First Sardinha Cup

The Sardinha Cup ended on the morning of Saturday 13^th April with a win for Yann Eliès-Sam Davies on the Figaro BENETEAU 3 “Saint Michel”.  

Team Vendée Formation are the organizers of the Sardinha Cup, the first stage of the French elite ocean-racing championship.  This first race was sailed by 34 two-handed crews including everything from highly experienced sailors to rookies. As the fleet crossed the starting line on 30^th March, they were all eager to try out the new Figaro BENETEAU 3 in official racing conditions.   

Participants sailed three legs, one small warm-up of 147 miles off Île d’Yeu and two 48-hour long coastal legs (408 miles and 280 miles). Optimal conditions prevailed throughout the three weeks of racing, enabling the skippers familiarize themselves with the Figaro BENETEAU 3. 

The 3^rd and last leg was decisive. First place went to the Yann Eliès-Sam Davies duo, who also took first overall of the Sardinha Cup into the bargain. Lois Berrehar and Thomas Rouxel teaming up on “Bretagne CMB-Performance” and Xavier Macaire - Achille Nebout on “Groupe Snef” placed second and third overall respectively.

Yann Eliès and Samantha Davies, the winning duo of the Sardinha Cup. (© c. Breschi)

« It’s a really nice boat. Change is good for you. It’s exciting. We’ve got a great learning curve ahead. You get all sorts of sensations at the helm, even if it’s physical and wet.» Yann Eliès, three-times winner of La Solitaire.

Julien Ferré, sailing communication project manager with BENETEAU presented
the 1^st Rookie prize to the “Ethical Power” team of Conrad Colman and Sébastien Marsset.

« The Figaro is tough, so I expected it to be difficult and was not disappointed. I came to take a thrashing and that is just what I got! The boat is really brilliant. I think it’s the first time that the letters NZL have ever been painted onto the sail of a Figaro»  Conrad Colman, 1^st rookie of the Sardinha Cup.

Video of the finish of the last leg.