Tresco Trophy fleet stops over

VICTORIA MARINA was packed with visiting yachts yesterday as 125 crews rested at the end of the first leg of Morlaix Yacht Club's Tresco Trophy. This is the 21st year that the race has stopped in Guernsey; the boats set off from France and come to the island before setting off for Perros on the second leg and finally returning to Morlaix.

Jean Luc Troussel, vice president of the club, said it was a pleasure to be back in the island.

'We always have a very good welcome here, from the harbour master and all the persons at the port. With 125 boats coming, it's sometimes very difficult, but they are always very helpful.

'The Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club and VisitGuernsey always make us feel very welcome also,' he said.

Sailing conditions had not been ideal.

'Tide conditions were good but there was a lack of wind on Thursday.'

The island has changed significantly since his first visit.

'I am always very happy to come to Guernsey - maybe the first time I came was 30 years ago.

'Then it was an island with tomatoes and flowers and was very rural. Now we have the marinas and you can get water, there are toilets and so on.

'Every year we see improvements at the harbour.'

Mr Troussel said the race was a serious event, but not exclusively so.

'Most people do it to be in a class; it is a national competition and the standard is very good.

'A lot of famous French navigators take part, but families can also do it and have fun.'

The weary sailors were again treated to breakfast, courtesy of VisitGuernsey.

Policy and development manager Peter Falla said it was a pleasure to welcome them again this year.

'This is the first time they have had gache and Guernsey butter for breakfast,' he said.

'We felt it was good for them to experience a taste of Guernsey because they can eat croissants at home,' he said.

Mr Falla said the event was good for tourism. It is sponsored by French regional newspaper Le Telegramme, which gives comprehensive coverage of the race, including the Guernsey stopover.

'With new yachtsmen coming here and staying for two nights, they bring significant business to St Peter Port in terms of the money they spend.

'Some of them have been coming for many years but each year there are many new competitors who come back later in the summer for their personal visits, which is good repeat business for us.'

VisitGuernsey hosted a reception last evening for the yachtsmen at which framed prints of the island were given to class winners.

'This year we have prints of a nighttime scene of St Peter Port. We prefer to give them rather than trophies because it means they have a lasting memento of the island.'