Allow me first to repeat the good words from the President of CVP at the crew dinner: "The Pinatel 2008 regatta is really the icing on the cake for this year’s 150th anniversary of the Cercle de la Voile de Paris"!

Last year, I promised you a great event and I think we did not fail thanks to the race committee and regatta support.

First, this year the famous Pinatel regatta brought together many participants, both sailing and helping on shore.

On the water, there were twenty-one Stars, among them German, Swiss and Franco-American crews. Also taking part were Jacques Puissegur, President of the ASPROSTAR, from Nice, Regis Berenguier, 2007 French Star champion from Hyères, and Xavier Rohart, twice Star world champion Star and Olympic Bronze medalist (Athens), from Marseille, accompanied by his likely new teammate Pierre-Alexis Ponsot.

We also appreciated the on-water dedicated security team and we were pleased to have six Stars from CVP and six Stars from YCIF sailing. This is for us a promise that the Paris Star fleets are indeed strong and are reviving to active racing. The wind also was great! Light and uncertain south wind on Saturday, medium and stable west wind on Sunday and south-west strong and gusty on Monday, We saw all facets of our Olympic sailing area!

I also must mention the fireplace, restaurant, bar, which pleased our visitors, the signing of the “Gold Book” by Xavier Rohart and Jacques Puissegur and the presentation of the CVP burgee to them!

Finally, the race itself which created a magnificent view for the spectators. Eleven races, a great winner announced, boats planing in winds of at least twenty knots, some participants from afar a bit lost on the first day, a dismasting on Sunday and a dismasting on Monday, and a doping control official of the AFLD mandated by the FFV: What a regatta! All this led to an excellent podium by our visitors who quickly figured out the complexities of these waters with Xavier Rohart/ Pierre Alexis Ponsot finishing first in front of Thierry de La Villehuchet / Guy Gurney and Jacques Puissegur / Martin Tenconi.