Wednesday 12 May 2010

Bol D'Or Mirabaud: Follow the racing in virtual or real time!

Europe's largest inland race: on Lake Geneva, hosted by the Société Nautique de Genève


Bol D'Or course: shortest distance of 123 kilometres or 66.5 nautical miles. Image copyright Bol D'Or Mirabaud.

by Mélanie Tavernier (in translation, with additional information from SailRaceWin)

The beautiful days return, and with them, the better moments of the summer. Thus, the 11, 12 and next June 13, more of 3,000 team members will meet again again on about 600 sailing ships of all sizes for the biggest regatta of the world in closed waters, the Bol D'Or Mirabaud presented by Corum, of which this is the 72nd edition. Registrations are open on the site www.boldormirabaud.com

Alongside Mirabaud & Cie, private bankers - Title Sponsor - the watchmaking house CORUM is henceforth Presenting Sponsor. A perfectly logical choice in the measure where this business has been passionately engaged in the world of the sail for years. On the monohull side, Corum holds the record of the Bol D'Or Mirabaud, and this since 1994! And of course, the Bol D'Or Mirabaud is one of the regattas of predilection of the team okalys-corum, that won it to twice during the five last years on the famous D35, SUI 2. Faithful helmsman alongside Nicolas Grange, Loïck Peyron, the new ambassador of the brand CORUM, will be again present for this fascinating regatta.

This year, the organization committee looked into important technological improvements, first of all while consolidating the system of cartographic following of 100 competitors (chosen from among the favourite ones) by means of the habitual official beacons of Logifleet. All the others competing will be able henceforth also to be included in this official race following, as far as they use their portable telephone with integrated GPS (then used as beacon), thanks to Mapmytracks. So more of the competitors are visible on the systems.

Another manner to participate in the adventure is the potential regatta in the form of a game on the site www.virtualregatta.com, specially adapted for the lake competition. For all who are fascinated in sailing but cannot actually race, they can live the race in the potential, on their computer, but without getting wet!

For the second consecutive year there is consideration of the younger competitors with the Trophy of the Schools of sail, opening to those less than 17 years (registered by their school with a supervisor) the occasion to also compete in the race of all the superlatives.

If you dream to participate in the Bol D'Or Mirabaud presented by Corum, but
• you have not enough team members for your boat
• you wish to join yourself to a crew
• you look for a boat to rent, or
• you want to propose a boat to the housing,
go to the forum "stock market to the team members/boats" on the official site www.boldormirabaud.com. The Bol D'Or Mirabaud 2010 is a race for all!

Bol D'Or Mirabaud