The Julius Baer Challenge begins this weekend in Geneva, with the keenly -awaited ‘Grand Prix Chopard’, which will bring together the best Lake Geneva sailors aboard ten high-tech catamarans, and allow two new crews to compare themselves with the circuit’s regular stars.  
 
The ‘Grand Prix Chopard’ - the first stage of the Julius Baer Challenge – is intended exclusively for Decision 35s, and will allow the ten best catamarans on Lake Geneva to confront each other during a weekend which looks as if it will be rich in developments.  
 
The regatta is being organised by the ‘Yachting Léger’ section of the ‘Société Nautique de Genève’, and will begin on Saturday morning off Port Noir. The courses, which are windward- leeward courses with gates, will allow both sailing enthusiasts and those who just love a good spectacle to follow the racing from the banks and the jetties at the ‘Société Nautique de Genève’, which will be open to the public on this occasion. The racing will continue on Sunday, with a last start possible around 3:00 PM.


For its third edition, the ‘Grand-Prix Chopard’ 2007 will benefit from the presence of two new boats. The Decision 35 fleet will from now on consist of ten boats, which makes the Julius Baer Challenge – the series’ annual championship – one of the most competitive one-design multihull regattas in the world.
All eyes will be on Dona Bertarelli Späth’s ‘Lady Cat’ (SUI 10), which will be sailed by an exclusively female crew and helmed by the French champion, Karine Fauconnier. Also under pressure for its first regatta, Christian Michel’s ‘Smart Home’, with Christophe Peclard at the helm.

Faced with these newcomers, the Decision 35 circuit’s regular protagonists will start the season without restraint, aware that in September, when the points are counted, every one will be important. The winners of the Julius Baer Challenge for the last two years, Nicolas Grange’s boat ‘Okalys’, will have to fight to keep its place as defender in the absence of Loïck Peyron, who will join his crew on Lake Geneva for Geneva–Rolle–Geneva (9th June).

Most of the crews have been training for nearly a month and are ready for this first round. Amongst them are Alain Gautier (Foncia) and the crews from Alinghi, Julius Baer, Zen Too, etc, all ready to do battle. Which of them will be in the lead at the end of the ‘Grand Prix Chopard’? The answer on Sunday.
 
Teams:
SUI 1- Alinghi
SUI 2- Okalys
SUI 3- Julius Baer
SUI 4- Zen too
SUI 5- Foncia
SUI 6- Cadence
SUI 7- Axiom Risques & Finance Management
SUI 8- Banque Gonet & Cie
SUI 9- Smart Home
SUI 10- Lady Cat
 
 
 
Programme

Saturday 12th May 2007
11h00: 1st possible start off the SNG
 
Sunday 13th May 2007
10h30: 1st possible start
15h00: last start
NB: the prize-giving will take place after the final race, in front of the SNG.
 
 

 

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