Sports catamaran regatta around Martinique
FR 
EN

 

News Releases

25/01/2024

Unprecedented mid-race podiums


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...

Martinique Cata Raid  2024 : default © Pierrick Contin


Yesterday's afternoon of enforced rest enabled all the crew to get back on their feet after the intense efforts of the first two days and to fine-tune the preparation of the boats, which also needed it. This morning, everyone is ready to resume racing. On this third day of racing in the Martinique Cata Raid, there's already a big scramble at the finishing gate; the top three crews are this morning just 3 points apart, which bodes well for some great battles in the bay of Robert, which is once again passable. While a well-established trade wind continues to sweep along the ocean coast of Martinique, the water is a little less agitated and, above all, there should be no squalls to interfere with the organisation today!


On the programme, carefully concocted by Didier Flamme and Bruno Lecomte, 2 races of 2 laps, a 'back to back' as they say in the jargon, including the rounding of the îlets aux Rats and à Eau. On this course, which is fairly similar to the one raced on Tuesday, the crews, who are now familiar with all the rough edges, are making sparks fly and the bows are smoking.


With their impressive upwind speed, 'Les Nico' (Gillet/Poix on Socoveam - Anmizi) were at the front of the pack in the first round. But downwind, the prize goes to Gurvan Bontemps and Fred Moreau (French Caribbean - Stickerman). Back on track after a complicated day on Tuesday, the two lascars won by a landslide ahead of the Martiniquais. Nicolas Touchot and Pierre-Yves Durand (Rhythm) took third place.
A short break and it's back to work: same course, same conditions, same fighters!


Despite a series of setbacks, Benoit Champanhac and Grégoire Courtel were able to keep up the good work, finishing 6th this morning in the provisional overall rankings, and they created the opening for victory. With an explosive final length under spinnaker, Dutch duo Ad Noordzij/Bastiaan Tentij (HorseRidingSpain) snatched second place from Gurvan Bontemps and Fred Moreau (French Caribbean - Stickerman), who were definitely back in the game.


After another intense day, Dutch riders Ad Noordzij/Bastiaan Tentij (HorseRidingSpain) take first place overall, ahead of Gurvan Bontemps and Fred Moreau (French Caribbean - Stickerman). Martinique's Nicolas Gillet and Nicolas Poix on Socoveam - Anmizi remain in third place.


Martinique Cata Raid  2024 : Grand Prix du Marin © Pierrick Contin


The Martinique Cata Raid, a format particularly suited to F16s


They are sailing in a Viper, a little drowned out, it has to be said, by the pack of F18s. First in the F16 rankings, Yohan Debauque and Barbara Mazoyer are nevertheless delighted to be here in Martinique and to be discovering the competition:  


"It was a dream for both of us to take part in this race and clearly we're really pleased to be here! The last two days have been pretty sporty, and Barbara, who's only sailing an F16 for the second time, is doing a great job! We're not short of sensations, sporting ones of course and human ones too, as on the first race we picked up a sailor who had fallen overboard after his boat capsized. For me, in any case, it was a very powerful memory! 


The Martinique Cata Raid is a very appropriate format for the F16. It's a shame there weren't more of us this year. The F16 is a more accessible boat, lighter than the F18, and provides at least as much excitement. As a result, there are also a lot more women's or mixed crews in this category. In fact, on this event, the two F16 crews are mixed. 


Yes, it would be great to develop the category in the race. I'd love to motivate the F16 Class to organise the World Championship here on the Martinique Cata Raid!


Yes, it would be great to develop the category during the race. I'd love to motivate the F16 Class to organise the World Championship here at the Martinique Cata Raid!


A big thank you to Jean André from Ti Wind for inviting us here and to Bérengère for lending us her boat! There are still three exceptional days to go with some fine weather ahead, so we hope to make the most of them!"


Martinique Cata Raid  2024 : Grand Prix du Marin © Pierrick Contin


They said:


Benoit Champanhac and Grégoire Courtel


"On the first run, when we were in third place, just before the line, who knows why? Grégoire decided to go for a swim! We were under spinnaker and all of a sudden: splash! On the second race, we tore our mainsail (again)! It was too hot, so we opened the window!


 Still, it's really nice to win this race, because we've had a lot of little problems! A torn mainsail on Tuesday, Grégoire falling overboard this afternoon, another hole in the mainsail today, not to mention the fact that we thought we'd stolen the start, which forced us to make repairs.... In short! We did get a bit lucky on the first upwind leg, though: we passed the leaders up there and ended up winning the Channel. Overall, we're happy.”


Nicolas Touchot - Pierre-Yves Durand ( Rhythm)


"It's not bad, especially as Pierre-Yves is ill today, he didn't sleep well, he's got a fever, but when the starting gun sounds, we're back to our usual Pierre-Yves. We battled hard and finished 3rd, making the most of each other's misfortunes, but it was great fun!  We did a little less well in the second race, 4th at the finish I think, but the important thing was to be in contact with the fleet and have fun because we were fighting with our friends. We know that the regatta is lost for us with two technical problems on Tuesday and a round that will be lost for us on Monday. Now it's all about fun, fun, fun and trying to fight it out with our mates!”


Victor Martin - Pierre Douville de Franss (Matbois - Technopieux)


“Rooght I've done it again, it was great! Today, we made a lot fewer mistakes, it was very, very good; we were in the match, where we wanted to be. We weren't at the front of the pack because that's too hard for us, but we were really in the thick of the fight in our group. On the other days, we were 16th or 17th, making mistakes, but today we gained around 5 places over the two legs and we're starting to think that we could still make up some places in the top 10! For Sunday sailors, because we only sail on Sundays, that's really good!”


Programme for the week:



  • Saturday 20 January: Opening drink

  • Sunday 21 January: Training day

  • Monday 22 January: Constructed course

  • Tuesday 23 January: Long distance (Canceled)

  • 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.