Press release Geneva, May 15, 2009

Bol d’Or Mirabaud : when expands the spirit

A popular and festive event, the Bol d’Or Mirabaud presented by Girard-Perregaux is also a major challenge in the universe of competitive sailing, as well as a celebration – well beyond our borders – of technology and innovation. This season, the greatest and most awaited regatta will inaugurate many new features, such as a 10 o’clock start!

Saturday, June 13: watch for the starting gun Anchored to solar time and therefore more adapted to nature, the 10 o’clock start will allow taking advantage of thermal winds that only pick up around that time. This will help racers to better “take off”… and let them sleep an extra hour the morning of June 13!

More and more stars Lake Geneva is an increasing center of attraction from abroad, and great ocean racing champions are anxious to participate in the Bol d’Or Mirabaud. This means the adventure provided lives up to their expectations. Michel Desjoyeaux, winner of the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe is one of the most awaited participants. He will sail aboard D35 Foncia accompanied by Alain Gautier. Rumors suggest that , three-time Olympic medalist and three-time world champion, might start aboard Okalys-Corum, accompanied by Loïck Peyron, a regular of the Bol d’Or Mirabaud. Murray Jones, Ed Baird and Brad Butterworth on Sui 6, Pierre Pennec (Franck Cammas’ right-hand man) on Zen Too, Yann Guichard (skipper of Gitana Team) on the M2 Safram, Fred Le Peutrec on Smart Home, Karine Fauconnier on Ladycat, and maybe Sam Davies on Romandie.com… all of these international sailing giants bring even more excitement to the event. If one considers that, in addition, they are surrounded by the best lake sailing specialists such as the superb crew of on Alinghi Sui 1, it becomes clear that the level of competition is particularly high this year… promising some relentless battles.

Juniors The brand new Sailing School Trophy, introduced to motivate interclub competition, is already soliciting enthusiasm among the under 17 crowd. The crew size is fixed at four and the skipper must be a certified monitor. We wish them fair winds!

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Flying boats, new multi-hull M1s, new D35s For hydrofoils, we will witness a concentration of technical innovations never yet seen around Lake Geneva. In a few years, these “flying boats” have almost become a local specialty due to the most advanced and audacious projects happening on our shores! Here, anything is allowed and nothing is obligatory, except the laws of physics. Will this Bol d’Or Mirabaud see new ideas take flight? Suspense…

Equally followed with much attention, the arrival of two new Decision 35s on the circuit will render the fight between these “lake monarchs” even more exciting: Pascal Bidégorry, current record holder for distance covered in 24 hours, will take the helm of Banque Populaire accompanied by Yvan Ravussin, while the latter’s brother, Stève Ravussin, will compete with them on the other new D35, Veltigroup, with a local crew and Olympic (windsurf) medalist Frank David as tactician. The emblematic D35 fleet runs the risk of having its domination chipped away by one or two new M1 multi-hulls whose launch is very much anticipated. These prototypes were designed to beat D35s, and nothing else. Unless it’s one of the thirty M2s that dominates this Bol d’Or Mirabaud, as was almost the case last year…

A full panorama A series of online images at www.skippers.tv, will provide a visual review of the start as soon as it’s developed and published on the internet no later than Saturday afternoon. A complete summary of the race will be issued later.

Finally, as practical as always, registration is handled online for all participants at www.boldormirabaud.com, which includes complete information. Registration must be completed and confirmed before midnight on June 6.

Media contact: Dynamics Group, Geneva Christophe Lamps : [email protected] +41 79 476 26 87 Mélanie Tavernier : [email protected] +41 79 671 00 70

Press accreditation requests: Christine Lombardo : [email protected] +41 22 308 62 33