Bol d'Or preview

Anne Hinton reports from Geneva

Saturday, 12 June, marks the 66th edition of the Bol d’Or race around Lake Geneva, run by the Societe Nautique de Genève. This year, Rolex has fronted up as a title sponsor of the event. Entry numbers are expected to be down on the 540 boats last year - between 525 and 535 vessels are likely to be on the line at 9am tomorrow morning.

Last year’s event saw calm conditions followed by dramatic storms which saw two multihulls, each of around 40ft loa, overturn. The event was won, not for the first time, by another large multihull - the 41ft catamaran Alinghi, with Ernesto Bertarelli at the helm.

This year the ‘dinosaurs’ of the Lake are gone. Discussions between the large multihull owners, many of whom were finding the expense of keeping the boats at the top of competition too demanding, led to the design and introduction of the new Decision 35 class, 35 foot catamarans.

The first eight of the Décision 35 catamarans were launched about three weeks ago, with a draw for the sail numbers having taken place earlier. Ernesto Bertarelli drew number one. However, the first race last weekend saw him finish third - behind Loïck Peyron (in Team Red (Zebra 7) – SUI 7) and Philippe Cardis in Ferrier Lullin (SUI 3). After the three hour race, Cardis was only about 30 seconds behind Peyron, with Bertarelli a further 3 minutes behind Cardis.

Said Cardis, whose brother built the boats, “we looked for a boat that is very fast in light winds and can sail [in] up to 25 - 30 knots, because sometimes we do have wind on the lake. I think it is a very nice boat that we have now.”

Asked about the speed of the boats, Cardis replied, “in light winds [under 4 knots] we go between two and three times the speed of the wind.” Wind, but not as strong as last year - “medium” conditions, as Cardis put it - is expected for the race tomorrow, under cloudy skies.

The main applause goes to the first home, likely to be a Decision 35. The eyes of many multihull owners will be on the new class, watching to see how they perform.

However, Nicolas Engel, on Taillevent II, has held the monohull prize for the last two years and will be looking to add to his record. Jo Richards’ ‘Full Pelt’, from Britain, has been entered in the event, but had not registered to compete at time of writing today (she is in fact stuck in the UK with keel problems).

The Société Nautique de Genève is currently rebuilding and extending its clubhouse and temporary accommodation for the visitors is being provided in marquees and a barge moored outside the clubhouse - not ideal conditions for holding such a large event, with at least three people on each boat, and many more on most. Nonetheless the main action takes place on the water, at it’s bound to be close.

Cardis commented, regarding the Decision 35s, “The speed of each boat is quite equal. You make a mistake, you are behind; you make the good tactic, you are ahead.” With such close racing the Bol d’Or Rolex 2004 should be a delight for competitors and spectators alike.