26 crews in the line up, the Longtze knows nothing of any crisis...

If there is one boat not suffering from the crisis but rather, is facing it head on, it’s the Longtze. From season to season, from event to event, the Dragon’s son continues to gather new disciples and, to finish this 2011 season in true style, the Longtze European Tour will post a new participation record with 26 crews lining up for the “Longtze World Event” to take place this weekend, the 11-13th November, in Hyères.

After two seasons of bedding in its European circuit, the Longtze class is starting to cruise along at great speed. More than 60 boats were involved on all the various waters around Europe, a annual circuit made up of 17 events raced out of three basins (alpine Lakes, Atlantic-Channel, the Mediterranean). It features great federation events such as the Primo Cup, the Spi Ouest France, the Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale and, for the first time this year, « Novembre à Hyères » where Longtze will contest their big international end of season race.

Of the 26 crews registered for this Mediterranean meet, we find not surprisingly the circuit faithfuls : Eckart Kaller, Nicolas Bérenger, Rémi Aubrun, Hervé Gautier, Markus Ziltener, Laurent Berjon, Georges Asperti, Jarmo Wieland, Dimitri Hardouin Deleuz, Beat Franck… Great battles are always keenly anticipated between these guys. And, as with each event so far, we expect to see some talented upstarts who, even if they are Longtze rookies, have sufficient know-how to pull one out of the bag...

“Newbies” to follow

An almost 100% female crew led by the 2002 420 World Champions, Magalie Pallanca and Coraline Jonet, makes their debut on a Longtze. “Our objective, was to start sailing together again at a high level and in a class with a strong support infrastructure. The Longtze answers all these criteria and the Mediterranean Trophy on the Longtze European Tour will enable us to regularly sail close to home, in Hyères, so it’s perfect! Our 2012 goal is to assemble a 100% female crew and be well-placed on the European circuit”, comments Magali Pallanca.

Lorient’s Bertrand Castelnerac, coming notably from the Mini circuit, has invested in a Longtze with a quite different aim but one that is equally constructive for the development of the Class: “the Longtze is a very nice, very attractive boat with a strong student circuit. It’s there that we wish to be involved: supporting the student teams. In Lorient we have the potential to put together a training group, to advise the crews on the water, but also in the management of their project ashore, their communications, etc. And of course, if I manage to hook in a partner, I will mount a crew to take part in the Longtze European Tour in 2012…”

The Swiss sailing Master, Michel Vaucher, who designed and created the first “Gautier sails” for the French-speaking Swiss Longtze “NELSailing Sarl”, will take part in his very first Longtze event: to give it a go, to gain experience as well of-course and… to return in 2012!

The Longtze way of sailing…

To each his own course, each his own objectives, his own desires… the Longtze continues to bring together within its European and student circuits, sailors from all horizons who come for the pure pleasure of sailing at a consistently high standard, throughout the whole year, without the large material and financial constraints. With more than 60 boats in Europe, the Longtze has, through its racing, budgetary and media-friendly qualities, became a sportboat of note.

The Longtze World Event is the last racing meet of the series for the 2011 season, but it also marks the beginning of a new chapter...

The Longtze Class also invites you to the Salon Nautic in Paris early December.