Little America’s Cup in Geneva in 2015

Geneva, Switzerland (April 30, 2014) – The organizing committee of the LITTLECUP today announced that the 27th such annual competition will be hosted in 2015 by Société Nautique de Genève. The ultimate world championship for “C class” catamarans, often referred to as the Little Americas Cup, the LITTLECUP symbolizes basic research and cutting edge technological development at a human scale.

The holding of 27th LITTLECUP at Geneva in September 2015 was announced this morning by the Société Nautique de Genève at a press conference in the presence of numerous leading personalities: Thierry Lombard, Managing Partner of Lombard Odier Group and historic partner of Hydros, Denis Horeau, Course Director, Frank Cammas, skipper and world C Class champion, Jérémie Lagarrigue, skipper and world C Class vice-champion, Vincent Hagin, Chairman Swiss Sailing, Steve Clark, International C Class Chairman, Pierre-Yves Firmenich, Chairman of the Société Nautique de Genève et Cyril Deshusse, Chairman of the YLSNG.

After the previous competitions held in the USA, Britain and Australia, the decision to opt for Geneva is not a coincidence say the organizers. “It is a logical yet ambitious choice as the Lake Geneva region has become strategic location in the practice of sailing at the very highest level and in its technological progress.”

This global event will thus highlight the historic connection of the region with hydrofoil boats since it was at Lausanne that the record seeker of Lake Geneva Hydroptère.ch recently renamed Hydros.ch, was developed. Two Swiss teams participated for the first time in last year’s competition, organized at Falmouth by the British Invictus team. With one of the Swiss teams led by Billy Besson and Jérémie Lagarrigue and the other by Misha Hemmsteck and Bastian Tentji, Jérémie and Billy’s team distinguished itself by finishing in second in the competition.

The 2015 competition will be held at Geneva from 12 to 19 September 2015. The competition village will be open to all from 12 September so that a wider public can get a closer look at these cutting edge boats.

A LITTLECUP but a big challenge
Established in 1961, the world “C Class” championship or the Little Americas Cup is a real human, sporting and technological challenge. The dimensions of the sailing boats, each with a two-person crew, may not exceed 7.62 x 4.26 m and the maximum sail area may not exceed 27.8 m2. It is precisely this simplicity that is the strength of the class, as it forces the designers to explore innovative techniques and materials. As an example, C Class catamarans have been equipped with hydrofoils and aerofoil masts for more than thirty years.

In sporting terms, the championship is also very popular, as the world’s greatest sailors (including some participants in the Americas Cup itself) come to contest it, and will be there again next year in Geneva.

The LITTLECUP website: www.littlecup.org/en