The 82nd edition of Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2021: Almost Back to Normal

Geneva, June 10, 2021 - The Bol d’Or Mirabaud is back! For the first time in its history, the world’s greatest lake regatta was canceled last year and it’s therefore an immense satisfaction for the entire organizing team and, especially, for competitors, to be once again a few hours from the starting gun of the 82nd edition, taking place Saturday, June 12 at 10:00 offshore of the Société Nautique de Genève. 

With more than 400 sailboats registered and 2,000 crew, this edition should be memorable. The field is extremely tough, with notably the first appearance of TF 35 hydrofoil catamarans, as well as numerous other innovative and spectacular sailboats (see below). But let’s not forget the very numerous amateurs and competitors racing aboard popular classes such as Surprises (70 registered) or Grand Surprises (40 boats).

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming all competitors, amateurs and professionals, on Lake Geneva this weekend. Although limited to only the race without the usual land-based festivities due to the public health situation, our event will the first in Switzerland to welcome so many participants, obviously adhering to current safety directives,” declares Rodolphe Gautier, president of the organizing committee. “We’ve worked very hard to achieve this small miracle and I want to extend a special thank you to those who made it possible, starting with government authorities of the Geneva and Vaud cantons as well as the Haute Savoie prefecture, and also the volunteers and organizing committee members who worked long hours in a difficult situation.”

The Société Nautique de Genève will be closed to the public exceptionally this year. Spectators will nonetheless be able to follow key moments of the race from different vantage points around the lake, so long as they follow social distance rules. The race will also be broadcast live on different media (see below).

Challenges of the 82nd Edition
Beyond the simple fact that it’s taking place, the 2021 Bol d’Or Mirabaud will be exceptional, serving as a theater for numerous fascinating firsts. 

The new TCF35 hydrofoil catamarans will compete in the BOM for the first time. Launched a year ago, they took advantage of last year’s postponement to continue to refine their design.
Will the "old" Decision 35 catamarans, of which two survivors led respectively by Christian Wahl and Julien Monnier remain, manage to create a surprise? It’s rumored that this could be possible in very light winds. The same goes for the "small" M2s, whose 11 boats make up the main one-design multihull fleet. They are very fast in all conditions and perform well in calm winds.
Monohulls also promise a wide open race. The spectacular Hungarian Libera Raffica will try to defend her title. She’s the favorite but will have work hard against the Psaros 40s and 33s, as well as Taillevent, which is always a tough challenger.
Among other innovations, Thomas Jundt's formidable QFX will be competing in its first BOM and could achieve an impressive feat if the conditions are right. Eric Monnin will also be there with his Monofoil Gonet, which has yet to try weather conditions that can test her true potential. The 69F hydrofoil monohulls from the Italian shipyard, Persico, could also crash the party, but their owners are awaiting the latest weather reports before confirming their participation.
Another interesting challenge to watch. Both Pierre-Yves Jorand and Christian Wahl could set new records for the number of wins if either is victorious for the eighth time in his career. 
The record to beat is 5:01:50 for multihulls (set in 1994 by the trimaran Triga IV) and 8:09:33 for monohulls (set in 2014 by Syz & Co).

Jean Le Cam, BOM21 Ambassador
The famous French skipper, fourth in the last Vendée Globe, will be present at the Société Nautique de Genève starting Friday and will actively contribute to the opening ceremony as well as to other activities on the race’s sidelines.

Weather: Summer’s Finally Here!
The experts at MeteoSwiss are convinced that a light, thermal breeze will prevail on Saturday, followed by a stronger "Bise" on Sunday. Click here to read the detailed weather forecast of MeteoSwiss.

ACVL-SRS Trophy
The ACVL-SRS Trophy rewards the best monohull in corrected time, regardless of the size of the boat. The finishing time is multiplied by the coefficient of each boat, allowing "small” boats to compete against big ones.

The favorites for this Trophy are numerous, such as Surprises or the 2019 winner podium which included a Modulo 93, a Grand Surprise and a Melges 32.
The Sailing Squad
Mirabaud Group has developed an innovative web video series, which brings together some of the world's young sailing hopefuls for the regatta - and much more: Sailing Squad!

Don't miss the next episodes, starting Friday and running for a month! There are many surprises in store!