-from July 22 to 24, 2011
Building on the success of the first edition, where indeed thousands of spectators were present, the City of Menton and the association Menton Sports Plaisance are offering the second edition of the Menton Sports Plaisance Festival on July 22, 23, and 24, 2011, which will take place on Quai Napoléon III and the esplanade Francis Palméro.
For the first time and as part of the Overseas Year, this public and free event will be punctuated with Caribbean cultural activities.
THE “RACE NAUTIC TOUR 2011”
The flagship event of the festival, the 4th Race of the French Motorboat Championship, will see these true Formula 1 of the seas, more than forty speedsters in competition, which have evolved to become almost silent and environmentally friendly.
According to current standards, more than 80% of the fleet is now equipped with 4-stroke depolluted engines.
The race will consist of 2 heats (divided into 3 starts for each heat on Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24, 2011), which will take place on a circuit mapped out in the Bay of Menton and visible from the ramparts and the Bastion jetty.
WATER SPORTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Around this event, numerous local water sports and leisure associations (jet ski, sailing school, scuba diving, water skiing, parasailing, sport fishing, etc.) will host a village along the esplanade Francis Palméro and will offer, throughout the weekend, introductions and discovery sessions to share their passion.
OVERSEAS YEAR: “ISLANDS JOURNAL”
This is the theme chosen to animate these 3 festive days. Thanks to the collaboration with the association Label’ Karaïb, the West Indies will be at Menton’s doorstep to share their cultures with us.
Discovery workshops, Creole stands, carnival parades, concerts, and free public dances will form the “Islands Journal,” rhythmically accompanying the stages of the French Motorboat Championship by proposing unique encounters between players from the sports, artistic, and tourist worlds.
ON THE PROGRAM: THRILLS, CULTURES AND ENTERTAINMENTS
On-site, throughout the weekend, boats, pilots, and organizers will open the doors to their paddocks, immersing you in the racing atmosphere.
For the more adventurous, baptisms will be offered to let you experience thrilling sensations aboard 4-seater VERADO Formula boats (3 seats + 1 instructor seat) or performance semi-rigid boats.
Many artists will be present, most of them from the West Indies, with some participating in international festivals such as Drummondville in Canada or Faro in Portugal but also in mainland France:
The Exotic Ballet, a troupe of traditional dance and music from Martinique
Toujou Sou Papé Vidé, a carnival street band from Martinique
Swing K’Raïb, a Caribbean Jazz music group from Martinique
Ralouyé Guyane, presentation of the Touloulous (Paris)
Label’Karaïb, Indian Ocean/Caribbean dance troupe (Antibes)
Ting & Bang, Caribbean music group (Nice)
