300 boats for Lake Geneva's premier event

A preview to the Bol d'Or Mirabaud

From 13-15 June, the Bol d'Or Mirabaud, presented by Girard-Perregeaux and organised by the Société Nautique de Genève, is inviting watersports lovers to a very special 'birthday' edition.

Almost 600 baots will be on the start line of Lake Geneva's most famous regatta, with nearly 3,000 crew members participating. Be they Sunday sailors or professional racers, an increasing number of internationally renowned stars will be present.

But the sailors won't be the only ones to enjoy the racing. Spectators will find themselves in a privileged position: over the three days, the Société Nautique's doors will be opened to the public.  Surrounded by a pleasant atmosphere, spectators will be able to follow the race in real-time on multiple screens placed throughout the Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2008 tent.  They will also be able to see the boats and crews up close, given the new ruling requiring winners to tie-up at the winners' dock as soon as they cross the finish line.  And no visit to the Nautique would be complete without admiring the famous and much-coveted silver America’s Cup on display.

Under a high-tech banner, the 2008 Bol d'Or Mirabaud will demonstrate how Lake Geneva is a dream platform on which to test the most advanced nautical innovations.  Spanning the 123 kilometers (66.5 nautical miles) separating Geneva from the Le Bouveret turning mark at the opposite end of the lake, spectators will be able to see the super light Mirabaud LX or “lake dragonfly” -- the first hydrofoil sailboat without a hull -- gliding across the water, alongside Decision 35 catamarans, its fastest competition.  It remains to be seen whether the most beautiful lake regatta in Europe will celebrate its 70th birthday with the first-ever victory by a flying boat.

Among new features this year are the introduction of a new one-class design, the Toucan, as well as a text messaging service providing GPS positions of the Bouveret entrance mark and the mark just before the finish line. A pasta party will await crews all night long once they have crossed the finish line. The two starting lines initiated last year (one for multihulls, the other for monohulls) will continue this year.

A photo contest open to all (competitors, spectators, amateur and professional photographers) is being organized by the Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2008 Organizing Committee.  Photos taken during the Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2008 may be submitted at www.boldormirabaud.com before June 30, 2008.  A selection of the best photos will be published in the Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2009 magazine, possibly even on the cover as was the case with the 2007 amateur contest winner.