Two new Décision 35's join this year's Challenge Julius Baer

[Source: Challenge Julius Baer] The Challenge Julius Baer 2009 which begins in a few weeks, reserves for this year, its novelties. It’s the Grand Prix Corum, newly renamed, which will launch the Challenge from 8th to 10th May. By giving its name to the famous Grand Prix of Geneva, the watchmakers brand from Chaux-de-Fonds, confirms its attachment to the sailing world. It also forms an alliance with the Décision 35 of Nicolas Grange, SUI 2 Okalys-Corum, which reinforces its presence in the sponsor of sailing.

This year, two new Décision 35 will come and add on to the nine boats already running. The first one, SUI 11 Veltigroup, will be helmed by Stève Ravussin. After having sailed episodically on Zen Too in 2008, this great specialist of oceanic and lemanic multihull will try this year the adventure as boat-manager. The objective of this new tandem is clear: “With Veltigroup, we are going to discover a new sportive challenge… Let’s say that 2009 will be the year of occasional wins and settings and then from 2010 we’ll try to attack the championship!”, says Stève Ravussin.

The second newcomer, SUI 12 Banque Populaire will be helmed by Pascal Bidégorry, winner of the Solitaire du Figaro or else champion of the world of the 60’ Orma. One of the confessed goals of the Basque skipper is to perfect the routine of the team in multihull on the Lake Geneva, within sight of his attempts to beat oceanic records with the maxi-trimaran ‘Banque Populaire 5’ of 140 feet.

The strengthened participation of oceanic sailors on the leman courses confirms once again the international reputation of the Challenge Julius Baer. We can therefore expect nice confrontations between the local teams which are especially at ease on the lake and the world’s best sailors.

Don’t miss the launch of the 2009 season of the Challenge Julius Baer by assisting to the regattas of the Grand Prix Corum from May 8th to 10th at the Société Nautique de Genève!

Alinghi, winners of the 2008 Challenge Julius Baer. Photo copyright Jean-Marie Liot / Julius Baer

2009 calendar:
8 – 10 May Grand Prix Corum – SNG
23 – 24 May Grand Prix Romandie.com Act I – Rolle
6 June Genève – Rolle – Genève
13 June Bol d’Or Mirabaud
27 – 28 June Grand Prix Romandie.com Act II – Versoix
22 – 23 August Open de Nyon
5 – 6 September HP Cup La Réserve
18 – 20 September Grand Prix Beau-Rivage Palace

Teams 2009
SUI1 Alinghi
SUI2 Okalys- Corum
SUI3 Julius Baer
SUI4 Zen Too
SUI5 Foncia
SUI7 Zebra 7
SUI8 Romandie.com
SUI9 Smart Home
SUI10 Ladycat
SUI11 Veltigroup
SUI12 Banque Populaire