Wins for Lablache, Morel, Andre, Julie, Lafortune in Cascade Slipway trophy |10 September 2014

Bertrand Lablache, Paul Morel, Allan Julie and Herve Lafortune are the grand winners of the Cascade Slipway trophy races held last Saturday in the Victoria Harbour.

Windsurfer Lablache continued his good form after winning his fourth Mahe-Praslin race a fortnight ago. On Saturday, he won all three races to finish ahead of 2013 windsurfer of the year Jean-Marc Gardette who was ranked second twice and third once.

Jacquelin Languilla was placed third overall in this competition where there were only the three Praslin athletes.

In the Laser Radial category, Paul Morel won the first and third races but was beaten in the second by 2013 female sailor of the year Meggy Gertrude.

Morel though held on to top spot with Gertrude second and David Madeleine was third with Elsie Gertrude fourth out of four sailors.

In the Laser 4.7 races, Brad Andre held off the challenge of his fierce rival Martin Servina who won the first competition which was the E-Eye Cars laser junior.

Category winner Andre won two out of the three races and though Servina finished first in the last race on Saturday he had to be content with second position. Greg Esparon was third overall among six sailors.

In the Optimist race, Herve Lafortune surprised favourite Scott Andre who had won the Hunt Deltel Optimist cup.

After being ranked fourth in the first race won by Dominic Labrosse, Lafortune registered two wins to make up for his poor start which propelled him to top spot in the Cascade Slipway trophy as Scott Andre finished second with Labrosse third out of nine competitors.

Six-time Sportsman of the Year and current sailing coach Allan Julie was a class above the rest. After his gold medal exploit in the Indian Ocean cup last month, the 34-year-old Julie won all three races in the Laser Open to force Govinden twin brothers – Roy and Rodney – to fight for the two other podium places. Roy finished second and Rodney was third overall.

The prizes for this Cascade Slipway trophy were presented by main sponsors Gerard Lafortune and Andre Hissen after the races at the Sails Training Scheme premises at Roche Caïman.

On Saturday, the sailors will be competing in the Seychelles Yachting Association (SYA) national championships which will comprise five races in the Victoria harbour as of 10am.

R. J-L.