Ton Cups, real-time racing
Nobody in France knew the names of the architects Ron Holland and Bruce Farr before their respective boats won the Quarter Ton Cup, the first with Eygthene in 1973 and the second with the innovative 45° South in 1975 in Deauville. The same is true for America’s Doug Peterson, who made a name for himself in Europe thanks to the stunning victories of North Star in the 1974 Half Ton Cup and Gumboots in the One Ton Cup during the same year. Their outstanding performances in various Ton Cups will also pave the way for other designers to emerge during the 1970s and the start of the following decade, such as Jean-Marie Finot, Michel Joubert, Jean Berret, Jacques Fauroux, Tony Castro, Daniel Andrieu and Philippe Briand.
Showcasing talents, the Ton Cups also generated strong interest among recreational boaters during all these years and even influenced the models produced by builders. For instance, the Téquila built by the Aubin yard and its sports version from Gibert Marine are inspired by the prototype of the same name, designed by Philippe Harlé, who won the Quarter Ton Cup in 1971. Also in the Quarter category, the success of the standard Écume de Mer in 1970, followed by its regatta version in 1972, benefited the image of this series. Roger Mallard will continue to capitalize on the prestige of this competition when, in 1976, he launches the Farr 727, a series version of the famous 45° South.
The Half Ton Cup is a major source of inspiration for builders whose line-ups often include 9 meter models, clearly setting out their links with this category: First 30, First 30 ES, First Evolution, Rush, Jouët 920, Mallard 9m, Contention 30, Comet 910, Kalik 30… And the fact that these boats can also race in the Aurore event – the future Solitaire du Figaro – is a major factor behind the popularity of half-tonners in France.
Ton Cups for all sizes
The modern Ton Cups came about through an initiative by Jean Peytel, a distinguished member of the Cercle de la Voile de Paris, who, in 1965, had the idea to bring back a trophy from a former competition that had fallen away, the Coupe des Un-Tonneau or “one-tonner” cup. This led to the launch of the first One Ton Cup in Le Havre, with several stages alternating between short and longer sections, reserved for yachts with a 22-foot RORC rating. These boats, which are nearly 11m long, will compete with an approach that is rarely seen at the time for offshore racing: real time (as opposed to compensated time, when race times are adjusted in line with each competitor’s handicap). Here, as the yachts all have the same theoretical speed potential, the ranking corresponds to the order in which they actually finish, without needing any lengthy calculations. The success of this first event – won by Stephens’ Danish design Diana III – will logically see this approach adapted for other sizes of boats.
In 1966, the Société des Régates Rochelaises launches the Coupe Internationale Atlantique – which will quickly be renamed the Half Ton Cup – for yachts with an RORC 18-foot rating. The first three events are held in La Rochelle, with victories for an Armagnac, an Arpège and a Super Challenger. The Quarter Ton Cup – for RORC 15 footers, with a length of 7m to 8m – is launched the following year, also in La Rochelle, and is won by a Spirit-style Dutch series yacht. The switch from the RORC to IOR rules does not in any way change the strong levels of interest in these real-time competitions and their level continues to progress as they open up more internationally. The Three-Quarter Ton Cup makes its appearance in 1974, at the same time as the Two Ton Cup, intended for yachts measuring around 10 and 12 meters respectively. The Mini Ton Cup is also added to this series of championships, reserved, as its name indicates, for the smallest units (around 6.50m long). Following two decades of success, the Ton Cups see their audience levels gradually decrease in the late 1980s, affected in part by the professionalization and the rising cost of the prototypes required to stand out.
