French offshore great Géry Trentesaux is expected to contest June’s Round Ireland Race aboard the new Pogo RC Aruba instead of his proven Sydney 43 Long Courrier, according to Afloat sources.
The development appears to mark a late change of plan for the Long Courrier campaign, one of the most successful IRC offshore yachts in recent European competition.
Afloat understands Trentesaux will instead race aboard the 10.25m Pogo RC Aruba, a brand-new fully optimised offshore design built around modern short-handed racing performance. The water-ballasted French yacht has already attracted attention on the French offshore circuit, with designer Sam Manuard steering Aruba to a podium finish at April’s Spi Ouest-France regatta in Quiberon Bay.
The yacht is currently entered in the Wicklow Sailing Club-organised offshore classic by French sailor Tanguy Bouroullec. However, Afloat understands Bouroullec will stand aside to allow Trentesaux to helm the entry in the 704-nautical-mile race.
The switch would also see Irish solo offshore sailor Tom Dolan join forces with Trentesaux aboard the Pogo RC following La Solitaire du Figaro.
According to a May 12 press release from Dolan, the County Meath sailor will have just a two-week turnaround after La Solitaire before taking on the Round Ireland Race — an event he has never previously contested but one he is keen to add to his offshore racing résumé.
As Afloat previously reported, the arrival of Trentesaux and Long Courrier had added the prospect of a tantalising contest between two leading Irish entries and one of Europe’s best-known offshore racing campaigns.
Far from diminishing that anticipated battle, however, the arrival of the brand-new Pogo RC Aruba may instead intensify it, introducing a lighter and more radical offshore design into what was already shaping as one of the most closely watched contests of the race.
Trentesaux is regarded as one of France’s leading offshore sailors, with multiple major IRC and offshore race victories to his name, including overall success in the Rolex Fastnet Race.
The Round Ireland Race starts from Wicklow on June 20.
