K-Challenge dans un grain K-Challenge under a squall

TOUGH DAY FOR FRA 60

Trapani, Sicily - 2005-10-03

Today was a tough day for K-Challenge in Trapani. The day started off well after an excellent start by Thierry Peponnet. The team led Victory Challenge for the first two legs of the race, but lost the lead when FRA 60 had a technical problem with her jib.

Thierry Peponnet, Skipper and Helmsman, comments: “It is really a pity because we were super excited about the race and it was well within reach. We remained calm, even when the racing was tight. We had a good start which allowed us to take the advantage on the beat to the first mark. The Swedes then came back on the downwind leg. Racing was very close and they passed us briefly. In the end, we took one side of the gate and they took the other, rounding at the exact same time. We gave up nothing.”

K-Challenge took the right side of the course, which was starting to pay when an incident occurred with the genoa. The lashing that holds the genoa to the halyard shackle broke. In a case such as this, the team must lower the genoa and send the bowman up the mast (Sean “Doogie” Couvreux) to recover the rope. It is then necessary to make a new lashing on the spot to re-hoist the genoa.

This operation lasted approximately 3 minutes and gave a sufficient lead to Victory Challenge, giving them the win.

Then, in the second race against Luna Rossa, K-Challenge was forced to retire. There was a structural problem with the hull that forced the team to return to the base. The problem caused enough alarm that the team did not want to risk any further damage by continuing the race. The Design and Shore Teams will spend the evening checking and repairing the hull.

FRA 60 is a 2000 generation boat, which in spite of its performances, has many miles on it. It will be necessary for the team to start immediately building a new boat for next year’s Louis Vuitton Acts.

Dimitri Nicolopoulos, Coordinator of the Design Team, concludes: “FRA 60 is an old boat and is starting to show her age after the difficult wind and sea conditions we’ve seen in Malmö and Trapani. We will thus make repairs to her hull so we can be back on the starting line tomorrow.”

K-Challenge, the French Team, is currently in 6th overall, tied in points with Victory Challenge (5th place).

Tomorrow, K-Challenge will race Alinghi and Spanish Desafio.








Stephanie Nadin

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