40 Degrees 2 wins Normandy Race prologue

Peter Harding and Halvard Mabire have spectacularly won the Normandy Channel Race prologue onboard 40 Degrees 2.

The warm up prologue race was run off Hermanville on Saturday and thanks to a slight zest of wind, the race committee for the Normandy Channel Race managed to launch the first act of the competition on time. The 20 racers, accompanied by their guests for the day got off to a great start, which reflected their keenness to be at sea following several days preparation along the pontoons of the Bassin Saint Pierre, in Caen.

The British skipper Peter Harding and local French skipper Halvard Mabire, quickly got away from the chasing pack on their new Owen Clarke design. Used to sailing together with a trans channel race, RORC races and the Grand Prix de Douarnenez to their credit they were first to round the windward mark and then managed to hold off some stiff opposition. Spliff, an Owen Clarke Express 40, sailed by British sailors Andrew Dawson and Stephen Card went on to take second, while Tanguy De Lamotte and Jean Galfione trailed in third.

"Peter Harding, the owner of the boat is happy" enthused Halvard as they went through the lock at Ouistreham, "So I am too! we worked well together. The boat goes great in light conditions so we quickly got ahead of the others. You always have more clear air up front".

The Normandy Channel Race starts Sunday and will take the 10 class 40's and twenty sailors on a tour of the English and St Georges Channels. The fleet is forecast to finish some time on Friday or Saturday back in the port of Caen.

For more information go to: www.normandy-race.com/

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