First starting signals for the EDHEC Sailing Cup in rough conditions

A 180 boat fleet is competing this week at the EDHEC Sailing Cup, which is the biggest intercollegiate offshore regatta in the world. The 46th edition is held from April 25 to May 3 in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

Three rankings are organized: the Overall Ranking, the 100% Student ranking and the International Ranking. In addition, three One design classes are represented: Grand Surprise (40 boats), J/80 (39 boats) and Longtze.

Training races on Sunday (April 27) were cancelled due to a strong wind of 35 knots and 4 meters waves.

Monday (April 28) was the first occasion to see the whole fleet gathered and to test each other on the water, but due to rough conditions -3 meter waves – the only heat of the day was hard. However, the crews are happy to have set sails for the first time during the EDHEC Sailing Cup.

“It was nice to go on the water after the day off. It released the pressure and let us compare our level with the others,” said the skipper of the FSA Université Laval. As last year, the level of international crews is high. The defender of the Student Ranking, HEC Lausanne is ranked 3 on the Overall Ranking in GSU.

Monday was also the beginning of the Sperry Top-Sider Fleet and Match Race on a basin close to the harbor. The 8 selected teams will compete on fleet race for the first half of the week and then on Match Race for the Final.

On Tuesday (April 29), the whole fleet raced coastal races. Two races has been made for everybody. The conditions were still difficult with waves but easier than Monday with a wind of 10-15 knots. After 3 races the rankings are the following:

GSU: (40 boats)
1. Altran Centrale Paris
2. KPMG ESSEC
3. HEC Lausanne
4. KPMG HEC
5. HEC Montréal
8. Tufts University
14. Haugesund Student Sailing Team

J/80: (39 boats)
1. HEC Segeral Sopra
2. IEASEG Voile
3. Centrales Nantes
9. Georgetown University
14. Su Sail (Sabancci)

Source: Event media

BACKGROUND: The EDHEC Sailing Cup is the biggest intercollegiate offshore regatta in the world. Every year, 180 boats are competing during one week. This event is 100% student organized by student of the EDHEC Business School. This year, the 46th edition is held from April 25 to May 3 in the Harbor of the Vendee Globe in France. Event website: http://www.ccedhec.com