The Tour de Martinique – Overall

The third stage of the Round Martinique Regatta, a northern rounding of the island from the Robert to Fort de France, brought the annual regatta to a successful conclusion on Sunday.

The three-stage format, favoured for the 2015 edition by event organisers, proved a great success with the competitors, who enjoyed a variety of sailing conditions around all three courses and exciting racing right to the end.

The fleet set off from the Pointe de la Savane in Robert, on the eastern side, just after 9 am Sunday for the 50 plus mile race round the north of the island. Fiser, the Farr 40 racing in the Racing category, reached the first course mark in the lead rounding the Caravelle headland under spinnaker in 20 knots of breeze and choppy seas. The wind shifted and on the northern side of the island around Grand’Riviere where the effects of the land come in to play for the tacticians on board. The terrain plays havoc with the breeze and many of the competitors, including Contrat de Baie-Maximarine, found themselves becalmed, caught in the wind shadow of the Pelée Mountain at Prêcheur.

The run south to Fort-de-France and the finish line, would prove more straightforward. Fiser, skippered by Jean Michel Figuères, led from start to the finish at Pointe de la Vierge, whilst Phyle, the first multihuill, crossed just a few minutes later concluding their third stage, a southern return to the finish which had been assigned to both the Multihull and Cruising categories.

"We had to really think things through because the wind was really shifty. We had lots of manoeuvring, which is tiring on the crew, but the sailors where all happy. It took us seven hours to get round half of Martinique, which is not amazing considering you can get round the island in 13 or 14 hours.” Said a happy Jean Michel Figuères.

Girls honour the colors of the Carnival

The all female crew on Douvan, dressed up for the start of carnival today in Martinique and skippered by Délice Nouel, sailed an impressive race to finish first in a very competitive Surprise Class.

The 2015 three-stage race, with no protests on the racecourse and great entertainment ashore, has proved a great success for Round Martinique Regatta organisers, Club Neptune du Lamentin and the Ven dan Vwèl 972 Association.

"We are very pleased to have hosted for the second consecutive year this event, which attracts each year more entries. Our format of three days went well and gave time to the competitors to enjoy different parts of the island of Martinique. We hope to attract further boats for future editions and increase to possibly four stage, which seems to be what the sailors would like.” Concluded Claude Granel, the Round Martinique Regatta event director.

The 2016 edition of the Round Martinique Regatta will take place during the first half of February.

Full results can be found here.