Groupama on verge of winning (Little) America’s Cup

Cologny, Switzerland (September 18, 2015) – By securing a brilliant win in the first two races of the LittleCup 2015 on Lake Geneva, Groupama’s Franck Cammas and Louis Viat are well on their way to taking a second title following their win in 2013 in Falmouth, England.

Up against the Swiss team of Axon, the French have been merciless despite a light, shifty wind on Lake Geneva. However, it is in just these conditions that the two Benoîts driving the winning boat from the 2004 edition were supposed to have the best chance of countering the cheeky speeds posted by the French catamaran.

In both their duels, Cammas and Viat were first off the starting blocks despite some good attacking from their adversaries: “We weren’t very aggressive in the start phases as we wanted to avoid getting hammered by a penalty. Despite that, we still managed to outpace Axon,” explained the trusty skipper of Groupama on his return to shore.

Boasting the acceleration of a gazelle and the lightness of touch synonymous with a feline, Groupama C made the most of the slightest puff of breeze to rise up above the water and extend her lead. “It wasn’t easy to find the good veins of breeze on the lake today. We came off pretty well though and these two victories mean that we’re in quite a favourable position for the final day of racing tomorrow,” continues the solid Louis Viat.

With the best of three races taking the outright win, the final of Little Cup will be decided tomorrow, Saturday, in what is forecast to be more very light wind. And if the wind disappears into thin air, Sunday will round off this 27th edition of what has long been nicknamed the “Little America’s Cup”.

Provisional ranking in the final of the Little Cup 2015:
Groupama C 2 / Axon 0

Qualifying Fleet Races were September 14-17 with the Match Race Finals on September 18-19.

Those competing in the 27th Little America’s Cup:
• Groupama C, France: Franck Cammas and Louis Viat
• Axon Racing, Switzerland: Benoît Marie and Benoît Morelle
• Cogito 2015, USA: Steve Clark and Michael Costello
• Norgador, Switzerland: Jean Pierre Ziegert and Arnaud Psarofaghis
• Rafale, Canada: Mark Farmer and Trevor TejParekh
• Sentient Blue, Germany: Thomas Paasch and Filip Walczak
• Gstaad Yacht Club, Switzerland: Billy Besson and Matthieu Vandame

The dimensions of the C-Class:
LOA: 7.62m
Beam: 4.26m
Wing height: 13m
Wing area: 27.8m2

Event website – Class information