A double win

10 September, 2017

After 11 races of about 30 minute duration each and after a duel that came down to the final metres, Alinghi beat Ylliam Comptoir Immobilier by one point to win the Alinghi Grand Prix of Crans-près-Céligny. Zen Too took the final place on the podium.

Yves Detrey, bowman, said: "It was tense to the end with Ylliam. We started the day tied, but already lost three points on them in the first race. Then we gained one back in the second race, and then two in the third, to leave us once again tied.
"In the very last race, we fighted a bit at the start and we took the first advantage on the upwind leg. They managed to come back ahead of us just before the last leg. In the final downwind to the finish, we passed back in front of them with a better gybe. To win this Grand Prix, we had to finish in the top five and ahead of them in this last race. This we did - we were 4th and they were behind. Ylliam sailed really well, but in the end, we stayed ahead, and this makes me really happy."

Pierre-Yves Jorand, mainsail trimmer: "It started this morning with a 5th place finish, but fortunately for us, it was ended really well. Ylliam Comptoir Immobilier's competitive sailing made for a great weekend and they certainly gave us a hard time. They sailed very well. Hats off to them! They were fast and were smart. In the end, these regattas are serious business. In these monotypes, we know that every detail counts. It was a superb Grand Prix over three days."

With this new victory and a sufficient points gap on its pursuers, Alinghi is guaranteed to win the D35 Trophy 2017 without even needing to run the last event. But, as Arnaud confirmed tonight, "the team will still be fighting at the start in two weeks time because "there is always more to learn".

Click here to be onboard the D35 seconds after crossing the finish line to listen to all the comments (in French) from Yves, Pierre-Yves, Arnaud and Nicolas.

The next meeting on the lake is on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 September for the closing Grand Prix in the D35 Trophy organized by our club, Société Nautique de Genève.

Alinghi Grand Prix in Crans-près-Céligny - Overall standings after 11 races (the worst score being discarded) :
1 - Alinghi: 24 points
2 - Ylliam comptoir Immobilier: 25 points 
3 - Zen Too: 34 points
4 - Racing Django: 36 points
5 - Realteam: 49 points

Click here for more results and the overall standings of the Championship after seven Acts.

To find out more
d35trophy.com

Hashtags for the event
#GoAlinghiGo  //  #D35Trophy

If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi’s team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need in this news story.

Photo credits: Loris von Siebenthal