After winning a third title at the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro, Michel Desjoyeaux (left) has to be considered a realistic bet to take the 18th Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile, beginning next Thursday, 30 August 2007 ( see previous story here ). Nick-named ‘the Professor’ Desjoyeaux has been enjoying a great year, not only winning La Solitaire, but taking first at the Trophée SNSM in his new IMOCA 60. His three previous victories in the Trophée Clairefontaine (2001, 2003 and 2004) only add to strengthen his position as favourite to take a fourth.

The Trophée Clairefontaine will showcase eight invited sailing champions, helming SailingOne one-design catamarans (25ft/7.65m) with two crew. These are:

Michel Desjoyeaux(Xavier Revil and Christophe Espagnon)

Franck Cammas(Stève Ravussin and Pierre Pennec), winner of the Trophée Clairefontaine 2006.

Luc Dubois – Team Alinghi(Pierre-Yves Jorand and Yves Detrey), who took victory in this years America’s Cup.

Loïck Peyron(Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant and Gilles André), winner of the catamaran class Bol d’Or for the second time.

Vincent Riou(Sébastien Josse and Laurent Voiron), winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race and current champion of the Vendée Globe.

Jérémie Beyou(Pascal Bidégorry and Ronan Lucas), 2005 winner of the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro single-handed race, and the Championnat de France de Course au Large en Solitaire. (Finished second in the Trophée Clairefontaine 2006).

Yann Eliès(Fred Le Peutrec and Franck Citeau), Single-handed ocean racing French champion, winning withGeneraliin the Course des Falaises 2006.

Nicolas Troussel(Armel Le Cléac’h and Bruno Staub) winner of the Trophée BPE Belle-Ile 2007, and the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2006 single-handed race.