BOM_2009

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Other famous yachtsmen have also
announced their participation. To start
with, there is Ernesto Bertarelli,
accompanied by Murray Jones, another
illustrious figure from the America’s Cup.
Having won the Bol d’Or on several occasions,
it is on the lake that the owner of Alinghi
discovered this motivation and pleasure
in sailing which were at the root of his
decision, a few years ago, to embark on
the great America’s Cup challenge.
3 Franck Cammas,
Mediterranen yachstman,
won the Bol d'Or
Mirabaud 2008. Can he
repeat his performance
this year?
4 The Basque,
Pascal Bidégorry will
feel pretty much at home
on the lake, as he loves
skiing and the mountains.
5 The Swiss,
Stève Ravussin,
is to be reckoned
with on the new
D35 Veltigroup.
Another regular sailor in the lake’s regattas
is Alain Gautier, for whom the Bol d’Or has
not always been successful. Second in the
2008 Julius Baer Challenge behind the
untouchable Alinghi, the crew of the D35
Foncia intends to put its experience to good
use for a first victory. Gautier is a talented
sailor and a leading specialist in multihulls,
having helmed a 60ft trimaran for many
years. Back in 2005, he was won over by the
principle of a one class multihull on the lake,
with extreme sail plans. “With Foncia we
have worked on long term objectives, trying
to optimize the equipment to maximize
stability,” explains the sailor.
BIG NAMES EXPECTED
The exceptional yachtswoman, Karine
Fauconnier, should again be at the helm
of Dona Bertarelli’s D35, Lady Cat, with an
all-women crew which is getting better
and better as seen by their great performance
last year. Stève Ravussin is also
returning for the race at the helm of the D35
Veltigroup, one of the two new catamarans
built by Décision SA. With the eagerly
awaited Banque Populaire and her French
skipper Pascal Bidégorry, who has numerous
oceanic victories to his credit, the fight in
the master class could be even fiercer.
Especially as it is rumoured at Geneva’s
sailing club (SNG) that Ed Baird, Alinghi’s
famous American helmsman could be
sailing on the D35, Cadence, which lost
her main sponsor this year. Finally, the
French yachtsman, Frédéric Le Peutrec will
be helming Christian Michel’s D35, Smart
Home. Several other leading yachtsmen
and women could also be among the
organizing club's guests of honour including
Marc Guillemot, Samantha Davies,
Bernard Stamm and Dominique Wavre,
four fortunate or unlucky skippers of the
Vendée Globe 2008-2009.
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© yvan Zedda