FLYING SAIL FURLERS nex
Class 40 Crédit Mutuel - Ian Lipinski Equipped by Profurl
The rise of the shorthanders. Set aside a vulnerable-looking Ocean Race and the America’s Cup and any public interest in sailing is migrating relentlessly ever further to the shorthanders and their typically more interesting back-stories. Miranda Merron (above left) and Alexia Barrier (top) may have finished down the order in the recent Vendée Globe but they had a public following that would make any Olympic sailor weep with envy. Father and son team Alexis and Pascal Loison (right) had already slightly taken the shine off the glamour and bravado of their fully staffed competitors by handily winning the 2013 Fastnet racing two-up
Two races were sailed on the River Seine, both with hardly any breeze. Initially only the first race on 22 May was part of the Olympic programme and the Swiss team were awarded a gold medal for winning it. The race of 25 May, part of the 1900 Paris Exposition, was awarded Olympic status only later on. Lérina came second in that one and so the crew saw a silver medal added to their gold. Sailing made its first appearance as an Olympic sport in 1900 and what an effort it was. Eight classes racing, six inshore classes on the Seine at Meulan and two offshore classes, made up of the largest yachts, at Le Havre, for a total entry of ‘about’ 61 boats. The participant numbers are not very exact, about 85 boats entered, most of them French. But not all raced depending upon the conditions. Boats were classified using a simple formula estab- lished by Auguste Godinet with as input LWL, P (hull girth) and sail area for a result expressed in tons, hence the term Ton Classes. I count seven boats racing in 0-0.5 ton, 20 boats in 0.5-1 ton, nine boats in 1-2 ton, four boats in 2-3 ton, 11 boats in 3-10 ton, six boats in 10-20 ton and four in the largest 20+ ton fleet. Looking at the old photos the yachts up to 3 tons can be labelled as dinghies. There was also an open class race, labelled the Concours d’Honneur, open to all boats racing at Meulan. The start of this race must have made quite a spectacle. It was won by the British 1 Ton entry Scotia helmed by Lorne Currie with three crew. Due to lack of breeze of the 47 starters only five finished. Two boats were disqualified for using other means of propulsion than sail; the first sailors ever to be disqualified in an Olympic regatta! The total number of sailors is not clear as not all were recorded, certainly not in the offshore classes where paid hands were common. Offshore from Le Havre a 22-mile course was used. Three of those were sailed, two in blistering conditions. Not sure whether for all classes but certainly in Le Havre the 1900 Olympic scoring system was used, so a rating system. Only in the third race did the ratings affect the outcome on the water.
One hundred and twenty four years later Marseille and a mistral- blessed sailing marathon could be just what the doctor ordered. Rob Weiland, Class manager, Maxi72 and TP52 classes
SEAHORSE 39
Horse_90_270_NEX.indd 1 02/03/2021 22:41:07
NEW: RATCHET FEATURE Intuitive & safe assistance for furling
• Avoids sails unfurling accidently • Reliable: permanent pawl engagement • Operates in both directions
marine@wichard.com
www.profurl.com
JEAN-MARIE LIOT/DPPI
YVAN ZEDDA
© Christophe Breschi
NEW!
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