Oman-flagged Trimaran Wins Leg 1 Route des Princes Race

Trimaran 'Oman Air-Musandam' skippered by Sidney Gavignet (FRA) crossed the finish line to win the first leg of the international race.

Oman Air-Musandam took 2d 23h 41mn 38secs for the 794 miles first leg which started from Valencia, Spain last Sunday afternoon.

With most of the course being upwind the winners sailed at an average of 11.08kts for the theoretical course but actually sailed 1024 miles on the water, so making a real average of 14.28kts.

Since the six man international crew established a small lead at the only turning mark of the course off Benicarlo, just to the north of Valencia, just before 8pm on Sunday evening, Oman Air-Musandam  have been the most regular leaders of the race.

Over yesterday evening and this morning Gavignet’s crew had seen their steady margin of 20 miles shrink until their nearest rivals, Spindrift (Yann Guichard), passed them temporarily this morning. But Oman Air-Musandam found a new, favourable breeze to the west and were able to extend away from Spindrift, the team which won the MOD70’ class 2012 championship last year.

Oman Air-Musandam collect the maximum possible points for the stage, 40 pts for winning the leg as well as all the available bonus points, 2pts for leading at Benicarlo and 2pts for leading out of the Mediterranean at Gibraltar yesterday morning.

The Route des Princes course takes the fleet of grand prix multihulls from Valencia to Morlaix in France stopping in Lisbon, Dun Laoghaire-Dublin and Plymouth, finishing on 30th June in France.