Sports catamaran regatta around Martinique
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News Releases

22/01/2024

Adapting



Adapting will certainly be the theme of this week's Martinique Cata Raid. The race director had planned to send the competitors on a 'long distance' race, but the weather decided otherwise. This morning in Le Robert, the water was swept by the famous squalls characteristic of the trade winds, gusting to over 35 knots. As a result, the 28 crews finally set off to sail two constructed courses.

Martinique Cata Raid  2024 : Grand prix du Précheur  © Pierrick Contin


 


There was a lot of enthusiasm this morning in front of the Wind Force sailing club in Le Robert, and impatience too, impatience to finally take to the water. Everyone was almost shy about their ambitions, preferring to focus on doing well and, above all, having fun! It's true that our racers enjoy sailing here in Martinique in fantastic conditions, but nobody's fooled! As soon as they're out on the water, it's a free-for-all and a rag-tag battle. 


Indeed, the first race of the day got off to a fast and furious start in conditions that were invigorating to say the least. The programme included two loops of around ten miles, taking the competitors upwind close to the îlet Loup Garou, before a reaching leg and a return leg under spinnaker.


While no fewer than 10 boats returned to the Club with various problems such as broken sticks, lost bolts and other minor mishaps, on the water, the big names were out in force and "it was hot", confided Nicolas Gillet/Nicolas Poix (Socoveam - Anmizi), with a big match between 6 to 7 boats". "It's more than hot, it's downright war, no one wants to give anything up!" smiled Matthieu Marfaing in the double-handed race with James Melvin (Cirrus- MMSailing). They managed to pull away from the pack on the last tack to win the first round.


After a short break, the second round was launched on the same course for just one lap. The American crews Ulli Gollwitzer/Liam Walz (Zhik Machine) were determined to get back on track after an abortive first leg, and they attacked the line on the port side. Christopher Green/Jean Boulogne shared the same inspiration, with success, since both crews were on the port side of the line. However, daring was not enough. After 50 minutes of racing, three boats were neck and neck across the line: Gurvan Bontemps and Fred Moreau (French Caribbean - Stickerman) won ahead of Nicolas Gillet/ Nicolas Poix (Socoveam - Anmizi) . Benoit Touchot and Pierre-Yves Durand (Rhythm) completed the podium in the second heat.


 


Martinique Cata Raid  2024 : Grand prix du Précheur  © Pierrick Contin



Youth and enthusiasm


Abel Kingue, 15 years old and the youngest in the race, returns to the Wind Force beach in Le Robert with a smile on his face: he has just returned from his first F18 race.


Yesterday, the young man was just about to switch on his computer to follow his lessons at the CNED when his mother poked her head in through the doorway to suggest he take part in the Martinique Cata Raid. Without missing a beat, Abel jumped at the chance to fill in at short notice for Stéphane Kieffer's team-mate, who had pulled out of the competition. He's young, enthusiastic and fresh, and above all he's already built up a solid background. We've been living on a boat for 4 years and I started sailing at the age of 6 in the La Nautique club in Narbonne, mainly windsurfing, but I've also done a bit of opti and everything in competition: I need adrenalin!


Yesterday was Abel's first experience of the F18: "I'd already tried it once, but it was a quick test, but today was great, I had a blast, I loved it! There was quite a bit of wind and for a training run, we sailed really well. I can't wait to see how we do in real competition."


On board, the experienced Stéphane Kieffer, helmsman, is keeping a close eye on things: "We went through our paces yesterday. At the helm, I'm attentive to every manoeuvre because there are a lot of things he has to learn on board", but Abel is learning fast. "At the end of the day, we were able to link up the tacks and gybes quite fluidly. I'm delighted to have him with me this week.


Martinique Cata Raid  2024 : Grand prix du Précheur  © Pierrick Contin


They said :


Gurvan Bontemps/Fred Moreau (French Caribbean - Stickerman)


It was quite a challenge to go and look for the buoys outside Robert Bay. We knew we were going to get some pretty heavy seas very quickly with strong winds, so we weren't disappointed! We were a bit frustrated with our first race: we were in the lead but when we got out to sea, we couldn't find the second mark, which dropped us back in the rankings. On this second run, we tried to do things right, with some good manoeuvres and put in a good performance.


It's been 5 years since we sailed together on this boat, the last time being in the Martinique Cata Raid in 2019, so we had to find our bearings again. We're starting to get back into the swing of things, and the race is long with lots of legs, so we're going to try to do as well as we did today.


Nicolas Gillet/Nicolas Poix (Socoveam - Anmizi)
It's been a great first day and we're almost surprised to be here! There really is a better level of competition than last year with several boats in the lead. We've been consistent. We're doing really well upwind with the others, and on the reach I think we're the fastest as we pass the green mark in the lead every time. We're not really the fastest here. We've got a lot to look forward to, but we need to keep things simple, enjoy ourselves and work on our spinnaker tack!


Uli Gollwitzer/ Lian Walz (Zhik Machine)
Liam is a really excellent sailor with a lot of experience on Olympic circuits. He suggested I start on the port side. It was an incredible start! It was hard to believe that we were ahead of the whole fleet. After that, there was less pressure and we had a favourable angle on the line, but I think that those who started on the starboard side had more wind.  The conclusion of this day is that Liam really wants to go faster than I feel comfortable at the helm. We're feeling really good for the rest of the week, and we'll certainly be doing better and better, so we're going to make up


Martinique Cata Raid  2024 : default © Pierrick Contin


Programme for the week:




  • Saturday 20 January: Opening drink




  • Sunday 21 January: Training day 


    Monday 22 January: Constructed course


    Tuesday 23 January: Long distance


    Wednesday 24 January: Constructed course 


    Thursday 25 January: Rest day


    Friday 26 January: Long distance


    Saturday 27 January: Constructed course and prize-giving ceremony





Rankings to be found on the Martinique Cata Raid website


Follow the race : On the race website (image bank access), social networks (Facebook and Instagram)


Photos On the race website


Videos on the Youtube channel



Select another news release

Ad Noordzij and Bastiaan Tentij (HorseRidingSpain)Winners of the 2024 Martinique Cata Raid!
27/01/2024

Open sea at last! For this final day of competition, the weather conditions allowed the race committee to finally offer a course outside the Bay of Robert. This final regatta is vital, as it will determine the winner of the 2024 edition. It also adopts a format more in keeping with the 'Raid' spirit that the competitors are so fond of and which is the trademark of the Martinique Cata Raid.

 
Ad Noordzij et Bastiaan Tentij (HorseRidingSpain)Vainqueurs de l’édition 2024 du Martinique Cata Raid !
27/01/2024

Enfin du large ! Pour cette dernière journée de compétition, les conditions météo ont permis au comité de course de proposer, enfin, un parcours à l’extérieur de la Baie du Robert. Cette ultime régate est capitale puisqu’elle désigne le vainqueur de l’édition 2024. Elle épouse aussi un format plus conforme à l'esprit “Raid” que les concurrents affectionnent tant et qui est la marque de fabrique du Martinique Cata Raid.

 
Tensions rise over the Martinique Cata Raid
26/01/2023

This sixth and penultimate day promises to be decisive. After 6 legs contested in sustained conditions, the bodies are beginning to feel the strain and the riders' faces are a little drawn. Once again, we were expecting commitment on the water and nobody was disappointed. Clear attacks, multiple incidents of damage, a look back at a day which may well prove decisive in the Martinique Cata Raid...

 
Le ton monte sur le Martinique Cata Raid
26/01/2023

Cette sixième et pénultième journée s’annonçait déterminante. Après 6 manches disputées dans des conditions soutenues, les corps commencent à être éprouvés, les traits des coureurs sont un peu tirés. On attendait à nouveau, de l’engagement sur l’eau et personne n’a été déçu. Attaques franches, avaries multiples, retour sur une journée peut-être décisive sur le Martinique Cata Raid…

 
Unprecedented mid-race podiums
25/01/2024

There could well be a few upsets in the general standings this evening after the jury's deliberations! Because today, with the fine weather conditions here in the Bay of Robert, the crews were able to compete in two very intense races, full of twists and turns...

 
Podiums inédits à mi-course
25/01/2024

Il risque d’y avoir quelques bouleversements au général ce soir après délibération du jury ! Car aujourd'hui avec les belles conditions météo retrouvées ici dans la baie du Robert, les équipages ont pu disputer deux courses très intenses et pleines de rebondissements…

 
Races of the day cancelled on the Martinique Cata Raid
24/01/2023

Despite a briefing and a course proposal on the morning of the third day of racing, the decision by the organisers and the race committee to cancel the day's racing was imminent.

 
Courses du jour annulées sur le Martinique Cata Raid
24/01/2023

Malgré un briefing et une proposition de parcours en ce matin du  troisième jour de course, on pressentait la décision de l’organisation et du comité de course, d’annuler purement et simplement les régates du jour.

 
An intense day to say the least on the Martinique Cata Raid
23/01/2024

It seems that circumstances conspired this morning to throw a spanner in the works of the Martinique Cata Raid's well-oiled organisers. As soon as the competitors were on the water, the start procedure was delayed. The cause was the heavy conditions outside the bay, which made anchoring the markers tricky. With the fleet dismasting and returning to the club, the series has only just begun on a day full of pitfalls. A torn mainsail, a blown genoa sheet and a blown spinnaker pole for three of the race's main protagonists... It's clear that Tuesday will have given everyone a hard time!

 
Une journée pour le moins intense sur le Martinique Cata Raid
23/01/2024

A croire que les circonstances s’étaient liguées ce matin pour mettre des bâtons dans les rouages pourtant bien huilés de l’organisation du Martinique Cata Raid. A peine les concurrents sur l’eau, la procédure de départ prend du retard. En cause, les conditions  trop fortes à l'extérieur de la baie qui rendent le mouillage des marques épineux. Démâtage, retour de la flotte au club, la série ne fait que commencer pour cette journée qui va s’avérer semée d’embûches. GV déchirée, écoute de génois et tangon explosés pour trois des principaux animateurs de la course… Décidément, ce mardi aura donné du fil à retordre à tout le monde !

 
Adapting
22/01/2024

Adapting will certainly be the theme of this week's Martinique Cata Raid. The race director had planned to send the competitors on a 'long distance' race, but the weather decided otherwise. This morning in Le Robert, the water was swept by the famous squalls characteristic of the trade winds, gusting to over 35 knots. As a result, the 28 crews finally set off to sail two constructed courses.

 
S’adapter
22/01/2024

S’adapter sera certainement et plus que jamais la thématique de la semaine sur le Martinique Cata Raid. Le directeur de course avait prévu d’envoyer les concurrents sur un “longue distance”, la météo en a décidé autrement. Ce matin, au Robert, le plan d’eau est balayé par ces fameux  grains, caractéristiques des alizés, avec des rafales à plus de 35 nœuds. Les 28 équipages sont donc finalement partis naviguer sur deux parcours construits.

 
Gros changement de programme sur le Martinique Cata Raid
21 Janvier 2024

Cérémonie d’ouverture, présentation des équipages hier, et régate d'entraînement ce dimanche, le Martinique Cata Raid est bel et bien lancé. Cette 9ème édition* marque un tournant dans l’histoire de la course à deux titres. D’un part, c’est la première fois qu’elle rassemble autant de nations différentes. D’autre part, et c’est un fait inédit, le Martinique Cata Raid ne fera pas le tour de l’île aux fleurs en raison des conditions météo musclées annoncées pour la semaine.

 
J- 7 avant le lancement du Martinique Cata Raid
13 janvier 2024

Dans 7 jours exactement, 30 équipages s’élanceront pour un tour de la Martinique en catamaran de sport F18 et F16. Et pour cette 10è édition, le programme s’annonce copieux avec trois grosses étapes au large et deux épreuves en format sprint ; le Martinique Cata Raid 2024 sera sans nul doute une compétition de gros bra

 
Avis de course et ouverture des inscriptions pour le Martinique Cata Raid 2024
24/04/2023

Du 21 au 27 janvier 2024, l'île aux fleurs sera à nouveau le théâtre grandiose de cette passionnante compétition qu'est le Martinique Cata Raid : un tour de l'île en catamaran de sport (F16 et F18).L'avis de course de la 9é édition vient d'être publié ; les inscriptions débutent dès ce mercredi 26 avril.