Yachtsman tearful over race decision

Press, 21 June 1984, Page 36

Yachtsman tearful over race decision

NZPA-AP Newport Barely holding back tears, Philippe Poupon, of France, said yesterday he respected his fellow solo sailor, Yvon Faconnier, but still thought he should be declared the winner of the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic race. Poupon crossed the finish line first, but race officials declared Faconnier the winner yesterday morning after crediting him 16 hours for the time he spent aiding a fellow competitor with his capsized sailboat. “In my opinion, I am the winner,” Poupon told a news conference. He then returned to his place at a table for the first 10 finishers and put his head in his hands. Faconnier, also of France, was given the 16-

hour handicap after his good deed on June 7 in a race which was dominated by Frenchmen and trimarans, or boats with three hulls. The race at first appeared to belong to Poupon, who broke the race record by nearly a day and a half when he arrived at Rhode Island early on Tuesday evening. Poupon cut one day, 11 hours and 16 minutes off the previous record, set by an American, Phillip Weld, in 1980.

Faconnier, a 40-year-old professional sailor, finished in 16 days, 22 hours and 25 minutes after he left Portsmouth, England, on June 2.

But with the 16 hours subtracted by Royal Western Yacht Club officials, his time beat Poupon’s by about five hours.