The new race for the Multi50s from Saint Gilles Croix-de-Vie, France to St Petersburg, Russia sets sail on 16 May. Nine trimarans are expected including two of the latest racing machines in the class: Yves le Blevec's Verdier-designed Actual and Franck-Yves Escoffier's VPLP-penned Crêpes Whaou!

The race for line honours looks certain to be between Crèpes Whaou! 3 and Actual, the former winner of last year's Transat Jacques Vabre, after Actual capsized soon after the start. Le Blevec, the 2007 Mini Transat winner and one time Orange 2 boat captain is back and all the wiser. This weekend thse two boats lined up at the Grand Prix Petit Navire in Douarnannez for the Trophy Guyader and it was Actual that came out on top.

Crew can be changed for the return leg from St Petersburg and there are some interesting names cropping up including former Sopra Group skipper (currently on the Transat AG2R) Antoine Koch, former maxi-catamaran and Whitbread skipper Eric Loizeau, sail making guru from the Incidences La Rochelle loft, Jean-Baptiste Levaillant, Vendee Globe skipper Arnaud Boissieres and one of Yves Parlier's Mediatis Region Aquitaine designers Romaric Neyhousser.

The race organisers have gone to the trouble of creating a fine press pack in English providing full details of the race here

News source: The Daily Sail
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