Trophée Clairefontaine
Profile:
MARINEPOOL, OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF THE TROPHÉE CLAIREFONTAINE
La Grande Motte hosts the Trophée Clairefontaine from 13 to 16 September 2012
Organized by SailingOne and sponsored by the paper manufacturer Clairefontaine, the Trophée Clairefontaine has been gathering since 1990 eight top-level sailors, all of them coming from different disciplines of international sailing. The champions will compete on a totally equal footing, racing on strictly identical 7.65-meter catamarans, exclusively designed and used for this unique nautical show.
The Bay of Aigues Mortes in La Grande Motte, which has been the host city of the competition since 2009 following La Trinité sur Mer and the Cap d'Agde, offers a true nautical stadium for the public to watch this great show featuring the best world sailors.
The record for victories is held by Loick Peyron who has won the competition eight times. This year, eight competitors will run for the prestigious list of winners:
Nicolas Charbonnier, who won the last edition of the Trophée Clairefontaine and was the 470 bronze medallist at the Beijing 2008, will be defending his title.
François Gabart, revelation of the Trophée Clairefontaine 2011 (he finished second) after winning the French Single-handed Offshore Racing Championship title, will seek to make his ambitions come true. Above all, he is one of the favourites in the Vendée Globe 2012.
Claire Leroy with her crew, Marie Riou and Pierre-Alexis Ponsot, have represented the French Sailing team in Weymouth. Claire Leroy and her teammate have built up their track record in match racing. Pierre-Alexis Ponsot has made his name as teammate for Xavier Rohart on the International Star Class.
Jérôme Clerc of Switzerland is THE current Swiss champion. Winner of the Bol d’Or 2012 and a large number of other competitions at the helm of a D35 catamaran on Lake Leman, he also has a reputation as a skilled helmsman on monohulls. He has just won the "Amateur" class in the Tour de France à la Voile 2012.
Jérémie Beyou, who is also preparing for the Vendée Globe 2012, has been invited after winning La Solitaire du Figaro 2011.
Fred Le Peutrec, associated for many years with Loïck Peyron’s victories in the Trophée Clairefontaine, he was helmsman on the Groupama 3 trimaran (skippered by Franck Cammas) and Banque Populaire V (skippered by Loïck Peyron) when they made their around-the-world sailing record.
Daniel Souben, tactician for Laurent Bourgnon when he won the Trophée Clairefontaine, has a great track record on multihulls, and has also won the Tour de France à la Voile in the monohull class twice.
Bertrand Pacé, a local participant in the competition (he lives in Sète), combines his vast experience of the America’s Cup with his talents as a world champion in match racing, his multiple victories on all types of monohull races, always at the highest international level.
Marinepool is proud to participate in this great yearly meeting of top-level sailors as "Official Supplier of the Trophée Clairefontaine".
