DUNKIRK PEOPLE ON ALL THE SEAS
If Bertrand Pacé, the match-racing world champion and skipper
of the French Challenge in the America's Cup, has now left Dunkirk, as
well as Damien Savatier or François Lamiot who ranked among
the most talented racers of the Single Handed Figaro, other racers accustomed
to coveted places in the prize lists are still to be found today among
the members of the Y.C.M.N.
Former Round of France winners, quarter-tonner world champions, regulars
of the Single Handed Figaro, of the R.O.R.C. races and of the major monotypes
events, Joë Seeten, Michel Dupré, Fred Seeten or Luc Meurisse
are the high colour bearers of the club in those high level events. So
Joë Seeten has been competing for a few years in the Single Handed
Figaro and in the Figaro monotype races and his brother Frédéric
enters for the Mini Transat and the 6.50 class races. The ones who are
less fond of racing are not the least ambitious, since, like Jacky Destailleurs,
several members of the Y.C.M.N. have slipped the mooring ropes to go sailing
around the world or crossing oceans. And for those who cannot enjoy a sabbatic
year, ten days are enough every year in May to take part in the 'Route
du Bols', an armada of 40 Dunkirk boats assaulting the Dutch shores.
Dunkirk has once more distinguished herself in July 1998 by organizing
for the first time a Figaro monotype competition gathering the best
racers of France within a few weeks only of the beginning of the Single
Handed Figaro.
A NEW CLUB-HOUSE
The Yacht Club de la Mer du Nord owns particularly comfortable facilities.
The club offers its members a private marina of 270 berths, the pontoons
of which have been renovated during the winter of 1996 and the dock dredged.
The marina 
also
welcomes sailing visitors and has a 7 ton crane and a wintering shed at
its disposal. . A new and wonderful club house, including the Harbour
Master Office and a restaurant, was built in the end of 1994 and
the cheering mood of Mr and Mrs Boone at the bar sometimes succeeds
at keeping there the most eager to go sailing !
Nothing can stop Jean Bart's children who have collectively inherited
their ancestor's conquering spirit, a taste for celebration and a
sense of hospitality second to none!
Jean-Michel Gaigné, member of the French Yacht Club.
Certainly,
the renown of the Y.C.M.N. is largely due to the three successive victories
of its members in the Round of France Sailing Race ( Tour de France à
la Voile) in 1979, 80 and 81 and to its position as the starting place
of the event but the nearly 800 subscribers show an exceptionnal dynamism.
Taking advantage of its geographical position the Y.C.M.N has made an alliance
with the four harbours of Ramsgate, Dover, Boulogne, and Calais to
organize the 'Channel Cup', an international challenge attracting
more than 70 boats in several events that take place during the whole
season in every club.. And, in the Dunkirk waters, no less than 20 regattas
are run every year, from the winter trainings to the Two Handed Race in
June and the Equinox Regatta in September that really are the climaxes
of the season, not forgetting the Brugges Rally initiated in 1996.