BOM_2009

045
2
2 1
2
to his boat and succeeded in being the first to get a monohull with crew to fly on a pair of T-foils. The
following year he did away with the hull, finding it too heavy and of no use for flying. The Mirabaud LX has
consequently been transformed into a totally innovative carrying structure, making it the national and
international sailing press’ hottest topic. At the same time, the Moth foilers are selling like hot cakes.
It was the meeting between Thierry Lombard and the Hydroptère team that was to
launch the multihulls. The Geneva banker decided to sponsor the adventure and a new
project for the lake. A 35ft (10.5m) prototype, Hydroptère.ch, to be used as a technological
platform, is currently under construction. The EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
is actively involved in this project. The boat is not expected to touch the water before the
beginning of 2010, for its first test sailings.
OTHER MULTIHULLS
Many yachtsmen are developing other projects. Among them is the flying catamaran Syz & Co
which resumed its trials during the winter. It is the work of four enthusiasts: Patrick Firmenich, Jean
Psarofaghis, Alexandre Schneiter and Jean Pfau. Their goal: to beat the Lake Geneva records. The
team hired VPLP to design this new style of boat. Packed with cutting-edge technology, its launch
has been delayed by one season. Despite a few hiccups inherent to this type of project, the boat
appears to have huge potential, which should soon be confirmed.
2 The challenge for the
Syz&Co catamaran is to
be as fast as similar boats
when the floats are
immersed, i.e. in light winds,
and much faster when it is
foilborne. The Bol d'Or
Mirabaud 2009 will be
a first for it.
Won over by the concept, other enthusiasts are also thinking of launching series. The first of one potential
series of 35ft catamarans, equipped with T-foils is currently under construction. Built by Christian
Favre, the first boat is expected to make its debut at the big races at the beginning of June. According to
rumour, Michel Vaucher would be the helmsman of this new rival to the Décision 35.
The Kisscute, a small trimaran-foiler designed by the windsurfer Hugues de Turckheim, is also expected
on the lake at the end of spring. The boat is not being developed on our shores, but is expected to make
its first manoeuvres on the lake in Geneva, where it is certain to attract a following.
The 2009 season looks promising as such a wealth of innovation around Lake Geneva has not been seen
before. In just a few years, the foilers have almost become a local speciality. It remains to be seen if one
of them manages to make the round trip SNG-Le Bouveret-SNG perched on its foils.