The DRHEAM-TROPHY, the prologue of the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE took place on Saturday afternoon. The race was changed to a parade due to a lack of wind. The 25 young people attending as part of the Rêves de Large event were able to enjoy the day behind the scenes.
Everyone was a winner! Legend has it that the winner of the prologue never wins the main race, although this year it will not be the case in the DRHEAM-CUP / GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE DE COURSE AU LARGE since the DRHEAM-TROPHY was changed to a parade as the wind completely fell on the Cherbourg coast at 2 o’clock this afternoon. There will be no rankings, although that did not prevent the young people aged 11 to 15 from enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the 25 boats taking part in the Rêves de Large operation.
For many of them, it was a first experience, as recounted by Nathan, 13, invited onboard Bruno Jacob’s 50 foot catamaran GDD. “The crew was very friendly, they showed me how to find the boat on a map, explained the use of the beacons and I was lucky to steer the boat, I would like to try again. Same experience for Léo, 13, who was delighted with his first experience on Eric de Turckheim’s impressive 54 foot yacht Teasing Machine. «We weren’t able to race, but the last 40 minutes I steered, it was brilliant. Laurent (Pagès) was near me to help, and made me want to start again, with the same team as they are super friendly!”
On Nicolas Guibal’s Class40 NG Grand Large, Clément, 12, tells us “I learnt a lot, how to steer the boat, raise and lower the sails, pull on the ropes”, and on another Class40, Viranga (Emmanuel Hamez), Alex, who has already learnt to sail on catamarans, had stars in his eyes: “I was wonderful, I loved everything, the atmosphere, being able to steer the boat, it is more powerful than a catamaran!” Quentin Le Nabour, a member of Viranga’s crew, shared the same pleasure: “It was wonderful to see the children’s smiles. When we were kids, we too dreamt of going on racing boats, it was a wonderful experience to share with him.”