It was announced that the wind would be "well established in force" this Tuesday, and it had to be to support the first day's events, planned for the volunteer teams of the Toulon Provence Regatta!
The school morning began in the presence of Mrs Josée MASSI, Mayor of Toulon, and her deputies Laurent BONNET and Yann TAINGUY. No fewer than 290 primary school pupils from the TPM metropolitan area were able to practise their seamanship, knots and flags of the international alphabet. The presentation panels for the various sponsored yachts were handed over to the skippers, and you can now discover them all along the Carré du Port. After a visit to the exhibition and discussions in the Mairie d'Honneur with skippers Clément GIRAUD and Mikael MERGUI, the sponsors of the regatta, it was time to visit the different boats... "It was great! It was great!" exclaimed one of the schoolchildren ...
As the yachts were unable to get out for regatta training, the first visits open to the public were able to serenely follow those of the exhibition "The Coupe de France, 130 years of regattas" held in the Mairie d'Honneur. A large screen has now been installed in the Carré du Port, allowing the public to admire these exceptional yachts at sea.
The day ended with a talk on the history of the French challenge and its new prospects in SAIL GP, catamaran on F50 foils or AC40 and AC75, at speeds approaching 100km/h! You had to hold on tight to your seat!
The public is now ready to follow the first regatta training sessions scheduled for tomorrow!
