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This Thursday at 10 a.m., the first races of the 16th edition of the Cata Cup get underway on the waters of Saint-Barthélemy. No fewer than 54 crews will be battling it out for overall victory on Sunday November 21.
After a final day of training yesterday, Wednesday November 20, the 54 crews taking part in the 16th edition of the Saint-Barth Cata Cup will finally be able to get down to business this Thursday at 10am. The skippers' navigation skills will be put to the test, as the first races are likely to be extremely tactical. Indeed, according to the weather forecasts, the first confrontations could take place in light winds. This means that the skippers will have to be extremely cautious.
It's also possible that Thursday's races will simply have to be postponed, as there won't be enough wind to ensure a minimum of sporting fairness. Should this scenario be confirmed, it would be a first since the creation of the event in 2008. For the time being, however, competitors are not overly concerned, as they are banking on a pleasant surprise. In fact, it's not uncommon for forecasts to fall short of expectations.
"This final day of training gave everyone a chance to get their bearings on the race course, and gave me a chance to shake off the rust and get back into the swing of things after a year in which I only sailed two days in the Class.I only sailed two days in the Class A, so busy was I?" says Olivier Gagliani, who hadn't set foot on a Formula 18 since the last edition of the event a year ago. However, those who know the Belgian - affectionately nicknamed "Three Apples" - and the event well know that, with or without navigation in his legs, he remains a formidable double-handed competitor with Patrick Demesmaeker, recent winner of the combined Belgian, German and Dutch championships alongside Gilles Tas.
Firstly, because he knows the pitfalls of Saint-Barthélemy by heart, even if he remains modest and prefers to be cautious. In very light winds, sometimes it's a bit like poker," he says. A stroke of bad luck and it's a missed wind spot. Clearly, we're going to have to be opportunistic over the first two days of racing, which promise to be very, very light! "In fact, according to the latest models, only between 3 and 7 knots of wind are forecast over the Lesser Antilles area this Thursday and Friday.
Being in the right place at the right time
In fifteen participations, I can only recall two or three races cancelled or shortened for lack of wind," continues Olivier Gagliani. Not to race for an entire day would be completely unheard of on the Cata Cup! "His compatriot Henri Demesmaeker agrees. Having entered the race for the first time last year with Jeroen Van Leeuwen, he too is confident about the next two days. "The trade winds are forecast to be absent, and we'll have to deal with a southerly flow, which is quite unusual in St. Barths. We're expecting some very tactical racing, with the wind likely to veer right and left, but also a lot of pressure differences. We'll need to be in the right place at the right time! We'll need to be in the right places at the right time," says the helmsman, who is determined to take advantage of the opportunity to get his "revenge". Last year's podium finish eluded him primarily due to equipment problems. "With Jeroen, we're here to try and sail some good races. We're going to take them one after the other. Our aim is clearly to enjoy ourselves as much as possible both on the water and on land.
Pleasure at the heart of the event
The same applies to Yvan Bourgnon, who is making his return to the competition thirteen years after his last participation. I've always loved doing this race, but in recent years I've run out of time, and I've mostly sailed 20-footers," he confesses. I'm very happy to be back on the event and back on the Formula 18, because it's just a joy! "He will be supported by Jean Boulogne for the occasion. He's in the same frame of mind as his father, Manu; he's always on the attack," says Yvan Bourgnon. He's got the drive, the desire and the passion. Together, we're not passive on the support, so we're here above all to have fun and also enjoy what's happening ashore! "
All the favourites are determined not to let the Ravi Parent - Nick Lovisa tandem win for the second time in a row. Like the Argentinians Cruz Gonzales Smith and Mariano Heuser, winners in 2021 and fifth in the last World Championship with a new boat. South Americans Agustin Krevisky and Juan Martn Bentez, regularly in the Top 10 at international level, will also be keeping an eye on. Not forgetting Australia's Gavin Colby and his team-mate Kai Colman. The battle promises to be intense, as the field is, as always here in Saint-Barth, extremely strong," enthuses Spaniard Pablo Völker. It's very challenging for Federico (Polimeni) and myself, who have just won the class' world title. We know we won't have the right to make any mistakes over the next few days, especially given the scenario we're facing! With little wind, we know that surprises can be plentiful. "The great uncertainty of sport! And sailing races, in particular.