2024 Offshore Double Handed World Championship – Leg 1 of the Final
by 2024 Offshore Double Handed World Championship 30 Sep 08:10 PDT
24 September – 1 October 2024
Yven and Berrehar (FRA) – Offshore Double Handed World Championship – Leg 1 of the Agglomeration Final © Anne Beaugé / LGL
With gusts exceeding 30 knots and a sea state above two meters, the downwind start of the final race in the Offshore Double Handed World Championship was exceptionally intense. Ten finalists hailing from nine different nations were fully launched for the 151NM race. Racing in Sun Fast 30 One Designs, the first boat to finish would be declared the world champion.
The Lorient Agglomération Final faced delays to allow intense westerly winds to calm down. This marked the fourth low-pressure system to hit Lorient during the championship. At the downwind start, the Dutch team took off, with Erik Van Vuuren & Yvonne Beusker (NED) crossing the line in first place. However, one of the favorites, Charlotte Yven & Lois Berrehar (FRA), encountered issues with their gennaker, similar to the challenges faced by Onur Tok & Pelin Keskin (TUR).
The initial leg to Eaux Saines featured a super-fast broad reach of approximately 50 miles. Three hours into the race, Elodie Bonafous & Basile Bourgnon (FRA) had established a formidable pace, building a two-mile lead over the following teams, including: Jonas Gerckens & Djemila Tassin (BEL), Federico Waksman & Justina Pacheco (URU), Lina Rixgens & Sverre Reinke (GER), and Maggie Adamson & Cal Finlayson (GBR). The leading boats maintained an impressive average speed of over 12 knots, surfing at nearly 20 knots.
This event is organized by Lorient Grand Large in collaboration with FFVoile, the Yacht Club De France, and the Royal Ocean Racing Club, with support from Cap-Regatta and Multiplast/Jeanneau.
