TWENTY-NINE boats will contest the Channel House CLB St Helier to La Rochelle race, which starts tomorrow nigh.

Held every two years by the St Helier Yacht Club, the 350- nautical mile non-stop dash to La Rochelle looks to be an open event in both class 1 and 2, with craft ranging from the 55-ft Oyster 55 Arabella down to the 28-ft Stag 28, Loric.

Loric will also have the youngest crew member in the race in 11-year-old Tom Vallois, late of Le Squez School, but there is also a wealth of experience heading out of Jersey waters.

Steve Pearl knows what is needed to win and he goes aboard Contango, with other fancied boats in the class 1 handicap being Charles Gruchy’s Deckadent, Richard Gale’s Genna B, Rhys Perkins’ Xtravaganza and the Challinors’ Kalina.

Malcolm Cole’s catamaran Swift I will take some stopping in class 2 if the winds are strong, though the likes of Ocean Star and Starlight 35 will doubtless having a say in matters.

Starter Ben Jones will get the boats under way at 8 pm.