Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
Nice Christmas Regatta 2018 – Trophée Jacques Puisségur
Second win in a row for Xavier Rohart and Serge Pulfer
The renowned Christmas Regatta organized by the Club Nautique de Nice was held during 3 days on the magic place of the baie des anges between Christmas and New between Christmas and New Year. 30 crews from all over Europe gathered for the season's final meeting of this legendary boat, the Star. This two-man Olympic keelboat came out of the games in 2016, but she continues to make dream the youngest French contenders for Paris 2024. Let's mention Mattéo Chaboud, a 15-year-old Nacra champion who ran with his father, or Alice Chiappori, a former member of CN Nice who became France's champion in Optimist, but especially Sandro Lacan, the "oldest" youngster, who wins the title of the best junior with a 6th place overall. Sandro was a member of the France junior America's Cup team and he finished third in the last Tour de France à la Voile on Team Network IXIO and 1st junior.
This craze for the Star is due to the required skills of this keelboat and the level of the Class. Indeed you can rub on the water the greatest champions of Olympic sailing such as French competitor Xavier Rohart, 2-time world champion and bronze medalist at the Athens Games, or the Danish multi-class world champion Jorgen Schönherr, reigning world champion in Dragon. Two stars of the sailing who love the Star and who have joined the narrow circle of professionals involved into the famous ATP-like circuit known as the Star Sailors League.
At the end of this 62nd edition, Xavier Rohart wins for the 4th time, a huge performance as this regatta is part of the world classics of the serie. Jorgen is 2nd in front of the Austrian former Olympic sailor Christian Nehammer. It should also be noted the good performance of Nice’s team Jean-Gabriel Charton and Olivier Terrol who finished at the foot of the podium in 4th position.
The winners have won another 100 points in the world rankings and will be able to strengthen their position for the annual finals organized by SSL in Nassau, Bahamas.
This regatta represents the major event of the Club Nautique de Nice, under the leadership of Mattéo Carli-Roy President of the sailing section and Jean-François Puisségur, French President of the serie and organizer of the regatta. A teamwork orchestrated on the water by the excellent President of the Race Comittee Olivier de Turckheim assisted for the occasion by President of the Jury Philippe Gomez and CNN staff and their base manager Damien Babonneau. This organisation, mooved by a beautiful spirit has celebrated this year its 62 anniversary without a single wrinkle. Everyone has a date for the next edition which will take place in 2019 as the same date, from December 28 to the 30.
Trophée Jacques Puisségur, a family story about the Star
The Puisségur’s family have the Star in their blood. After his father, Jean-François Puisségur, current French President of the Class is now the chief organizer of Nice Christmas Regatta. Who else besides him could embody this event that bears the name of his father Jacques, former renowned member of the Class and multiple champion of France, who died in 2016. Since "Jeff" took up the torch with the enthusiasm that characterizes his family. An organization in "pro" mode, what's more normal for this businessman from Nice working in advertising, who has put all his know-how in communication to endow the regatta with the best digital tools. In addition to the social media, Jean-François Puisségur has seeked the support of the Star Sailors League which broadcasts the regatta live on the net thanks to boat’s GPS trackers. A fantastic opportunity to promote the regatta across the world. And it works, the Christmas Regatta has become in a few years the most famous regatta of the winter period and an unmissable event for all competitors. This is the best reward for the one who has given up running the regatta to devote himself to the organization!
The Nice Christmas Regatta - Trophée Jacques Puisségur - is an historical event of the Starclass - a 250 points SSL event. Each year the best competitors of the Class attend the NCR in one of the most beautifull location in Europe. Nice is the heart of the french Riviera with very cool breeze in winter with a thermic wind of 10-15 knots every morning. This regatta is a classic "rendez-vous" for both professional our amateurs teams. A family regatta with a very high level of competition. We can say that this is the DNA of our class. The regatta is broadcasted by SSL with live tracking 2D. The Nice Christmas regatta is the part 1 of the European Winter Circuit, just before the Primo Cup in Monaco. A good way of sailing in winter on french riviera. Let's join us !
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