Sports catamaran regatta around Martinique
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10th edition of the Martinique Cata Raid
January 26 to February 1, 2025.
January 26 to February 1, 2025.
Among the other announced favourites on the starting line will be title holders Ad Noordzij and Bastiaan Tentij, who this year are in a class of their own, racing respectively with Valentijn Grossman (HorseRidingSpain) and Matthieu Marfaing (Cirrus MM Sailing).
It's only logical that multiple world champion Ravi Parent, in partnership with Germany's Lena Weisskichel, who is also F18 world champion in the women's category, should be in with a shout of winning the title. There are also a number of other very sharp duos to be reckoned with, such as the pairing of Gurvan Bontemps / Benjamin Amiot (Stickermann - French Caribbean) and Victorien Erussard / Fred Moreau (Energy Observer). Finally, the Boulogne twins (Cirrus R3), always well placed in the Martinique Cata Raid, have just scorned an ultimate weapon: the Cirrus 3, a brand new boat which they have entirely thought up, designed and built.
The F16 riders have nothing to envy their ‘elders’ in terms of their track record. There are also a number of world champions here, such as Lou Berthomieux, who has teamed up with Thomas Proust, both of whom appear to be taking it easy: ‘We've been to enough regattas where we've had to get our heads around it, but this time we feel more like we're on holiday! Obviously, as soon as we get out on the water, things are going to change,’ smiles Thomas. It's really interesting to have these 34 boats on the water,’ enthuses Lou. I think we're going to be able to play together: the F16s have a lot to prove in the scratch race, and that's an extra incentive!”
Among the 6 F16 crews, Yohan Debauque and Léo Maurin (French Match Racing Champion 2024, runner-up in the Nacra 17 Youth Championship in 2022) will also be competing to win: ‘We're clearly here to challenge the Olympic champions, and we're going to do our best to go head to head with them’.
The Martinique Wing Adventure riders are also used to collecting medals, titles and trophies. From European Champions to World Champions, the track record of each and every one of them is impressive. This is the first time that the Martinique Cata Raid has opened up to this fast-growing sport: a challenge and a great deal of ambition for this life-size test, which the organisers hope to perpetuate.
The only woman taking part in the competition, Orane Céris (European Champion and World Vice-Champion in the Race, and third in the world in freestyle) is really looking forward to getting out on the water: ‘It's already quite exceptional to sail around an island, and I'm really motivated for the levolet competition! The long distance will obviously be quite physical, but it's also very exciting to have to outdo myself. For me, it's an extra challenge to be sailing scratch races with the boys! Before the first official race, which takes place tomorrow, it's a good time for chatting. ‘I'm here on holiday,’ smiles Oscar Leclair! ‘And just as well, I'm going to be able to smoke you,’ adds Allan Fedit (European vice champion and third in the world in freestyle).
After today's two training legs, the real action begins tomorrow, Monday, with the biggest stages of the Martinique Cata Raid: almost 30 miles between Le Robert and Le Prêcheur and weather conditions that are already shaping up to be sporting... look out for it tomorrow!
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