Skunked at start of GC32 Racing Tour

Riva del Garda, Italy (Mary 11, 2017) – In stark contrast to the last few days when Lake Garda delivered the brisk, flat water conditions for which it is famous, the opening races of the GC32 Racing Tour’s GC32 Riva Cup had to be put on hold due to a lack of wind.

Late morning, the eleven GC32 catamarans ventured out of the Fraglia Vela Riva, at the north end of Lake Garda, to the race area in a promising moderate southerly ‘Ora’ wind. Sadly just minutes before the first start, the wind vanished and a haze appeared over the lake, partially shrouding the towering mountains that surround Riva del Garda.

After 40 minutes of waiting and no improvement, the AP over H flags were raised and the boats returned to the Fraglia Vela Riva to remain on stand-by. Sadly the wind remained evasive for the rest of the afternoon.

Principal Race Officer Stuart Childerley explained: “There is quite a lot of change going on around here with different weather systems – that has created instability. We had a small southerly come through before the start sequence and we are expecting rain this evening.”

Tanguy Cariou, Team Manager of Team Tilt added: “It was sunny this morning and here in Riva that means you can normally expect to get a good southerly in the afternoon. When we went out it was still like that, but quickly it became cloudy and killed the breeze. We know in Riva we can get champagne conditions. Hopefully tomorrow will be better and we should get a good southerly.”

Jérôme Clerc, skipper of Realteam commented: “Yesterday there was too much wind and today not enough. Everyone wants to race here – I hope we will get some in tomorrow.”

Coming all the way from an island in the middle of the Atlantic, Mackenzie Cooper, skipper of Bermuda’s Red Bull Youth America’s Cup crew on Team BDA was finding the conditions on and the terrain around Lake Garda perplexing. “It is very different scenery compared to what we’re used to. We haven’t seen mountains this big, some of us, ever. And the weather is really confusing. It boggles the mind… There is a lot going on with the clouds and all sorts of different weather. We are hopeful for some better breeze tomorrow.”

Tomorrow racing will get going earlier. Stuart Childerley says: “We are seeing a southerly first thing in the morning and then it getting showery, so we are looking to start at 1200 CET.”

GC32 Riva Cup – teams
Team Argo (USA) – Jason Carroll
ARMIN STROM Sailing Team (SUI) – Flavio Marazzi
Team BDA (BER) – Mackenzie Cooper
Codigo Rojo Sailing Team (ARG) – Federico Ferioli
Team ENGIE (FRA) – Sebastien Rogues
Team France Jeunes (FRA) – Robin Follin
Malizia – Yacht Club de Monaco (MON) – Pierre Casiraghi
Mamma Aiuto! (JPN) – Naofumi Kamei
Realteam (SUI) – Jérôme Clerc
Team Tilt (SUI) – Sebastien Schneiter
I’M Racing Movistar (ESP) – Iker Martinez

Tour Website – Scoreboard – Facebook

2017 GC32 Racing Tour
May 11-14 – GC32 Riva Cup / Riva del Garda, Italy
June 28-July 1 – TBA
August 2-5 – 36 Copa del Rey / Palma de Mallorca, Spain
September 13-16 – TBA
October 12-15 – Marseille One Design / Marseille, France

About the GC32 Racing Tour:
2017 will be the fifth year of the GC32 Racing Tour and its fourth since the GC32 was transformed into a foiler over the winter of 2013-14. The GC32 Racing Tour seeks to attract both private owner-driven boats and commercially-backed teams with a circuit aimed at providing the best foiling catamaran experience for participants. This remit includes choosing venues known to provide optimum wind conditions for foiling and race courses large enough to enable the boats to hit maximum speeds.

About the GC32
The GC32 is a 10m long (12m including bowsprit) by 6m wide foiling catamaran conceived by Laurent Lenne and designed by Dr Martin Fischer, now part of the Groupama Team France design team. It is built in carbon fibre by Premier Composite Technologies in Dubai.

The GC32 is fitted with T-foil rudders and J-shaped daggerboards/foils, conceptually similar to those used on the America’s Cup catamarans, with adjustable rake on all appendages. However relative to the boat’s size, the foils are substantially larger, allowing the GC32 to foil even in low wind speeds and with much great stability and ease. Despite having big foils, GC32s are fast! Alinghi holds the record with a peak speed of 39.21 knots.

Unlike the AC catamarans, the GC32 features a more manageable soft-sail rig and has one design sails. It is demountable with a two piece mast for easy transportation.

Source: Sailing Intelligence