US EditionTwo French Sailors in a 35-Foot Boat Are Set to Win Handicap Honors in the Sydney to Hobart Race
Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal posted the best handicap time in the Sydney to Hobart race despite a smaller 35-foot yacht and challenging sea conditions.
- On Tuesday morning, Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal arrived at Constitution Dock in Hobart on their 35-foot yacht BNC after more than 93 hours at sea, overcoming tough Sydney to Hobart seas as two French sailors based in New Caledonia.
- Quintin and Rigal have built their campaign over five years, with two years of targeted preparation; their onboard provisions of spaghetti, lasagne and chicken curry went mostly uneaten.
- Rough early upwind conditions forced 34 of the 128 starters to retire as Quintin and Rigal battled seasickness, failed electronics in Bass Strait, and severe fatigue from constant steering.
- By late afternoon, BNC held the best handicap time with only Crux left as a long-shot challenger after a southerly breeze delayed her expected arrival.
- Comanche took line honors on Sunday, underlining the size gap between line and handicap contenders as BNC, about one-third the length of Comanche, challenges larger yachts.
23 Articles
23 Articles
The Canberra Times
French pair in box seat for Syd-Hob win, but protest in
A small yacht crewed by two Frenchman is in top spot for overall honours in the Sydney to...
Associated Press News
Two French sailors in a 35-foot boat are set to win handicap honors in the Sydney to Hobart race
Two French sailors based on the Pacific island of New Caledonia — one of them a former windsurfing Olympian — have overcome tough Sydney to Hobart seas on one of the fleet’s smallest boats to all but clinch handicap honors in the annual race.
Sydney Morning Herald
The AgeFrench duo poised to claim Sydney-Hobart triumph but late protest spells sleepless night
Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal of BNC - my::NET / LEON were the clubhouse leaders on Tuesday night, but could face trouble after second-placed Min River lodged a complaint alleging they breached race rules.
While the first Maxis arrived in Hobart two days ago, the majority of the fleet is still sailing along the Tasmanian coast, nearing the end of this final third of the race. Two French double-handed crews currently hold the virtual lead in the IRC overall standings: Alexis Loison, partnered with Australian Jiang Lin aboard the JPK 10.30 Min River, and the duo Yann Rigal and Michel Quintin-BNC on the JPK 10.80 my::NET / LEON’s. Both boats must arr…
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