Racing:

GC32 Racing Tour

The GC32 is an adrenaline-pumping, “flying” catamaran – one of the world’s fastest one-designs. For the 2015 season, Alinghi had the pleasure of joining the recently-created GC32 Racing Tour, at which the team made its comeback in 2019, winning the title.

THE RACING

In 2014, a new one-design circuit was born: the GC32 Racing Tour, which brought together international professional teams and those run by owner-helmsmen. An average of five events are sailed in Europe each season and at each, when weather conditions permit, races take place close to the shore to allow spectators a breathtaking view of the flying machines. In its transition to a foiling catamaran, Alinghi joined the circuit in 2015, finishing second behind Oman Air.

After three seasons racing in the Extreme Sailing Series (2016 - 2018), Alinghi is back in 2019 on the GC32 Racing Tour...winning it in front of a certain team from Oman.
No championship held in 2020 due to Covid-19 context, and in 2021, the team confirms its pole position winning again this annual championship.
In 2022, two teams will compete in GC32 under the new team colours of "Alinghi Red Bull Racing".

Learn more about the GC32 Racing Tour >

THE BOAT

The GC32 is a one-design, even down to the sails (ie: teams are permitted to use a certain number of sails teams during the season). Its main lifting foils are big, meaning it can take off in a wide range of conditions and can also foil upwind, albeit with 18-20 knots of wind. There are no hydraulics – instead, teams adjust the foils and sails manually; just another way in which the emphasis is on the sailors to get the most out their machines.

  • Length (overall): 12.00m
  • Length (hull): 10.00m
  • Width: 6.00m
  • Weight: 975 kg
  • Max board draft: 2.10m
  • Max rudder draft: 1.60m
  • Mast height (above deck): 16.50m
  • Bowsprit length: 6.60m
  • Mainsail: 55.00m²
  • Small jib: 19.00m²
  • Big jib: 24.00m²
  • Gennaker: 88.00m²

GC32 Racing Tour News

A victory in the event and a title defended in the GC32 class

7 November, 2021

A double for Alinghi, who won the last event on the circuit and defended their title of Champion of the GC32 Racing Tour, earned for the very first time in 2019 (a fallow year in 2020). From November 4 to 7, the Mar Menor (Spain) welcomed the fleet of 32-foot foilers for their last meeting of the year. Ten races were validated under various conditions. The standings were tight until the 7th, after which Alinghi took off. The Swiss team, Black Star, and the Austrians from Red Bull completed the podium of the event. In the annual general classification, Red Bull takes 2nd place, with Black Star 3rd. Zoulou, led by Erik Maris, was 4th and wins the "owner driver" classification. Ernesto Bertarelli: "Well done the team! I am delighted with this new championship victory. This confirms the title won in 2019 and shows our level and commitment. "Congratulations to all the other teams who gave us more and more problems. I also pay special attention to Erik Maris, the only owner driver to have entered all races this year and who has even won a few! "Our sporting season is coming to an end. 2021 also marked the official launch of the TF35 Trophy, run over seven events on Lake Geneva and at sea, and I am already looking forward to the 2022 season." Arnaud Psarofaghis: "Our goal was to win the GC32 season, as well as every event. We finished second in one of the regattas, tied on points with the first, Red Bull, last September, so overall we can be satisfied. "We have been consistent at the top of the table, patient when needed and the team knows how to come out on top at key moments. We also have the advantage of a close-knit team, which has worked together for a long time and is competent in all areas. "Here at Mar Menor, I loved the third windy day. We didn't start off very well, but by winning the last two heats we took the advantage at a decisive moment. This is the result of hard work over the course of several years." Nils Frei: "The team raced very well technically and tactically. After savouring this new victory, we will work again to find improvements. When you win, it's important not to rest on your laurels. "After we dominated the first regatta in Lagos, the other teams kept maturing and at the end of the season each team could win heats under their preferred conditions. One of our strengths is versatility and we look forward to focusing on continuing to improve." By the time the championships resume in 2022, and with hope that other teams join those already competing, the team will train in GC32 and fine-tune the optimisation of the TF35...without forgetting to hit a few ski slopes ;-) General classification after 10 races - GC32 Mar Menor Cup (4th and last round of the annual championship) 1st - Alinghi: 20 points 2nd - Black Star Sailing Team: 27 points 3rd - Red Bull Sailing Team: 28 points 4th - Zoulou: 38 points 5th - Team Rockwool Racing: 42 points 6th - Argo: 55 points   Extract from the 2021 GC32 Racing Tour overall results after four regattas 1st - Alinghi: 5 points 2nd - Red Bull Sailing Team: 10 points 3rd - Black Star Sailing Team: 12 points 4th and 1st owner driver - Zoulou: 18 points ... Click here for the full results.   Options to review the racing modeled in 2D thanks to the gps tracker placed on each boat from the first to the fourth days of competition: Tractrac website, or via these free apps (click here for an Iphone, or here for an Android). To find out more gc32racingtour.com To learn more about the race monitoring system, the team composition and the GC32 Racing Tour in general, a summary of the event is here. #GoAlinghiGo  //  GC32racingtour Credit for photos © Sailing Energy / GC32 Racing Tour 2021

The double in the two GC32 events

1 August, 2021

Back in Lagos, the same six teams, the same Portuguese wind-blue sky combo and, in the end, Alinghi wins. The same script for the Lagos Cup #2 as it was for #1? Nicolas Charbonnier, tactician: " Yes and no! The podium is different, we had a lot more wind during this second round, fewer races were able to be launched, and the victory was played out up to the last margins. "The level of the fleet has risen rapidly since we raced last month. We expected it and it was confirmed. Between that and today's more irregular wind in terms of strength and direction, we had to adapt our way of racing. I was more conservative on the tactical choices to take fewer risks. It pays less overall, but at the end of the day, it's the end result that matters to us above all." Preference for a victory with a leg to spare (Lagos #1) or one that goes to the wire (Lagos #2)? Nicolas: "I like to win before the end because it means that we sailed very well and widened the gap enough not to make the last race(s). On the other hand, when we fight to the end, it's because the level of the fleet goes up, and that's exactly what we're looking for: racing against the best opponents to improve our level." Arnaud Psarofaghis, co-skipper: "The gaps were tighter in this event because we didn't race as well as last month. We only won three out of 13 races and we made mistakes. Black Star sailed very well today, but, as with any competition, you have to be as consistent as possible to be at the top of the table. "I prefer to win an event when we race to the end. It's less comfortable on board, but it helps us progress in other areas of the sport." Flashback to the last race There was a change of pace for the fourth and last day of this event: the wind became more irregular in strength and direction, playing the spoilsport, but spicing up the racing, meaning Black Star could still win the event in the final race. Between the two boats a "very close marking" begins immediately, leaving room for Alinghi's opponents to express themselves at their best in the water. The Swiss rookies of Swiss Foiling Academy also sign their very first victory on the circuit. Hopp Schwiiz! As for our two direct rivals in the overall standings, given that no other competitor interfered with the placings in this thirteenth regatta, Alinghi, who had started the last race with a three-point advantage, took the overall victory. Black Star takes second place overall, providing Switzerland with the double on its national holiday. Zoulou, led by the owner driver Erik Maris, finished third, beating Red Bull and Rockwool at the post by recording a good last day. In August, the team will train on the TF35 on Lake Geneva, after which the boat will be dismantled and installed in its container to travel to Scarlino (Italy) for the very first sea regatta of the TF35 Trophy (from 9 to 12 September). General classification after 13 legs – GC32 Lagos Cup #2 1st - Alinghi: 30 points 2nd - Black Star Sailing Team: 32 points 3rd - Zoulou: 46 points 4th - Red Bull Sailing Team: 46 points 5th - Team Rockwool racing: 48 points 6th - Swiss Foiling Academy: 71 points Extract from the provisional general classification of the GC32 Racing Tour after two events 1st - Alinghi: 2 points 2nd - Black Star Sailing Team: 6 points 3rd - Red Bull Sailing Team: 6 points Click here for the full results. Options to review the racing modeled in 2D thanks to the gps tracker placed on each boat from the first to the fourth days of competition: Tractrac website, or via these free apps (click here for an Iphone, or here for an Android). To find out more gc32racingtour.com To learn more about the race monitoring system, the team composition and the GC32 Racing Tour in general, a summary of the event is here. #GoAlinghiGo  //  GC32racingtour Credit for photos © Sailing Energy / GC32 Lagos Cup 2-2021

A textbook start to the GC32 season

5 July, 2021

Wind, foilers and competition during the 18 races launched in the four days of this first event of the GC32 Racing Tour. For all those who returned to the marina in Lagos (South Portugal), it made for a beautiful sailing event. Alinghi was not to be outdone and set the bar high at the season's start, winning 11 of the 17 races run and thereby allowing themselves to return to port before the 18th. In fact, the overall win was even sealed four races before the final run! The objectives of the GC32 season are clear: to defend the 2019 World Champion title and also the annual ranking. The tone is set! Red Bull Sailing Team and Team Rockwool Racing completed the podium. Yves Detrey: "We had thought that we might have been a little rusty after an 18-month break from the GC32, but we are happy to see that it is not the case! The conditions were mostly tough this week, but that's how we like it. With our manoeuvres, our speed or our tactics, we were able to find the keys to get back into the game when it was necessary. Frankly, we sailed really well in all areas. "To win a four-day regatta, the key is to be consistent at the front and to avoid bad heats, and that's what we did." Within the fleet of six boats, one team is remodelled (Black Star) and two are new to the circuit (Rockwool and Swiss Foiling Academy). What is the level like? "Each has had their ups and downs, but with training and with the experience gained race after race, their level will go up. I imagine they will watch videos of this event, in addition to the experience accumulated over these 18 rounds. Then you must work, practise your lines and avoid repeating previous mistakes." Nicolas Charbonnier: "By attacking this last day with a good lead, we expected not to have to run all the races to win the event. While chatting during our daily briefing, we thought there was always an opportunity to try some different things. We sailed without pressure and even achieved our best speed of the week, 37,73 knots." How do you stay efficient from one year to the next? "We are fortunate to sail together very often and to have had a stable crew for several years. We have friends among us and the atmosphere is great. Individually everyone is good and collectively our team works. The preparation of the boat is methodical, we have been sailing in GC32 since 2015 now and we also practice foiling with the TF35. The helm and the trimmers make the boat go fast, the tactician takes us to the right place around the race course, the coordination of the crew is precise during the starting phases and in the manoeuvres. The combination of all these factors is ideal, and we push ourselves to innovate to continue to progress." Arnaud Psarofaghis: "Don't just look at the final score, which might make it look like it was easy for us. We fought in each of the races and on each leg to get there. It was sometimes thanks to a manoeuvre, a layline, a few metres gap to mark rounding. Our opponents generally have fewer hours on the clock than us, but each gave us a hard time at different moments. This is exactly what we are looking for on the GC32 Racing Tour, to push us to always be better. We missed this circuit last year and it really complements the TF35 Trophy. "At the end of this first event, we are happy with the work accomplished to regain our 2019 level. We think we have reached it, and even exceeded in certain phases. In any case the GC32 is really a great boat for racing – more teams should join us!" An exceptional sanitary context, an exceptional programme this year. The team will be back in Lagos at the end of this month for the second leg of the GC32 Racing Tour (July, 29 to August 1st). The 2021 championship will consist of four events, including the GC32 World Championship from 16th to 19th September in Villasimius (Italy). Extracts from the general classification after 18 races - GC32 Lagos Cup N ° 1: 1st – Alinghi: 33 points 2nd – Red Bull Sailing Team: 58 points 3rd – Team Rockwool Racing: 61 points 4th – Black Star Sailing Team: 62 points Click here for the full rankings, including all boats. Options to review the racing modeled in 2D thanks to the gps tracker placed on each boat from the first to the fourth days of competition: Tractrac website, or via these free apps (click here for an Iphone, or here for an Android). To find out more gc32racingtour.com To learn more about the race monitoring system, the team composition and the GC32 Racing Tour in general, a summary of the event is here. #GoAlinghiGo  //  GC32racingtour Credit for photos © Sailing Energy / GC32 Lagos Cup 1-2021

9th GC32 Racing Tour - Useful information

16 June, 2021

A recap // What: One-design circuit created in 2014 and which will include four events in 2021, contested in Europe. Alinghi competed for the first time in 2015 in their foiling debut, then again in 2019 when the team won the championship. More info is here. Who: Five to 10 international teams bringing together professional sailors and owner drivers. Five team members usually form a crew. Where and when: From July to November 2021, in Portugal, Italy and Spain (click here for the racing calendar). How: The teams compete aboard a 32-foot foiling catamaran called a GC32, in successive 20-minute races launched around buoys. When weather conditions allow, the events take place near the coast. Race tracking options Follow the team via different means during the various stages, each of which is comprised of four days of competition (up to six races each afternoon – but please take note of the fact that the time zones will change according to each event's location). On Twitter @alinghi > Publication of results and assorted pictures and video On Facebook @alinghi and Instagram @alinghi > Interviews, video & photos Online > gc32racingtour.com: Races modeled in 2D (live and in replay) from the first to the fourth days of competition > alinghi.com: News and photos   Équipage du GC32 (SUI 8) Helmsman and skipper: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) Co-hemlsman, co-skipper: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Tactician and mainsail trimmer: Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Frontsail trimmer: Bryan Mettraux (SUI) Foil trimmer: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Substitutes: Nils Frei (SUI) and Florian Trüb (SUI) Technical Team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Niklès (SUI) Team Director Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more gc32racingtour.com Hashtags for the events #GoAlinghiGo  //  #gc32racingtour  //  #gc32 Credits for photos © Sailing Energy/GC32 Racing Tour