The sun shone brightly on the Tall Ship crews in Le Havre today as they joined together for the last time this year to enjoy a crew parade and take part in the final prize giving ceremony of the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta.
Twenty-seven awards were presented on the main stage next to Shabab Oman II with proceedings overseen by Luc Lemonnier, Maire du Havre; Chris Bickert, Le Havre Event Chairman and Vice Chairman of STA France and Paul Bishop, Race Director, Sail Training International.
“The final race in the RDV series from Halifax to Le Havre has been closely fought during the entire 2,000 plus nautical miles of ocean racing and the crews are elated to be in Le Havre to celebrate their achievements.
“Peter von Danzig led the fleet for most of the way across the North Atlantic but Rona II took a more northerly race strategy which paid off and managed to take “line honours” from her in the closing stages with an elapsed (actual) time of just 12 days three hours 55 minutes and 29 seconds.
“Gulden Leeuw was the third vessel to cross the finish line having made tremendous gains in the final days but her Class A rival Oosterschelde held her off to keep first place and to win Race 5 overall on corrected time.
“Blue Clipper also made good gains in the final stages and took first place on corrected time in Class B from Jolie Brise after 13 days of neck and neck racing.
“The captains and crews have clearly had an exciting race and are enjoying mixing together and discussing their race strategies in the wonderful festival atmosphere here in Le Havre. The Race Committee would like to congratulate all vessels on their achievements and the excellent seamanship they displayed throughout.”
Paul Bishop Race Director, Sail Training International
Full race results for the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta can be seen here.
LE HAVRE PORT AWARDS
Best Dressed Ship in Port. Presented by Luc Lemonnier, Maire du Havre – Shabab Oman II
Most Spectacular Arrival in Port. Presented by CMA-CGM – Santa Maria Manuela (Portugal)
Smartest Dressed in the Crew Parade. Presented by Saint James – Sagres (Portugal)
Most Engaged in the Crew Parade. Presented by Ville du Havre – Blue Clipper (UK)
LE HAVRE RACE 5 AWARDS
Youngest Crew. Presented by Pilotage – Jolie Brise (UK). Average age 22.7 years old.
Most International Crew. Presented by Haropa – Atyla (Vanuatu). Eighteen different nationalities on board including Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,UK, USA.
SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL RACE 5 AWARDS
Social Media Award – Rona II (UK)
3rd in Class C/D on corrected time – Vahine (Finland)
3rd in Class B on corrected time – Atyla (Vanuatu)
3rd in Class A on corrected time – Alexander von Humboldt II (Germany)
2nd in Class C/D on corrected time – Regina Germania (Germany)
2nd in Class B on corrected time – Jolie Brise (UK)
2nd in Class A on corrected time – Gulden Leeuw (Netherlands)
1st in Class C/D on corrected time – Rona II (UK)
1st in Class B on corrected time – Blue Clipper (UK)
1st in Class A on corrected time – Oosterschelde (Netherlands)
Line Honours – Rona II (UK) (Completing over 2000 nautical miles of racing over 12 days, 3 hours, 29 minutes and 23 seconds
RENDEZ-VOUS 2017 TALL SHIPS REGATTA RACE SERIES AWARDS
Race Series Completion Awards – Blue Clipper (UK); Jolie Brise (UK); Peter von Danzig (Germany); Rona II (UK)
1st in Class C/D – Rona II (UK)
1st in Class B – Jolie Brise (UK)
1st in Class A – Oosterschelde (Netherlands)
Fastest Elapsed Time for Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta Race Series – Peter von Danzig (Germany)
Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta Friendship Trophy – Spaniel (Latvia)
CREW NEWS
Some of the French trainees on Morgenster
Young trainees from each town in the Le Havre area had the unique opportunity to take part in a six day sail from Den Helder, Pays-Bas (leaving 24 August) to Le Havre (arriving 30 August). They sailed on Class A Tall Ships Morgenster (Netherlands) and Royal Helena (Bulgaria). The adventure involved an overnight stop in Calais.
For more information visit Le Havre Tourisme and Le Havre Tall Ships
Photos from the event can be seen on the Sail Training International Facebook page.
All images: Valery Vasilevskiy