[Source: Alinghi] After five regattas on Lake Geneva, Alinghi SUI1, helmed by Ernesto Bertarelli leads the Challenge Julius Baer series. The crew of SUI1 maintained consistant results over the weekend to rank second behind Alain Gautier on Foncia. Ed Baird’s Alinghi SUI6 finished sixth at the Grand Prix Romandie Act II to go into the D35 summer break fifth overall, ahead of experienced lake sailors, in their first D35 season.

QUOTES FROM THE RACE BOAT
Nils Frei, trimmer on board SUI1, gives some insight on how the day went for his team: “We had a good start in the first race but were on the wrong side of the course, so it was difficult to finish earlier. We had good starts in the other three races and managed to sail fast although the conditions were shifty and patchy. The key today was to get the right side of the race course, like Foncia did. They also had good speed so they deserved to win. We tried to be conservative but overall we are happy with the result.”

Ed Baird, helmsman onboard Alinghi SUI6, also comments on this weekend’s regatta: “We are encouraged in some ways because we have been sailing better and the boat handling is improving, but we also feel a little disappointed because we chose incorrectly a couple of times in the lake conditions and ended up dropping down the fleet, so we know our final score could have ended up better this weekend.
The main challenge was that there were a number of races in which one side was heavily favoured but this was not apparent at the start. Nervertheless, we are still behind but we are catching up.”

This is the last regatta of the Challenge Julius Baer before the summer break, but Alinghi sailors have a challenging task ahead of them, as Baird explains: “We now have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us with the new boat: to get it sailing and to learn about it. It’s great to have the chance to race these smaller boats against so many great teams but the real work starts a few weeks from now.”

The next of the three remaining regattas for the Décision 35 championsip is the Open de Nyon from 22-23 August.

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: Alinghi] Ernesto Bertarelli and the crew on Alinghi SUI1 bounced back from fourth place on the eve of the finals performing consistently today to take a second and another first place after lengthy delays due to weather conditions on Lake Geneva. Ernesto Bertarelli and his crew won three of the six races over the weekend, facing some of the top multihull experts in the world.

Ed Baird’s Alinghi SUI6 team, having progressed all weekend in what is their first D35 regatta ever, jumped from mixed results in the first two days to two 4th places today to finish the series in sixth place, highest ranking of the ‘new boats of the championship’. Alinghi is using the D35 championship series on Lake Geneva as part of the America’s Cup Defender’s preparations towards the 33rd event in multihulls next year.

Ernesto Bertarelli celebrates SUI1’s victory in Grand Prix Corum. Geneva, 10 May 2009. Photo copyright Schmid Chris / EYEMAGE MEDIA

Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi SUI1 helmsman, explains how his team improved throughout the weekend to take the championship: “We sailed really well in today’s breeze. We were in second position overall before going into race 2 today and we managed to get a good start; with good speed in light airs. The level of the fleet here is very high, but we are pleased that we have improved through the weekend.”

A word on your crew mates on Alinghi SUI6: “Alinghi SUI6 has had a good result, they have progressed well and are the best of the new teams, and the other teams are strong, so I think it is mission accomplished for this first grand prix. Knowing them as well as I do, I’m sure they have learned a lot and their level is going to go up very fast. Last year the same crew did the iShares circuit, they were a new team and they managed to win the championship.”

How does Alinghi benefit from this platform for the next America’s Cup on multihulls? “This is the best platform we have today to train on because the boats have a large sail area, and they are suited to inshore racing. Also, the fact that there are so many specialists on this circuit such as Loïck Peyron, Alain Gautier, Franck Cammas and Pascal Bidegorry, among others, allows us to measure ourselves against the cumulated experience they have on sail trim, sail shapes and more generally on how to sail multihulls. These people are specialists in offshore sailing, racing on Lake Geneva, Olympic Games, and the America’s Cup. This is very fertile ground to experiment with how different people approach the same matter: sailing multihulls on the lake.”

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: Alinghi] It’s either not enough or too much wind on Lake Geneva! The second day of the GP Corum (first of the Challenge Julius Baer summer series) organised by the Société Nautique de Genève had a late start today. After a morning of postponements, and two false starts, by 16:00 the forecasted 10-12 southwesterly finally came through and the fleet got away.

It was a day of mixed results for the two Alinghi boats: Alinghi SUI1, helmed by Ernesto Bertarelli, won the first race, while Alinghi SUI6 with Ed Baird on the helm finished seventh, climbing back from the bottom of the fleet.

With conditions building, race two saw Alinghi SUI1 finish seventh with Alinghi SUI6 on its heels in eighth place. The last race of the day was sailed with reefed mains and again Alinghi SUI1 led over the line, this time with just one boat between Ernesto and Ed Baird in third.

Ernesto Bertarelli, on the helm of SUI1, dominates second day of Grand-Prix Corum. Geneva, 9 May 2009. Photo copyright Loris von Siebenthal

Pierre-Yves Jorand, Alinghi SUI1 mainsail trimmer, explains the seventh in race two: “It was a great day for us today… Tricky, very shifty, very gusty… The breeze ranged from eight to 12 knots at first, the left-hand side was very powerful, it was the ‘must-have’ side, so we managed to get it in the first and the third races but not in the second so it was obvious that we were not going to get a good result in the second race.”

“It was a typical southwesterly-type day, with 35 degree shifts; you have to pick through them on the right tack. It was a wonderful day: beautiful warm weather and great competition with this huge fleet, where every metre counts. This is going to be a great season!”

Ed Baird, helmsman onboard Alinghi SUI6, takes us through the day for his team: “There was no wind until late in the day and then it came through from the same direction as yesterday and it was very puffy. We saw as much as 22.5 knots for a while but most of the racing was in15 to 20 knots, so off we went. In race one we thought the right was going to work out and the left was much better; in race two we had a weak start and didn’t get what we wanted out of it and once again we were trying to catch up. We passed a couple of boats later during the race, but obviously we would have liked to have finished better. We are learning a lot about how to make the boat go, about the manoeuvres; all those things that we don’t understand fully yet, by any means! In the last race we pushed it up on the line pretty hard – we actually had the reefs in for the last race- and we pushed up on the line pretty hard; got up in the front group and chased around in the top four for the whole race. In the end we finished third and in pretty close contact with the first two, so we felt good about that one. We learned some things during the day, but we are definitely well outside our skill set as a group. Every minute we sail and race this boat we are learning.”

“Our learning curve is still very steep. This is a new piece of equipment, a new place to race, and a new group of competitors. We are trying our hardest and we are definitely better than we were a week ago; we have a long way to go.”

Ernesto Bertarelli, on the helm of SUI1, dominates second day of Grand-Prix Corum. Geneva, 9 May 2009. Photo copyright Loris von Siebenthal

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: Alinghi] Ed Baird and crew put the chartered Décision 35, SUI6, through its paces for the frst time yesterday on Lake Geneva. The team and that of the other Alinghi D35, SUI1, are training this week in preparation for the upcoming Challenge Julius Baer which starts on Friday with the GP Corum at the Société Nautique de Genève . This regatta series and other training sessions are towards a 33rd America’s Cup in multihulls next year.

What are you and the crew doing this week?

We are on Lake Geneva, in a town called Nyon, in Swizterland, and we are going out sailing on the D35s that we are going to sail all summer. This is our first time together as a group on the boat to try and experiment and learn a little bit about how they work. We are trying to get ready for the races that start this weekend.

Ernesto started this class way back and he’s been racing on these boats since they were originally conceived. This is the first time for us. There was a boat that wasn’t being used and we were able to charter it for the season, for part of the season actually, because we can’t do all of the races, but we’ll have another team within our team to race against and train against and that will be interesting.

Alinghi starts training on D35’s. Video copyright Alinghi

What sort of competition do you expect in this multihull fleet?

My understanding is that there are going to be 12 boats this year, which is fantastic. Last year it was 10 and now a couple more. There are several great teams that have been here since the beginning but there are some new ones that are going to be tough as well. We know we have our work cut out for us to try to catch up and learn about sailing these boats, but that’s the position we are in for this next America’s Cup, it’s to try to get better at multihulls.

Last year you raced the eXtreme 40s and won the iShares Cup – how do those boats compare to the D35?

In some ways the X40s and the D35s are similar. They are not that different in length and they have gennakers, and mains and jibs, but the D35s have a lot more sophisticated equipment. There is a lot more that you can manipulate on the boat to control the way the sails are, the way the boat is able to move through the water and there are more sails. We have more to select from for the different wind speeds, and it’s a more powerful boat overall, so it’s going to be a real handful to try to get used to. It’s good that we had the opportunity last year to sail the X40s, but this is definitely a more difficult step.

Who is the crew racing with you?

We are pretty lucky to have some of the same guys we raced together with last summer, but we are also trying to teach a new gang what they need to learn and learn together: Warwick Fleury, Brad Butterworth, Murray Jones, will all be sailing this summer. Of course Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen and Lorenzo Mazza are here and they were with me all last year. We have a different group of people supporting us: Juan Vila, Peter Evans, who was with us last year, and quite a number of different folks that are coming looking at the different things that these boats do to try to learn from it

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: Alinghi] Alinghi, 33rd America’s Cup Defender, has started its 2009-2010 multihull campaign in Switzerland launching the two Décision 35 catamarans that will be used as training platforms towards a multihull America’s Cup in May 2010. The sailing team will be dedicated to multihull training, racing the Challenge Julius Baer on Lake Geneva for the rest of the season and withdrawing from other monohull commitments.

In addition to Ernesto Bertarelli’s original SUI1, the team has chartered a second Décision 35 (SUI6) for the season and the two grand prix multihulls will race the eight events that span the summer, starting on 8 May with the Grand Prix Corum.

Ed Baird will helm Alinghi SUI6 with Brad Butterworth as tactician while Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi president, will helm Alinghi SUI1. “Ernesto and his team have been strong in this class for years, we look forward to learning from and with them throughout the season,” said Baird. “We realise we have a lot to learn, and there will be a number of great crews to race against, so we’re excited to have the opportunity to get back on the water in a competitive environment.”

The Alinghi multihulls will face a strong 10-boat fleet that includes some of the best offshore multihull sailors in the world, and while an Alinghi team has won the last two championships on the Lake, the group is candid in its expectations: “We are here to try to win, just as we did last year, but this season is going to be tough: the circuit has two new boats (Veltigroup and Banque Populaire) manned by highly professional multihull sailors with lots of experience, so the starts of the races will be more challenging. We will definitely be trying to keep the trophy in our hands though!” said Yves Detrey, Alinghi bow/mastman.

The first event, the Grand Prix Corum is from 8-10 May at the Société Nautique de Genève, so the Alinghi teams will start training from next Monday, “the D-35’s represent a more sophisticated racing multihull than we have experienced before, and we need all the training opportunities we can get as we prepare for an America’s Cup in multihulls,” Ed Baird concluded.

Crew lists

Alinghi SUI1
Club: Société Nautique de Genève
Ernesto Bertarelli, helmsman
Pierre-Yves Jorand, mainsail trimmer, performance
Nils Frei, trimmer
Yves Detrey, bow/mastman, boat captain
JC Monnin, trimmer, performance
Luc Dubois, helmsman, performance
Tanguy Cariou, tactician
Coraline Jonet, trimmer
Andrew Graham, spare
Claudy Dewarrat, coach
Christian Wahl, tactician

Alinghi SUI6
Club: Société Nautique de Genève
Ed Baird, helmsman
Brad Butterworth, tactician
Warwick Fleury, mainsail trimmer
Lorenzo Mazza, trimmer
Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen, bow/mastman
Curtis Blewett, bow/mastman
Murray Jones, tactician

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: Alinghi] The newly modified multihull is race-ready for the next Challenge Julius Baer which kicks off on 8 May with the Grand Prix Corum on Lake Geneva organised by the Société Nautique de Genève. Yves Detrey, mastman and D35 boat captain, explained what tweaks have been made to the boat over the winter: “While there is not much we can modify on the boat because the rule is very precise, there are small gaps in the rule here and there so we’ve tried to optimise as much as possible on the electronics and the running rigging. Also the look is different.”

What are your expectations for the upcoming season?

“We are here to try to win, just as we did last year, but this season is going to be tough: the circuit has two new boats (Veltigroup and Banque Populaire) manned by highly professional multihull sailors with lots of experience, so the starts of the races will be more challenging. We will definitely be trying to keep the trophy in our hands!”

Alinghi relaunch their modified D35. Villeneuve, 16 April 2009. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Alinghi

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: Challenge Julius Baer] The Challenge Julius Baer 2009 which begins in a few weeks, reserves for this year, its novelties. It’s the Grand Prix Corum, newly renamed, which will launch the Challenge from 8th to 10th May. By giving its name to the famous Grand Prix of Geneva, the watchmakers brand from Chaux-de-Fonds, confirms its attachment to the sailing world. It also forms an alliance with the Décision 35 of Nicolas Grange, SUI 2 Okalys-Corum, which reinforces its presence in the sponsor of sailing.

This year, two new Décision 35 will come and add on to the nine boats already running. The first one, SUI 11 Veltigroup, will be helmed by Stève Ravussin. After having sailed episodically on Zen Too in 2008, this great specialist of oceanic and lemanic multihull will try this year the adventure as boat-manager. The objective of this new tandem is clear: “With Veltigroup, we are going to discover a new sportive challenge… Let’s say that 2009 will be the year of occasional wins and settings and then from 2010 we’ll try to attack the championship!”, says Stève Ravussin.

The second newcomer, SUI 12 Banque Populaire will be helmed by Pascal Bidégorry, winner of the Solitaire du Figaro or else champion of the world of the 60’ Orma. One of the confessed goals of the Basque skipper is to perfect the routine of the team in multihull on the Lake Geneva, within sight of his attempts to beat oceanic records with the maxi-trimaran ‘Banque Populaire 5’ of 140 feet.

The strengthened participation of oceanic sailors on the leman courses confirms once again the international reputation of the Challenge Julius Baer. We can therefore expect nice confrontations between the local teams which are especially at ease on the lake and the world’s best sailors.

Don’t miss the launch of the 2009 season of the Challenge Julius Baer by assisting to the regattas of the Grand Prix Corum from May 8th to 10th at the Société Nautique de Genève!

Alinghi, winners of the 2008 Challenge Julius Baer. Photo copyright Jean-Marie Liot / Julius Baer

2009 calendar:
8 – 10 May Grand Prix Corum – SNG
23 – 24 May Grand Prix Romandie.com Act I – Rolle
6 June Genève – Rolle – Genève
13 June Bol d’Or Mirabaud
27 – 28 June Grand Prix Romandie.com Act II – Versoix
22 – 23 August Open de Nyon
5 – 6 September HP Cup La Réserve
18 – 20 September Grand Prix Beau-Rivage Palace

Teams 2009
SUI1 Alinghi
SUI2 Okalys- Corum
SUI3 Julius Baer
SUI4 Zen Too
SUI5 Foncia
SUI7 Zebra 7
SUI8 Romandie.com
SUI9 Smart Home
SUI10 Ladycat
SUI11 Veltigroup
SUI12 Banque Populaire

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: Association for Multi-hull Competition (AMC)] Five years since conception by a group of owner-sailors, the Association for Multi-hull Competition (AMC) aims to organise a 2008 Championship representative of the original D35 Class spirit with high-level competition on the water and friendship ashore.

The AMC was the brainchild of five founding members: Ernesto Bertarelli, Philippe Cardis, Jean-François Demole, Guy de Picciotto and Nicolas Grange, who created and developed the Décision 35 as an owner-sailor class on Lake Geneva. All members share the same passion for sailing competition based on similar sporting values that do not centre on commercial gain.

Following fundamental differences regarding the future of the class and a marked divergence in values and objectives, the owner of the yacht “Banque Gonet”, who had contradictory objectives with the other members of the association, has decided to withdraw from the class.

The AMC never had the intention to exclude the “Banque Gonet” boat from competition nor forbid anyone from sailing. However, the AMC clearly expressed to Nicolas Gonet that in the D35 Class, we put sport before commerce and therefore, his objective was in conflict with that of the other owners. His decision to sell his boat is an appropriate solution for all involved and the AMC will ensure that the boat continues to race on the circuit.”

Nicolas Grange
President
Association des Multicoques de Compétition

Original post by Valencia Sailing and software by Elliott Back

[Source: Alinghi] Statement from Ernesto Bertarelli

Regarding the concerns raised by Mr Nicolas Gonet, owner of SUI-8, about his participation in the Décision 35 Class, I would like to say that I will not support any move to exclude his boat from the circuit, should this issue be raised at the next General Assembly.

As expressed in the previous Assembly, I must highlight that the Class was founded on Lake Geneva by sailors for friendly competition and in my opinion the fact that Gonet intends to introduce BMW Oracle Racing to the circuit goes against the original spirit of the Class. In addition, I believe it is questionable that a team in litigation with the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), one of the host clubs, competes in events organised by this club. However, for the better of the sport, I prefer to keep the fight on the water.

Note to Editors
The Décision 35 Class was founded in 2004 by Swiss sailors for friendly competition on Lake Geneva. The spirit of the event is owner sailor. http://www.challengejuliusbaer.com/en/

Class members:
SUI1: Alinghi, owned by Ernesto Bertarelli (SNG)
SUI2: Okalys, owned by Nicolas Grange (SNG)
SUI3: Julius Baer, owned by Philippe Cardis
SUI4: Zen too, owned by Guy de Picciotto (SNG)
SUI5: Foncia, owned by Alain Gautier
SUI6: Cadence, owned by Jean François Demole (SNG)
SUI7: Axiom, owned by Guy de Picciotto (SNG)
SUI8: Gonet, co-owned by Nicolas Gonet (SNG)
SUI9: Smart Home, owned by Christian Michel
SUI10: Ladycat, owned by Dona Bertarelli (SNG)

2008 Racing season:
2-4 May: Grand Prix Chopard (SNG)
24-25 May: Open de Rolle (SNR)
7 June: Genève-Rolle-Genève (YCG)
14 June: Bol d’Or Mirabaud (SNG)
30-31 August: HP Cup La Réserve
5-7 September: Open de Versoix (CNV)
20-21 September: Open du Yacht Club (YCG)
3-5 October: Grand Prix Beau-Rivage Palace (CVV)

Original post by Valencia Sailing and software by Elliott Back