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| 2003 International
Moth World Championships |
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24-30 August, 2003 - Les Sable d'Olonne,
France
Photo Gallery
Race Results
Race Reports
Day 5
The weather forecast for the final day wasn't that good. Only
5 to 10 knots wind (10 dying to 5, actually). The fleet managed
to sail two races anyway.
In the first race, there was an International podium with Rohan
Veal (AUS) finishing first in front of Tim Steinlein (GER) and Martin Harrison
(GBR). Mark Thorpe finished 5th, followed by Yumiko Shige and Les Thorpe,
7th out of 35 boats finishing the race.
Yumiko Shige had her best results at end of the regatta,
finishing 3rd in race 10 behind Sven Kloppenburg and Mark Thorpe. Colin
Newman, the elderly of this Championship, finishing 17th out of 33
boats.
Mark has won the World Championship, but there's some discussion
going about the 2nd and third place.
Check out the SNS web site: http://www.sportsnautiquessablais.com for
more information.
Day 4
After a deserved layday, 3 heats were raced on Friday. Races
7 and 8, followed by race 6 that wasn't raced on Wednesday
due to the lack of wind.
The currents were so strong in the bay that most of the sailors
were over the line for the 1st race and 3 starts had to be given.
They raced in a wind of force 3, going up to force 5, in a 1.50 m
swell and a crossed sea. Once again there were a few breakages.
For race 7, the 3 Australians finished 1st, 2nd and
3rd : Rohan Veal, followed by the World Champion Mark Thorpe
and Les Thorpe. They were just infront of Ian Fordsike, 3rd
on the overall results (before today's races). The first
Japonese, Tsutomu Tanaka, is 7th out of
32 people that have raced today.
30 skippers raced heat 8. Same people in different
order on the finish line : Mark Thorpe, Rohan Veal and Les
Thorpe, just before Yasuhiro Watanabe, 4th on the finish
line.
And finally, for race 6, there were 26 people on the
starting line. More and more wind, less and less people!
Same first 4 as for race 8. Patrick Ruf was 5th, Sven Kloppenburg
6th and the first girl, Liz Pudney, was 13th.
Tonight, at the overall results (before the jury's
hearing), Mark Thorpe was still 1st, followed by
Les and Rohan who's back in 3rd place. Ian Fordsike
is 4th, Patrick
Ruf 5th and Sven Kloppenburg 6th.
Day 3
There was only been one race on Wednesday due to the lack of
wind (a light breeze of 3 to 4 knots). There wasn't any swell
either. The conditions were totally different from the ones at
the beginning of the week, and the skippers that prefer sailing
in light winds have shown us what they could do!
Frédéric Duvoisin had the best start in front of Rohan Veal,
Mark Robinson and Ian Fordsike. Duvoisin managed to stay
first and led the whole (so slow!) fleet during the race.
It took a good hour to complete the heat. Frédéric Duvoisin
crossed the line first, in front of Patrick Ruf and Martin
Harrison. Mark Thorpe finished 5th.
Thursday is layday for everyone unless the comitee decides
to do a race tomorrow.
Day 2
Heats 3 and 4 have been sailed on Tuesday afternoon in a good
15 to 20 knot North-West wind. Rohan Veal & Mark Robinson
started well, but both were quickly caught by Mark and Les
Thorpe.
Mark & Les led for the remainder of the race, with Mark crossing
the finish line first before Les Thorpe and
Ian Fordsike. The 1st French person to finish is Jean-Jacques
Charpentier, in
28th position.
The wind and swell were very good for Rohan
Veal on the second heat to use his hydro-foils. The "show" on
the water was absolutely fabulous and Rohan finished
first, 4 minutes
before the 2nd boat.
After a protest yesterday, Rohan Veal has been
disqualified for the 1st race. Patrick Ruf is now 3rd of
that race and also 3rd of the overall results. Mark Thorpe
is 1st and Les 2nd.
Day 1
The 1st start today has
been post-poned because of a lack of wind. The start of the 1st
race was given at 2 pm, with a notherly sea breeze of 5 to 10
knots (1st race) and 10 to 15 knots (2nd race), and about 50 cm
swell
with choppy waves for the 2nd race.
For the 1st race, Mark Thorpe and Rohan Veal were very close
from each other and lead the whole heat. They finished about
2 minutes before the others. Mark also lead the second race.
With Les and Rohan they were about 30 seconds from each other.
Some boats had to stop sailing due to breaking some smaller
parts of their boats: Liz Pudney and Roger Angell (GB), Olav
Nehls (Ger), Pierre Bousset (Fr), Mathieu Verrier (Swiss).
Notice of Race
Club Invitational Letter
Figaro Race Invitation Links
Competitor Biographies & Reviews
- David
Balkwill
- Richard
Knol
- Doug
Pybus
- Les
Thorpe
- Rohan
Veal
IMCA UK boat and competitor review: http://www.int-moth.org.uk/WorldsPreview.htm
General Information
Venue Accessibility:
The nearest international airport is Nantes, 100km north. It is
also easy to fly to Paris, and come on by high speed train to Les
Sables (3 hours). For people driving, the motorway network is pretty
easy to work out. Down from the channel ports for the Brits, and
across, around Paris for those coming from the east. If boats come
in to one of the ports, let us know so we can look at transport
from there.
Accommodation:
People with camping cars will be able to stay by the boats as in
July's Europeans. The arrangement for mobile homes or camping at
one of the camp-sites, just out of town, can be repeated if people
liked that base, with its bar, store, and pool. There are also many
possibilities for renting flats or houses, or staying in the numerous
hotels. The tourist office web site should help here. Now that there
are some more local Moth sailors, we can probably offer floor space
to any hard-up sailors, but give some advanced warning if possible.
Club facilities:
The club has sections for cruiser racers and dinghies. Since the
club offices are in the marina, near the yachts, the dinghy sailors
use the town sailing school building at the "base de mer"
where the dinghies are kept. This means that we do not have a club
house where we sail. The club is aware of the problems this can
cause, so it is planned to set up a marquee for us as our base,
and the club is looking at ways to add to the limited number of
showers. There is also a "club house" at the marina which
we will use for the AGM, in a much bigger room than the one we used
in July. Seats for everyone this time! The club's web site is www.sportsnautiquessablais.com.
Rigging up and storage area conditions:
Check the photos to see the area which will be available for the
boats. The club will negotiate to let us use the central area where
the catamarans are in the photo. This hard dinghy park is equipped
with eyes to tie the boats down, and a security guard will be hired
again to survey gear overnight. We will have access to a storage
room to lock sails and other gear away at night as well.
Possible entertainment for family:
Les Sables is a sea-side resort, with all the advantages of a holiday
destination. The beach is big enough for the tourist population,
although parking can be a problem (again, parking permits will be
issued to competitors). There is a good zoo, a good museum/art gallery,
go-kart circuits, surfing if the swell's up, horse riding, sea-water
therapy, some attractive shops in the pedestrian streets... Spreading
further afield, there are boat trips to the islands about an hour
away, or some local castles to visit, or possible day trips as far
as the Loire valley Chateaux. Nantes is the 7th biggest city in
France, one hour North, and La Rochelle is a similar distance South.
The Futuroscope at Poitiers would be an exciting trip for seeing
the latest 3D moving cinema technology, or why not le Puy du Fou,
for a medieval pagent in a spectacular castle... There is no excuse
for getting bored!
Media coverage:
Local press and TV. Possible coverage in the national sailing press.
Possible film footage on the national sailing DVD magazine to be
confirmed.
We are also strongly recommening that competitors try to stay around
for a while after the 30th, for two reasons. Firstly because the
end of August is not the best time to drive across France, and secondly
because the following week-end is the Classic Moth gathering just
North of here. This will be the third year for this event, which
is growing fast. The venue is a lake on the Erdre river near Nantes.
Its a beautiful place, with camping by the boats, no iscription
fees, just 7 € per meal, and the cook is both talented, and
a lot of fun. It feels much better to have this multi-Moth event
in this quieter place, away from the sea-side crowds. The lake is
too small for a championship, but great fun for all the Moths together,
and no danger for the older boats. There will be Moths from as far
back as the 40's, British Moths, Europes, and us. Maybe even some
of the American Classic or Modern Moths as well... After our serious
racing, and giving you the time to wander slowly through the countryside,
and to visit some chateaux, this has to be the best place to get
together and celebrate 75 years since the first Moth hit the water.
Regatta Organiser
David Balkwill
President
IMCA FRANCE
Tel +33 2 51 96 80 95
dbdesign@imaginet.fr
Les Sables d'Olonne General Information
We will be able to use the sports training school for accommodation
(rooms for 40 people), or mobile homes, or hotels. Freddy can describe
the set-up here in detail, but to set the scene this is a fishing
and sailing port (home of the Vendée Globe round the world
race), combined with a holiday resort on the west coast of France.
The two mile long sandy bay looks south.
We sail from the west end of the bay where two jetties give shelter
from the swell in most conditions. Sometimes like today when the
swell comes in from the south it can be a bit exciting launching
(ask Freddy), but most of the time its no problem.
We sail on the ocean so of course there are waves, but very little
tidal influence because there is only the entrance to the port giving
any twists to the current. Wonderful downwind rides. Some difficult
days when the swell and the wind are not lined up (sailing to windward
with the swell moving you sideways is quite fun). Some days with
shorter chop to keep you awake going upwind or down.
Après sail is as bouncy as you like with all the bars, restaurants,
discos and night clubs you would expect in a holiday place, but
with the fishing port thrown in to keep it real. Population around
25,000 in winter and ten times that in summer!
The nearest airport is Nantes, (100 km north).
Local web site: http://www.ot-lessablesdolonne.fr/poleus/pages/VF.htm
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