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There are evenings when one gets ideas of genius… Everything began on September 29th 1981, when a challenge, not of any particular sporting interest except for sailors defending their honour, was launched between Pride, a Swan 44 owned by the American Dick Jason, and Ikra, a 12 m IG skippered by Jean Laurain. The challenge could hardly have benn more simple: departure down at the foot of the village of Saint Tropez opposite the Portalet Tower, rounding the shoal called Nioulargo (that is "nest of the sea" in Provençal dialect), and arrival opposite the restaurant Club 55, situated on the beach of Pampelonne. For the anecdote, Ikra beat Pride, but for history, this challenge gave birth, thanks to the genius and the enthusiasm of Patrice de Colmont, to the Club 55 Cup and the Nioulargue. |
