Yachts and 300 French crew due here this week
MORE than 60 French racing yachts are expected to sail into Guernsey on Liberation Day for the island’s first major regatta of 2024.
It is the 41st year that members of the Yacht-Club de Morlaix in Brittany are taking part in Le Telegramme Tresco Trophee, which has brought more than 20,000 French visitors to Guernsey over the years.
Some 65 yachts have signed up for this year’s regatta and each vessel is expected to have five or six crew members.
The regatta will set sail from Morlaix Bay at about 7pm today and the first boats are likely to arrive in Guernsey from late tomorrow morning, depending on the wind conditions.
At noon on Friday, the competitors will enjoy one of their all-important traditions, a ‘crab party’ in the Victoria Marina, where the crews dine together on their boats and indulge in fresh local seafood.
At about 7pm on Friday, the competitors will celebrate with their annual fete at Castle Cornet, where the results of the first stage of the race will be announced.
They will depart Guernsey on Saturday morning for the second stage of the race to Perros-Guirec.
Some 24 members of the Pays de Saint-Brieuc Yacht Club are scheduled to sail 11 yachts into Guernsey on Wednesday to experience Liberation Day with members of the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club.
Cruise ships are also scheduled to arrive in local waters on five consecutive days, starting with the 835 capacity Amera on Friday, followed by the 1,498 capacity Renaissance on Saturday.
Smaller liners Hebridean Sky and Exploris One will visit on Sunday and Monday respectively, before the 1,400 capacity Ambience and the returning Amera both pay a visit on Tuesday.
