yves Escoffier that claimed victory, C’est la Vie (Eden Island) – skippered by Anthony Marchand took the second place, while Los Angeles Lumière – skippered by Romain Attanasio was third. C’est La Vie (Eden Island) skippered by Anthony Marchand won the first leg of the race, followed by Driget skippered by Roland Jourdain in second place, and third was YEMA – skippered by Michel Desjoyeaux, who has taken part in all the previous Seychelles Regatta sailing competition.
Based on the cumulative results, after three days of racing, C’est La Vie is ranked first, ahead of ISPC/Mason, which is in the second position, while the all-women’s team 727 Sailbags is in third place. Commenting on the sailing competition so far, Mrs Willemin said: “The boats have experienced light winds, they took some 3 hours to reach Silhouette from Mahe for the first leg, and the second leg from Silhouette to Praslin took around 6 hours. On Wednesday we had a shorter leg from Praslin going around Curieuse Island. Nevertheless, all is going very well so far.”
The fourth edition of the Seychelles Regatta being held after a six-year break from the first three editions in 2009, 2010, and 2011, was officially launched at Eden Bleu on Sunday evening. This was in the presence of the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Didier Dogley, his predecessor Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne now of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, STB’s Chief Executive, Sherin Francis; Regional Director for Europe, Bernadette Willemin; Regis Elhaouel, General Manager of ‘Publi Voile’ the France-based company that is the main organizer of the event, as well as other government officials, sponsors and partners.
Minister Dogley expressed satisfaction to see the sailing competition back on the Seychelles’ calendar of events, adding that the beauty of the Indian Ocean archipelago and its ideal location contribute towards making this event a success. He thanked the organizers, sponsors and participants for their devotion. “To the international press present in Seychelles to cover this Regatta edition, through this experience I wish for you to understand why for a long time it has been said that God thought of the sailors when he created the Seychelles,” said Minister Dogley.
The Seychelles Regatta – sailing competition aims to offer a balance of a rigorous sailing competition and tourism by encouraging a discovery of the Seychelles islands. The itinerary has been designed to showcase some specificities of the Seychelles, including some of the private islands.
On Thursday, the race will head to Fregate Island, La Digue is featured on the itinerary for Friday’s leg, from where the sailors will depart on Saturday morning for the last leg, which will bring them back to the main Island, Mahe. The overall winners will be announced at an award ceremony planned for Saturday evening. A number of international press mainly from France, including “Le Figaro” and “Canal Plus” as well as press from China and Ukraine are covering the sailing competition.
For the Seychelles Tourism Board, the coverage received will be an opportunity to increase the destination’s visibility, portraying the island nation as the perfect sailing destination.
Source:- Seychelles Tourism Board
