Organized by the Yacht Club de Cannes from September 19 to 25, the 43rd Régates Royales continue. Even today, for this fourth day of racing, The wind was in a very good mood again, with a perfect East-South-East breeze in the morning which decided to abate a bit throughout the day.
Karine Grené – (September 23, 2021) German Frers, always has that mischievous smile behind his sunglasses and wide eyebrows. Considered one of the greatest naval architects of the past sixty years, he designed his first sailboat at 17, continuing the work of his father German Frers senior. German “junior” was only one year old when, during a gale during the Mar del Plata Buenos-Aires race, Recluta ran aground on the beach. For lack of rescue resources, the boat was partially destroyed,and the crew just manages to save the rigging and part of the fittings. Friend of German Frers Senior, the owner asked him to redesign Recluta, a twenty-meter ketch, but due to the shortage of materials during WWII, it would never be built.
A few decades later, his son German Frers Junior, who in the line of his father and with his son Mani, not only pursued the “Frers” dynasty, but designed more than 1,000 sailboats, whether for Bénéteau, Hallberg-Rassy , Nautor Swan… as well as all the great racing monohulls that have shone in races around the world, Admiral’s Cup, America’s Cup. German Frers then decided three years ago to take over his father’s plans, then to (re) build Recluta. He hired young carpenters supervised by an 84-year-old foreman, considered a shipbuilding cabinetmaker. His daughter Zelmira, artist and photographer follows the site and has just published a book on this saga. This year, the superb Recluta is present in Cannes at the Régates Royales with a young Argentinian crew obviously led by German Frers. And if we find a majority of Fife, Herreshoff or Nicholson plans around the basin, the great Argentinian naval architect, is also the author of the Smeralda 888 monotypes, racy regatta monohulls of 8.88 meters, built in Italy and launched in particular by the Yacht Club de Monaco. Coincidentally, tomorrow, Friday, September 24, will be the start of the Gold Cup of the series, the Smeralda competing for the first time in the Régates Royales.Based at the Yacht Club de Cannes, they are led by seasoned crews, all with world titles – François Brénac, formerly of the 470 French team and recent 6 MJI European champion, Stéphane Christidis, former of the France of 470 then of 49er and trainer of Jean-Baptiste Bernaz in Laser… – but must be helmed by non-professionals, nevertheless amateurs more than informed like Jean-François Cutugno, president of the Yacht Club of Cannes, at the head of the organization of these 43nevertheless amateurs more than informed like Jean-François Cutugno, president of the Yacht Club of Cannes, at the head of the organization of these 43nevertheless amateurs more than informed like Jean-François Cutugno, president of the Yacht Club of Cannes, at the head of the organization of these 43ème Régates Royales, and renowned regatta sailor for decades.
This Thursday, in a dream breeze, the 120 competitors were once again treated to an exceptional day in both harbors. On the eve of their final Dragon races, Géry Trentesaux (Bande à part) took control of the event thanks to two almost perfect heats, when in 5.5 MJI, Finn’s Olympic champion, the Polish Mateuz Kuskinierewicz ( Aspire) consolidated its first place in the general classification.
