Vestas SailRocket 2 launch. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images.
by P. d'Avril
Spindrift Racing announced Monday that they will build their own SailRocket for speed sailing on Lake Geneva, prior to undertaking a programme of ocean records with the maxi trimaran that currently holds the Jules Verne Trophy, now re-named Spindrift 2. This is not expected to interfere with either the D35 race programme of Dona Bertarelli's Ladycat on Lake Geneva, commencing early May, or Yann Guichard's other sailing, beginning with helming the Energy Team AC45 at the America's Cup World Series in Naples, Italy, mid-April.
Hydroptère.ch on Lake Geneva. Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
"The aim is to challenge the current one kilometre (31.46 knots) and one hour (25.25 knots) records held by Hydroptère.ch on the Lac Léman [Lake Geneva]," explained Yann Guichard. "After this, we may look at the Ruban Bleu, but both finding the correct weather conditions for a fast sail to the other end of the lake and back and the stamina required for one person to keep the boat at maximum speed for several hours at one time, will be very tricky." The current holder of the Ruban Bleu on Lake Geneva is a D35 catamaran, that of Philippe Cardis.
While the ocean-going Hydroptère has been in San Francisco, showing America's Cup teams how to really use foils, her smaller sister, Hydroptère.ch, is recommencing speed trails on Lake Geneva.
"Vestas SailRocket 2 achieved 65.45 knots in Namibia. The conditions of Lake Geneva are not as ideal as those in Africa for speed sailing, but we hope to improve on the design, build and foils," said Guichard. The boat will be built by Décision SA, close to the shores of Lake Geneva.
Note
SailRaceWin apologizes to readers for the delay in publishing this information, which dates from Monday, 1st April.
Readers in Lorient, France, will have the opportunity to ask Yann Guichard about his sailing programme in person this Thursday, when he is the guest of the Café de la Marine du Télégramme.
