Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2008. Image copyright Loris von Siebenthal/MyImage.ch
by Mélanie Tavernier (in translation)
The 12 – 14 June, the Lake Léman will be again in turmoil for the biggest regatta of the world in closed waters, the Bol d'Or Mirabaud presented by Girard-Perregaux.
About 570 sailing boats are expected and about 3,000 team members that, that day, will be able to sleep an hour of more than of ordinary, since the edition 2009 is marked by a change of major schedule. Thus, the blow of sending of the 71st edition of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud will be given to 10h00 the Saturday morning (which corresponds to 9h00 solar hour), favouring optimum navigation conditions.
A taste of the ocean
Organized by the Cercle de la Voile of the Société Nautique de Genève, the Bol d'Or Mirabaud can be entrusted to attract an ever-growing number of oceanic stars. This year, the big champions coming from courses far and wide are particularly numerous in their participation. Pascal Bidégorry will helm a big new D35 catamaran, Banque Populaire, in company of his accomplice Yvan Ravussin, with whom he disputed the Transat Jacques Vabre 2007. The other new D35 that will be their competition is Veltigroup, with Stève Ravussin surrounded by his local lémanique crew and, for the tactics, the olympic medallist Franck David will be on board.
Much awaited, Michel Desjoyeaux, conqueror of the Vendée Globe 2008-2009, will sail on board the D35 Foncia in company of Alain Gautier. On board okalys-corum, one will see Loïck Peyron, a faithful one of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud, who has made forty-two crossings of the Atlantic and that won the last year the mythical English Transat. Ernesto Bertarelli surrounds himself with a superb crew composed of the specialists of the lake on Alinghi Sui 1, all the while knowing that Ed Baird and Brad Butterworth will confront them on "his" second boat, Alinghi Sui 6!
Coming from the high level of Olympic sailing, Yann Guichard participates in this BBol d'Or Mirabaud on the M2 Safram. Pierre Pennec, another sailor of great talent and second to Franck Cammas, will sail on board Zen Too. Fred Le Peutrec will steer Smart Home, a Decision 35. As for the Swiss, Dominique Wavre, he will sail on board a 7,50 alongside Michèle Paret, the brilliant French navigator who notably ran the Barcelona World Race, and of Marc Guillemot, of equally famous journeys. Karine Fauconnier is helmsman on the famous Ladycat of Dona Bertarelli-Spaeth, with a completely feminine crew.
On the journey between Geneva and the Bouveret, one will see of course to evolve sailing ship of exception coming from the innovations more pointed of the water research, but also a colored multitude of more traditional series - Surprised, Big Surprised, Toucans - that participate in the adventure in a beautiful family spirit and sportsman. Everyone is in agreement, in fact, to say that the Bowl of Now Mirabaud is a magnificent occasion, that one want to test performances or simply to please!
Those who remain at home will be able to follow the race in real time on the internet site of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud, www.boldormirabaud.com, thanks to about one hundred beacons (disposed on the favourite boats of every class as well as on random boats) and to the new information uniformly posted on-line.
Last year, the D35 Zebra 7-Girard-Perregaux that had won the Bol d'Or Mirabaud with Franck Cammas.
Bol d'Or Mirabaud
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