As tradition dictates, some 450 boats and several thousand sailors launched an assault around Lake Geneva, departing to the sound of the cannon firing at 10am on Saturday. For multihulls, the 82nd edition of the world's largest closed-basin regatta can be classified in the series of classic early summer Bol d'Ors, with light wind, thermal breezes and a lot of twists and turns! Nils Frei: "After a good start, we were vying for the lead at the head of the pack, before being overtaken by two D35s and an M2. Being in front is good. But in light and shifty wind conditions, it shows, when you come to a halt, those chasing you the areas with no wind. They then come back into contact, by being able to bypass this 'lull' that you have found yourselves in. "And then at one point comes the finish line, which yesterday was after 12:50 in the race for the TF35s. This is the last transition that you must not fail to nail. Some wind came in, we took off this time shortly after some boats and we finished 4th, 34 seconds behind Ylliam - Comptoir Immobilier, whom we congratulate, just like Zen Too and SailFever, who completed the podium." Miles ahead that melt like snow in the sun We counted six 'new starts', where M2s, D35s and TF35s were almost on a tied line of departure. Each time, the boats, once split, returned to contact, or even took the lead. At 2pm, Alinghi was up to 11km ahead of Realteam. A few hours later, the two boats were back level! Nils Frei: "As soon as the wind picked up a little, the TFs get on their foils, the gaps fill up or widen quickly, leaving little chance for the M2 and D35, kings of the light air. "The good news from this Bol is for the TF35 class, for whom this was a baptism of fire on the Bol d'Or. As we feared in this type of conditions, the M2 and D35 largely were the protagonists at the head of the race. At 13 hours for the leaders and with about 140km travelled, the average speed was around 6-7 knots. It's slow for the multis when the record for the event is 5:01:51. Despite this, the seven TF35s seized the first seven places. It is a success for this new class with complex but well-crafted specifications. "At our level, we will continue to develop techniques in light conditions and we will be delighted to run the Bol in a stronger wind!" Accept the random nature? Nils Frei: "The sport is really different from a grand prix type regatta and when you start a long race like the Bol, you have to accept this element of randomness, which becomes more of a factor. It is not easy to take in and there is no magic bullet in light air. You have to be in the right place at the right time and, above all, be on the right boat. We have the feeling of having sailed well. If we had to repeat the race, we wouldn't change much. We had a great speed and we started again well after each 'new start', but at the end, as fast as it was unpredictable, we missed a chance." When the wind finally picked up, six TF35s were sprinting at 25 knots in the pitch black on approach to Geneva, escorted by dozens of motorboats with all lights blazing. The first four TF35s arrived in the space of 34 seconds, the next two crossing the finish line at the Société Nautique de Genève a minute later. In the provisional general classification of the TF35 Trophy, Realteam takes the lead, one point ahead of Alinghi. Spindrift is 3rd before the summer break and the two final rounds, which will be held in Scarlino. Note that the rules of the classification of the season allow for the withdrawal of the worst score: Realteam played its 'joker' by finishing 7th in the event that combined the two long races (Geneva-Rolle-Geneva and Bol d'Or). There is no doubt that the battle will be intense to win the very first TF35 Trophy awarded in Italy in September. Until then, the team will continue to its second annual regatta circuit and will soon be flying to Lagos, southern Portugal, before the first stage of the GC32 Racing Tour from July 1st to the 4th. Extracts from the rankings of the 82nd Bol d'Or Mirabaud: 1st - TF35 Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier: 12h49'27 2nd - TF35 Zen Too: 12h49'46 3rd - TF35 SailFever: 12h49'52 4th - TF35 Alinghi: 12h50'01 5th - TF35 Realteam: 12h51'15 ... 8th and the 1st D35 - Emil One: 13h04'07 9th and the 1st M2 - Degroof Petercam: 13h06'34 .... 17th and 1st monohull (Bol de Vermeil) - Raffica: 14h06'23 Click here for the ranking including all boats. Extracts from the provisional general classification of the TF35 Trophy after five events (NB: from four validated events, the worst score is removed / The results of the two long races add up to form only one event): 1st - Realteam: 4 points 2nd - Alinghi: 5 points 3rd - Spindrift: 10 points 4th - Ylliam XII: 11 points 5th - Zoulou: 11 points Click here for the full classification. To find out more tf35.org  //  boldormirabaud.ch To learn more about the race monitoring system, the team composition and the TF35 Trophy in general, a summary of the event is here. #GoAlinghiGo  //  #TF35Trophy  //  #BOM21 Credit for photos © Loris von Siebenthal, Gilles Martin-Raget and jeanmiphotographies

57 knots were displayed on the boat's instruments! Not for the speed of our D35, but for the wind speed that blew during the ferocious storm that rained down during the 81st Bol d'Or. We spare a thought to the competitors who suffered damage to their boats, and also to the rescue teams and volunteers on the ground. While the record for this legendary event remains at 5: 01'50 '' (Triga IV in 1994), the M1 Ladycat powered by Spindrift managed the calm before and after the storm, winning the race in 10 hours, 36 minutes and 21 seconds. Ylliam-Comptoir Immobilier were the first D35 and second overall in 10h39'38', the Alinghi D35 completed the podium with a time of 10h42'35. Nicolas Charbonnier, tactician: "This year, I will remember above all the incredible storm that we had to cross. It was a hell of an experience, like nothing I've been through on a boat. We congratulate Spindrift for their victory and we are happy to make the podium." Arnaud Psarofaghis, mainsail trimmer: "What is striking in these great races is that the regattas are even tighter than the Grand Prix. From beginning to end, we fight for every metre, every place. Relative to the length of the course, we finish much closer to each other than at the finish of a Grand Prix round, which is surprising after more than 10 hours of non-stop racing." Nils Frei, coach: "It was super impressive to see the lake transformed with more than 50 knots of wind. Rare conditions, fortunately, by the way. There were boats in stress everywhere and many flares launched. "Ladycat led the race well and deserves the victory, but we are happy to have sailed well overall. The start and first section of the race were very good. Then the wind transitions bunched us up. It was complicated when the Bouveret approached, where it was very quiet and therefore more random. On the way back to Geneva, we negotiated the storm rather well, even though the jib did not come out unscathed. We moved back on the leader who was 50 minutes ahead of us at Bouveret, but that will not have been enough. Achieving the podium on a long race is always satisfying, even if we would prefer to win!" After this fourth stage of the D35 Trophy 2019, Alinghi still leads the Championship, ahead of Ylliam-Comptoir Immobilier and Zen Too. For the D35s, a summer break will now take place until the end of August, when they will return for three Grand Prix to end the season. In the meantime, the team is looking forward to seeing you from June 27th to 30th in Lagos (Portugal) for one of its major goals: the GC32 Series World Championship. Click here for all the results of the 81st Bol d'Or Mirabaud. To find out more d35trophy.com  //  boldormirabaud.ch #GoAlinghiGo  //  #D35Trophy  //  #BOM19 To find out more about how to follow the racing, the team composition and the circuit in general, find the event recap by clicking here. Photo credits © BOM2019 / Loris Von Siebenthal, Nicolas Jutzi, Anna Ricca, EP medias

Just before the start, some had predicted a possible arrival of around midnight. And as it transpired it was just minutes after that, that four D35s were to be found at an almost equal position between the 'entry mark' and the finish line in front of the SNG...but without any wind! Time passes until...it is finally Mobimo who pocket the 80th Bol d'Or Mirabaud, which was launched at 10am Saturday morning for 543 competitors. They finished ahead of Okalys Youth Project, Ylliam-Comptoir Immobilier, and Alinghi in 4th. After being at the forefront for a long time, even the 137 cumulative entries of Alinghi's crew in the Bol d'Or over the years were not enough to make the final difference (25th for Ernesto, 38th for Pierre-Yves, 17th for Arnaud, 7th for Nicolas, 20th for Nils et 30th for Yves). After 14 hours of racing, the victory came down to just the last few metres. But, in the opinion of all, even the winner, luck plays as well its part in these type of races, especially with very light wind conditions. The team is obviously a little disappointed after crossing the line". Nils Frei, headsail trimmer said: "It was a super- classic Bol d'Or, with some séchard and rebat breezes, the transitions between, the lulls...but you also need a bit of luck, otherwise you can't win. We sailed a good race, but it ended like a true Bol". Nicolas Charbonnier, tactician: "It's more fun when there is a strong wind and it ends at 4 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon, but it was a beautiful regatta. We had a very classic Bol with well-known Lake Geneva conditions and a mixed classification just before the finish line. There are years when the start is very important. Boats escape and we do not see them anymore. This year, the boats have come back from the Bouveret. To stay focused on the long-term? It's not a problem, I do not look at my watch. We were so caught up in the race that we didn't notice time pass!" Pierre-Yves Jorand, team manager and floater for this race said: "It was a race where there was lots of overtaking, lots of changes of the leaders, and so it was necessary to refocus often. Like when you're sailing in a Grand Prix actually. It was necessary to look for the right trajectories, the favourable positions, to know how to change our sailing modes. The return to Geneva was not easy. It was building a little behind, and at the entrance to the petit lac there were not many wind signals left. Mobimo pulled-off an incredible comeback and took the lead at the entry mark, few meters away from the finish. We believed until the end, but just missed out on a last pressure to cross the finish line ahead of our rivals." The team will see you in Barcelona this Thursday, June 14 for the next Act of the Extreme Sailing Series in the foiling GC32s. Click here for all the rankings of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2018. To find out more d35trophy.com //  boldormirabaud.ch Event hashtags #GoAlinghiGo // #D35Trophy // #BOM18 To find out more about the race tracking system, the team composition and the circuit in general, find the event recap by clicking here. Photo credits ©Toast Prod & Alinghi

A seventh win in this iconic race proved elusive for Alinghi, who were overtaken by Ladycat on the home leg. The team had taken the lead of the race as the fleet reached Evian and, after over four hours of racing, it rounded the turning mark at Le Bouveret in first place, with the eventual winners three minutes behind. Downwind from there things looked good but, as we approached the transition the wind decreased, enabling Ladycat to make up the difference. A series of jibes kept it close until, after a faked one, the eventual winners crossed us. With both teams close, Ladycat hit the headwind and, from Yvoire, led. It was a position that they'd keep until the finish line which was crossed in just over eight and half hours from the starting gun. Alinghi were just four minutes behind. Congratulations to the winners and onto the next one. ALLEZ ALINGHI!

With Alinghi chasing their seventh victory in this classic race, the 77th edition of the Bol d’Or began in winds that – generously – could be described as light and finished, some 12 hours later, in near-storm conditions. The way that the weather fluctuated mirrored the racing itself, which was full of drama and suspense. It was Team Tilt who crossed the finish line on Lake Geneva in first place, with Alinghi a matter of mere metres and seconds behind them – ultimately unable to reel them back in, but having done an amazing job to be in with a shout at all, doggedly pegging back rival after rival to clamber up the leaderboard and claim second spot on the podium. And it was very close! Ladycat, powered by Spindrift racing, finished in third place and at one stage – indeed for the first half of the race – looked like they might claim victory, having led the fleet almost all the way up to Le Bouveret. All of the teams deserve a huge amount of credit for having done battle with testing and highly variable conditions. The light wind that had characterised the first half of the race gave way tono wind once Alinghi passed the half-way mark in Le Bouveret. That presented one type of challenge, but another entirely was to greet the team when, between Evian and Yvoire, thunderstorms hit, with huge gusts of wind testing the team’s sail handling to the max.  That Alinghi did get so close to victory is perhaps even more impressive given that their bowman – Yves Detrey – had to miss the race at the last minute, as he was confined to his bed by a nasty virus. Andrew Graham stepped up to replace Yves and did a fantastic job to help see Alinghi home. The rest of the crew were: Ernesto Bertarelli (Helm), Pierre-Yves Jorand (Mainsail), Nicolas Charbonnier (Tactician), Coraline Jonet (Trim) and Nils Frei (Trim). Many congratulations to Team Tilt on their impressive victory and to the entire fleet for such an enthralling race! Next year we will go again as we seek that seventh title...

Next Saturday (the 13th), Alinghi will be lining up its Décision 35 SUI-1 Alinghi for the start of the 77th Bol d’Or Mirabaud, organised by Société Nautique de Genève and known as the largest race in closed waters, with more than 500 boats and 2,500 crew participating. Alinghi is one of the Bol d’Or’s most successful ever teams, having won the trophy in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2011. That record makes Ernesto Bertarelli and Pierre-Yves Jorand members of a very select club of people who have won this prestigious trophy six times since the first edition in 1939. Alinghi’s crew for this year edition will be Ernesto Bertarelli (Helm), Pierre-Yves Jorand (Mainsail), Nicolas Charbonnier (Tactic), Coraline Jonet (Trim), Nils Frei (Trim) and Yves Detrey (Bow). On Saturday, you can follow the regatta live at these links: For news and live footage of the race: http://news.boldormirabaud.ch/ For maps and live positioning of the boats: http://www.suiviregate.ch/mapapps.html?reg_id=BOM15 But before the start gun is shot at 10:00am next Saturday June 13th, 2015 enjoy this great movie made by Pedro Das Neves about last year’s 76th Bol d’Or. [VIDEO::https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKKlHhPiCM0::news]

Sailed in a breezy North East wind (La Bise) the 76th, Bol d’Or was won by LadyCat powered by Spindrift racing, Dona Bertarelli and her crew adding a second victory of this mythic regatta to her successes. Alinghi took third, after battling hard for more than 5 hours and 40 minutes, Realstone completing the podium in second. Started with an already established medium to strong “bise”, the regatta was promising to be intense. All the D35 started with a reef in their mainsail to sail up-wind towards le Bouveret. But the “Bise”, as expected, didn’t blow all the way to the Valais part of Lake Leman and a tactical war started at the approach of Lausanne, forcing the tactician to climb the mast to find some patches of wind on the suddenly calm waters ahead of SUI-1. LadyCat managed to come back to the top of the fleet and passed the Bouveret mark ahead of her opponents. The battle down wind back towards Geneva was intense and many teams went bow down in the waves more than once, pushing their machines to their limits! Alinghi crossed the finish line in 3rd position after 5 hours 42 minutes of an exciting race from the start to the end and stays in the lead of the Vulcain Trophy before the season’s summer break.