Gruissan, Languedoc, FR

Defi 2023 – Race 4

Full race report on Seabreeze Forum (Defi Wind Gruissan 2023)

Unable to make Day’s 1 and 2 due to work commitments, I pessimistically arrived in Gruissan at 1am on Day 3 to a less than promising forecast and a bunch of drunk euro sailors dancing to techno.

After a beer and short night’s sleep, I arose to rig what gear I’d managed to squeeze onto my EasyJet baggage allowance (119L Carbon Art, KA Race 6.2, Ezzy Cheetah 9.5) and nervously awaited the race director’s decision.

To my relief, a start for Race 4 was declared for 11:15am, my fear of missing out quickly turned into terror as I realised I now had to actually race.

Wind readings were low for Gruissan; 18-20kts at the start line, 16-18kts midcourse and 23-25kts at the far mark, so I grabbed my 9.5m (downhaul or die) and headed out.

Once I’d crossed the stern of the rabbit boat everything else was a bonus. I made up positions the middle of each leg where the winds were calmer, lost ground in the windier sections, and took conservative (WIDE) lines at the turns and managed to keep my jibes upright.

An incredible experience, even for just one race it was absolutely worth the journey. Keep an eye out for Defi Pacific (New Cal)

Official Result: 480^th, 54:36