The second event in the 2023 season for the Live Ocean Racing team led by Liv Mackay kicked off overnight with five races sailed on Quiberon Bay.
They’re among eight high-speed foiling ETF26 catamarans on the start line for Raid Quiberon regatta in France.
The Live Ocean Racing team have made a solid start with a couple of top three finishes, including a win in race two. They’re lying 3rd overall after the first of four days in the regatta.
George Lee Rush, is with Live Ocean Racing in France as reserve sailor. He describes the team’s race win; “A flyer of a start, very close to line, they absolutely banged it and rounded the reach mark in the lead.”
Live Ocean Racing EFT26. Photo: Supplied
Holding the lead until the final downwind, they were overtaken by a French boat. With good upwind speed and a better pick of the racetrack on the final stretch, the New Zealand team managed to regain the lead and cross first.
Mackay reports that the opening day brought 6-11 knot breeze which was up and down in pressure.
“We got foiling a few times but overall was a light air day.”
“We’ve been putting a big focus into our light air sailing as that’s been a gap, and it definitely feels like we’ve made a few steps forward. Super close racing, which is fun.”
Live Ocean Racing EFT26. Photo: Supplied
Similar conditions are forecast for the coming three days of the regatta.
Topping the leaderboard at the end of day one, the day belonged to BureCapital skippered by Alain Norregaard. Tomorrow’s schedule includes another five races on what will be day two, of four in the regatta.
Live Ocean Racing day one results:
(provisional after day one)
Overall position: 3rd
Race 1 – 3rd
Race 2 – 1st
Race 3 – 6th
Race 4 – 4th
Race 5 – 6th
Racing runs over four days from May 31 – June 3, 2023.