[Photos]
The fourth Orofero Challenge, organised by Manu-Ura Club of Toulon was held from 29 to 31 of May. The race is staged in three days on the total distance of 116 km, around the islands located off the Hyeres Peninsula, on the French Riviera. Being previously a single-day 45 km race, from 2002 the race is now a three-days race with respectively 37km, 55km and a final 24km. Starting from Toulon the first leg arrive to Porquerolle Island. The second day, from Porquerolle, the leg is a big loop around Port Cross and Levant Islands and then back to Porquerolle. The third day a quasi-sprint from Porquerolle back to Toulon.

As for the most famous Tahitian race, all stages have to be paddled iron. Crews can be up to 12 paddlers. France Italy and England took part in the event who had in local clubs of Six-Fours (two time national French champions), Manu-Ura (organiser and third on National Ranking) and England OCUK (third in the European Cup in October 2003 and Liberty Challenge and 16th at Hamilton Cup 2003) as top crews credited for the final victory. Italy took part with two teams from Turin (AdF-OC) and Rome (GCR team).

The first leg of 37 was won by Six-fours (3h 06min) followed by Turin (3h 10min) and Manu-Ura (3h 12min). Sea conditions were flat with little choppy water only approaching the Island of Porquerolle.
On day two most of the teams had a major turnover to put fresh forces in the longest leg. Turin opted for only one replacement in the engine room and to switch the steerer with n.5. As a result, after little less than 5 hours (4h 59m 53s) Turin AdF was first on the arrival, followed by Manu-Ura Toulon (two minutes later) and Manu-Ura Marseille (5h 05min 57s). Leader Six-Fours were surprisingly 7th with 13 minutes delay from first.

Day three: Ready... GO!.. Six-Fours and Manu-Ura put the hammer down trying to recover as much as possible from Turin but more than 7 minutes were too much for only 24km leg. Fast pace, with average speed, for the top three teams, around 13km/h. Turin AdF, now leader, was in the comfortable position to control the race, finishing third at three minutes from Six-Fours.
After 116km Turin won the Orofero Challenge with a total time of 10h 03min followed by Manu-Ura Toulon at 10h 10min. Third was a disappointed Six-Fours (winner of the last leg) with total time of 10h 10min and 24s.

Tough race indeed, perfect organization and beautiful scenario, the Orofero Challenge is definitively one of the most challenging event for all European paddlers.

News from OC Europe are over for the moment, next updates the end of July when in Toulon will take place another European important race called "Porquerollaise" which has in 65km total length and change-over formula a lot of similarities with another Hawaiian race, guess what....

Race Facts

Name: Orofero Challenge

Race: Three days 37-55-24 km to paddled iron, teams up to 12 paddlers

When: end of May

Where: Starting from Toulon (France) around the little islands located off the Hyeres Peninsula

Organizer: Manu-Ura A.S. of Toulon (manuuravaa.france@free.fr)

<

p>

Posted by on Wed, 06/09/2004 - 4:22pm