The traditional sailing regatta on Lake Geneva, the Bol d'Or, ended with a surprising triumph for the Realteam Spirit team skippered by Jérôme Clerc. After 15 hours, 26 minutes and 5 seconds, the crew was the first to cross the finish line, securing overall victory. The boat, which is optimised for light wind conditions, narrowly beat the competition. Sails of Change 8 with skipper Yann Guichard followed in second place, 4 minutes and 2 seconds behind, while Zen Too under Guy de Picciotto took third place, 12 minutes and 7 seconds behind.
A few years ago, things were less tranquil at the Swiss classic:
Exciting duel for the Bol de Vermeil
In addition to the main event, the battle for the Bol de Vermeil, the trophy for the fastest monohull, was particularly exciting. In a family duel, Gauvain Ramseier and his team on the Libera Carondimonio prevailed against his father Thomas Jundt on the innovative QFX. The performance of the young winning crew is all the more remarkable given that they had only bought the boat at auction at a favourable price the previous year.
Surprises in the boat classes
In the TF35 class, Team X-Wing secured the Bol de Carbone for the fastest boat with foils. The crew led by skipper Marco Favale, who has only lived in Switzerland since 2012, prevailed against experienced teams and came tenth overall. The smaller M2 catamarans once again demonstrated the competitiveness of this boat class. Swiss Medical Network under skipper Didier Pfister achieved an impressive 5th place in the overall standings.
Triumph of the superstars in the Surprise class
Team Fou du Vent, skippered by Benoît Deutsch, came out on top in the Surprise yacht class, which had the largest number of 100 boats. The high level of performance in this class was also demonstrated by the second place of top French sailor Achille Nebout, who has victories at Québec-St-Malo and podium places at the Transat Jacques Vabre to his name.
Dramatic finale
An unexpected change in the weather brought the regatta to a dramatic end. Just 20 minutes before the finish line closed, a violent storm swept across the lake and forced some of the last participants to retire. After 27 hours on the water, these crews had to give up just a few hundred metres from the finish line - a bitter end for the sailors concerned, who had held out for so long.
Conclusion of the organising committee
Yann Petremand, President of the Organising Committee, drew a positive conclusion from the 86th edition of the Bol d'Or du Léman. He emphasised the return to the roots of the event as a major lake festival and celebration of the best sailors and most beautiful boats on Lake Geneva. Despite the light winds, the regatta was very challenging and exciting for participants and spectators alike. Petremand also highlighted the successful supporting programme on land and thanked everyone involved, especially the volunteers and staff of the Société Nautique de Genève, for their commitment.
History of the Bol d'Or du Léman
The Bol d'Or du Léman, first held in 1939, has developed into one of the most important inland lake regattas in Europe. The race covers a distance of 66 nautical miles (123 kilometres) from Geneva to Le Bouveret and back. It attracts hundreds of participants from all over the world every year and is regarded as the highlight of sailing on Lake Geneva.
The challenge lies not only in the length of the course, but also in the often unpredictable weather conditions. The Bol d'Or appeals to sailing professionals and amateurs alike - a sporting event with a festival character.
