Outremer
owners were
very gallant
and made
sure that
everyone
was able to
participate
“hands on”
Start of one of the Races with the sailing
throughout
the day, definitely no shirking! You could not
have asked for a better way of experiencing
the “product”. Under normal test sail
conditions with the various manufacturers,
the boat can never be put properly through
its paces as these boats are not usually
owned by the boatyard but are “new build”
awaiting delivery to its purchaser. In the
Outremer Cup by contrast, some of the
owners are very competitive and are not
Start of the Race
only happy but absolutely set on showing
the boats to their true potential.
THE COURSE
In all there were 6 different “races”
BATTLE OF GIANTS
each one with a slightly different skill
On this last point, some more than others!
emphasis. These coastal tactic races
It became clear very soon into the Cup
were professionally organised by La
that it was a competition of 2 rather than
Grande Yacht-Club which allowed
a competition of 12: ALIZE one of the
everyone to test sailing Outremer
64s and WALLY WALLOU one of the 45s.
catamarans and experience their
As the 12 entrants gathered around the
astonishing qualities: close contact
starting buoy, there was some initial jostling
races, runs under the gennaker at 24
for position and then suddenly there was a
knots…. As someone said “smile you’re
huge expanse of clear water between the
Action at the start of the Race
sailing an Outremer”.
leaders, ALIZE and WALLY WALLOU, and
the rest of the pack. Race after race and
Day 1 as usual was a special day to
the same pattern with both of these battling it out between them with the others
involve all the Outremer workforce
seemingly specs in the distance.
and their families, together with
representatives of the suppliers – Over WHERE’S WALLY?
a hundred guests sailing on board the Even with the distinct difference in waterline length, WALLY WALLOU won every
boats they have made – definitely a event bar one. However, success was not necessarily entirely due to the skill of
proud moment. At the end of the day it the individual skippers – HENRI MOREAU was no push over and showed that he
was everyone back to the Sailing Club knew how to handle his 64ft with remarkable ease, sail changes often happening
for a relaxing evening of typical French every few minutes as they rounded buoys and markers. WALLY WALLOU however
hospitality – lots of beer and wine and has a secret, or not so secret weapon, and that is her build spec. There is a saying
good food. “clothes maketh the man” and you can certainly apply this to WALLY: carbon
rotating mast, taller than std, carbon textile rig, D4 carbon code Zero sail, Kevlar
However, no time to relax totally – all Genoa, even flush shell cover fittings to the underside of the boat – everything to
owners and crews had to report to ensure improved performance. This was her 5th time in the Cup and she added
the Sailing Club every morning at 9am a 5th victory to the previous record. All this in the hands of the second owner
sharp for a briefing on the proposed who was sailing in the Outremer Cup for the first time. Certainly the new owner
course. All was organised with military Philippe Tibeuf did not dishonour the previous owner’s reputation! As “insurance”
planning, or rather a very loud school the previous owner actually came to the event as a spectator ready to step in if
bell to make sure everyone paid WALLY faltered in any way!!
attention! For each of the remaining
days over the weekend, the special In one ‘race’ ALIZE really thought she had shaken off WALLY WALLOU who had
guests were invited to participate on taken a different course, heading well towards the shore to pick up even stronger
an owner’s boat to get a real feel of the winds – however the distance was too far to make up and ALIZE rounded the
Outremer capability. Some guests were marker buoy first with WALLY trailing, hurriedly trying to pack away the spinnaker.
owners eagerly awaiting delivery of their Soon WALLY was out of sight. However….. minutes later WALLY’s profile was
own new boat others were potential growing larger and closing fast! ALIZE threw everything into the challenge with
clients who were deciding which design
would best suit their requirements. The
»
  JUNE 2009 : MULTIHULL REVIEW  9
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