Trophée Veolia Environnement - The Champions Are In The Starting Blocks

Lyon, October the 3rd ­ The 16 international sailing Champions from various disciplines participating in the first Trophée Veolia Environnement have started to tune up in the outdoor 1000 meters square Lyon Olympic pool, located on the Rhône bank in the city centre. Racing will start this afternoon at 17:30 (French time).

For three days, the invited champions, - representing 13 different nations and coming from various sailing disciplines -, will race against each other in SailingCity, a one-design boat especially designed and built for this event. Based on the 60-footer monohulls concept, these tiny 2,75 meters long yachts have a rather big sail area with a 3,80 m2 main sail and a 2m2 genoa. Six giant ventilators help to strengthen the natural wind in order to ensure a spectacular show for the public.

The race committee had a draw in order to have four groups of four champions. As hosting country, France has five contenders participating with at least one in each group.

Group A: Yogev Yosef (ISR), Christine Briand (FRA), Johan Molund (SWE), Larissa Nevierov (ITA).

Group B: Carolijn Brouwer (NED), Yvan Bourgnon (FRA), Evgeniy Braslavets (UKR), Philippe Presti (FRA).

Group C: Jochen Krauth (GER), Xavier Rohart (FRA), Mitch Booth (AUS), Sébastien Godefroid (BEL).

Group D: Monica Azon (ESP), Paul Brotherton (GBR), Dorte O.Jensen (DEN), Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA).

Each group will sail seven qualifying races. The top two of each group will move onto the next round. The top two of group A and B will be in group E and the top two of group C and D will be in Group F. Group E and F will each sail seven races. The top two of group E and F will be qualified for the semi-finals.

The leader of group E will face the second of group F while the second of group F will face the leader of group E. The first one to score three points will move onto the final. The two who do not qualify for the final will fight for third spot overall in a best of seven match. The two finalists will also face each other in a best of seven match.

Racing will start at 17:30 p.m on Friday with group A sailing three or four races. Together, Jean-Pierre Champion, head of the FFVoile (French sailing federation), Henri Proglio, director of Veolia Environnement and Gérard Collomb, the mayor of Lyon, will fire the gun of the first race. The 16 champions, who have tuned up all day long are all eager to start real action.

Saturday at 14:00: Group A (end of qualifying races), group B, group C and group D.

Sunday at 14:00: semi-finals and finals

Quotes

Paul Brotherton (GBR): "In many ways, the boat is easy to sail but it will be difficult to race well because she turns quite slowly. We will have to think a long way in front. Anticipation will be a key. It¹s going to be great fun! It¹s nice to spend some time with some great sailors and have the opportunity to sail against them."

Monica Azon (ESP): "It's my first time stirring with me feet! It will be difficult because the venue is so small. I think it will be very competitive and that there will be many protests. One must anticipate what the other boats will do."

Johan Molund (SWE): "Racing will be even more tighter than what we're used to. It will be very interesting because you have to predict the situation as it's easy to lose speed if you do a bad manoeuvre. It will be fun and it's a nice break after a full on season. Besides, it's very interesting to get to meet new people. It¹s one of the reason why I came here".

Carolijn Brower (NED): "It's totally different from what we're used to. Using our feet to stir instead of griping onto the boat gives an extra dimension. It's difficult to get a good feel of the boat straight away. Tough it's not natural wind, it Œs still pretty tricky. It's nice to sail against people from other classes. We're here for fun but we¹re top sailors and therefore very competitive. So we all want to do well"

Dorte O. Jensen (DEN): "There are funny little boats. It's not easy to stir with the feet as sometimes the brain doesn't do the same as the feet. It will be a good challenge. After sailing so much and focusing all season, it¹s so nice to do something different."

Xavier Rohart (FRA): "Tactically it will be very tricky because there is not much space. And I think the light ones will have an advantage!"