News

81st Bol d'Or: dantesque conditions and a 3rd place overall

16 June, 2019

57 knots were displayed on the boat's instruments! Not for the speed of our D35, but for the wind speed that blew during the ferocious storm that rained down during the 81st Bol d'Or. We spare a thought to the competitors who suffered damage to their boats, and also to the rescue teams and volunteers on the ground. While the record for this legendary event remains at 5: 01'50 '' (Triga IV in 1994), the M1 Ladycat powered by Spindrift managed the calm before and after the storm, winning the race in 10 hours, 36 minutes and 21 seconds. Ylliam-Comptoir Immobilier were the first D35 and second overall in 10h39'38', the Alinghi D35 completed the podium with a time of 10h42'35. Nicolas Charbonnier, tactician: "This year, I will remember above all the incredible storm that we had to cross. It was a hell of an experience, like nothing I've been through on a boat. We congratulate Spindrift for their victory and we are happy to make the podium." Arnaud Psarofaghis, mainsail trimmer: "What is striking in these great races is that the regattas are even tighter than the Grand Prix. From beginning to end, we fight for every metre, every place. Relative to the length of the course, we finish much closer to each other than at the finish of a Grand Prix round, which is surprising after more than 10 hours of non-stop racing." Nils Frei, coach: "It was super impressive to see the lake transformed with more than 50 knots of wind. Rare conditions, fortunately, by the way. There were boats in stress everywhere and many flares launched. "Ladycat led the race well and deserves the victory, but we are happy to have sailed well overall. The start and first section of the race were very good. Then the wind transitions bunched us up. It was complicated when the Bouveret approached, where it was very quiet and therefore more random. On the way back to Geneva, we negotiated the storm rather well, even though the jib did not come out unscathed. We moved back on the leader who was 50 minutes ahead of us at Bouveret, but that will not have been enough. Achieving the podium on a long race is always satisfying, even if we would prefer to win!" After this fourth stage of the D35 Trophy 2019, Alinghi still leads the Championship, ahead of Ylliam-Comptoir Immobilier and Zen Too. For the D35s, a summer break will now take place until the end of August, when they will return for three Grand Prix to end the season. In the meantime, the team is looking forward to seeing you from June 27th to 30th in Lagos (Portugal) for one of its major goals: the GC32 Series World Championship. Click here for all the results of the 81st Bol d'Or Mirabaud. To find out more d35trophy.com  //  boldormirabaud.ch #GoAlinghiGo  //  #D35Trophy  //  #BOM19 To find out more about how to follow the racing, the team composition and the circuit in general, find the event recap by clicking here. Photo credits © BOM2019 / Loris Von Siebenthal, Nicolas Jutzi, Anna Ricca, EP medias

The 55th edition of the Genève-Rolle-Genève: 5th place of the D35s, 6th overall

9 June, 2019

Great blue skies, dropping south-west and wavering Séchard winds served as the setting for this first of lake Léman two classic races in the D35 Trophy. After four hours and nine minutes of racing, Alinghi crossed the finish line in 6th position overall (5th among the D35s) in the 55th Genève-Rolle-Genève. The D35 Zen Too (3h57'), Eleven Sailing Team (4h03'), and the M1 Ladycat powered by Spindrift (4h04') took the podium in this event which is synonymous with a warm-up for the Bol d'Or. Bryan Mettraux, trimmer: "We made a good start in the south-west, which allowed us to be in the hunt by the time we got to near Nyon. Then there was the first transition where we hit the northerly wind in which we rounded the halfway mark at Rolle in 3rd position. "We attacked well on the way back to Geneva, but it was quite special. We went down with the new wind, we got stuck in no pression, until it came back again (as the D35 goes faster than the wind in this light conditions). At one point we had to cross the lake to stay in the pressure, but we didn't cross exactly at the right time. "There is always a sense of success being shared in these races. Zen Too managed to come back through the fleet and crossed at the right moment. It's part of the game and they played it well." With such light conditions in such a long race, would it be wise to wait patiently and then to launch the assault at the right moment ? Nils Frei, trimmer, gives his point of view: "We have a little more cards in hand in general when we are in front, but these are races where anything can happen, with reversals of situation and sometimes the pressure that comes from behind. But it's hard enough to predict! I think we do not want to be a team that sits back and says we will see after. Especially given that there are races that develop from the front and others where it pays to come back from behind." See you next week, June 15th at 10am, wind or not, for the start of the 81st Bol d'Or Mirabaud. Click here for all the results of the Genève-Rolle-Genève. To find out more d35trophy.com  // ycg.ch/geneve-rolle-geneve/ #GoAlinghiGo  //  #D35Trophy  //  #GRG19 To find out more about how to follow the racing, the team composition and the circuit in general, find the event recap by clicking here. Photo credits ©EP medias

16th D35 Trophy - Useful information

16 April, 2019

What: 16th and final championship for the one-design Décision 35 (D35) multihulls before the launch of the TF35 Championship in 2020. The 2019 D35 Trophy 2019 is comprised of seven events, including five Grand Prix and two Lake Leman (Lake Geneva...) classics: the Genève-Rolle-Genève and the Bol d'Or Mirabaud). For more information, click here. Who: Seven teams composed of between five and seven sailors(there is a team weight limit of 480kg, except for the Genève-Rolle-Genève and the Bol d'Or Mirabaud). Holder of the title, Alinghi is aiming for an eighth trophy to add to its collection. Where: Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), Switzerland When: From May to September (find the calendar here) How: For the Grand Prix, the team compete in successive races that each last about half an hour and which are sailed around a course marked by buoys. For the two Lémanique classics, the teams sail a route along the lake's shore, rounding a buoy at – in the respective races – Rolle and Le Bouveret, before heading back to Geneva for the finish. Follow the action You can keep-up with the racing, with up to six races per day in the Grand Prix by: Twitter @alinghi > The results of each race as well as assorted photos and video clips Facebook @teamalinghi and Instagram @alinghi > Interviews, videos and photos The team's website > News and a selection of photos D35 Team Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) - Helmsman and Skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) - Mainsail trimmer Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) - Tactician Bryan Mettraux (SUI) - Frontsail trimmer Coraline Jonet (FRA) - Grinder Yves Detrey (SUI) - Bowman Nils Frei (SUI) - Coach and spare sailor Technical Team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Claudy Dewarrat (SUI) Team Director Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more d35trophy.com Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #D35Trophy Credit for photos © Loris von Siebenthal