TF35 foils, Liberas with their fifteen crew members hanging from trapezes, precious wooden classics, young sailors from the Mirabaud team’s Sailing Squad: they will all be there, ready to put on a show. Last year’s winner, Bertrand Demole and his Ylliam XII Comptoir Immobilier are putting their title back on the line. They will have their work cut out for them against the other TF35s, especially Realteam for Léman Hope and Alinghi Red Bull Racing, who have dominated the early part of the season. We will also be watching the M2 catamarans, which are smaller but perform well in light wind, recalling that one of them led the fleet at Le Bouveret last year. And don’t forget the D35s and particularly the W-team skippered by the formidable Christian Wahl, seven-time winner of the BOM and leading a great team of young swiss sailing talents. The race is wide open for monohulls, possibly except for the favorite, Hungarian Libera Raffica, winner of the last two editions. The Psaros 33 and 40, as well as the Luthi 1090 and F10, will do everything they can to prevent Raffica from conquering its third Bol de Vermeil Challenge. Will Surprises once again number more than100? And will Grand Surprises number a solid 40? We’ll know soon enough, so we won’t get into the prediction game. Other boats will also be present in the race, starting with Thomas Jundt’s QFX, a hydrofoil monohull coached by Benoît Marie, who is training his crew hard. And the Mirabaud Sailing Squad’s 69F will enter, led by a women’s team of champions from five countries coached by two-time British Olympic champion Shirley Robertson. n short, there will be something for everyone on mono – or multihulls, on two, three or four foils, floating or flying, in wood, plastic or carbon! Do you want to take the challenge? Register onlineby clicking here.
