Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour – Spindrift racing claims two more podiums

by Spindrift racing on 5 Oct 2015 Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour 2015 – Of the four GC32 events contested by Spindrift racing out of the five organised this season, Yann Guichard and his crew finished in second place every time, including this Saturday on the last day of Marseille One Design. It meant Spindrift took third place overall in the Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour, the European tour for one-design foiling catamarans. It was a very positive result for the team, who learned a lot about these boats and the art of flying on water here in Marseille during the 'test-event' last April.

After the victory in the Tour de France à la Voile this summer in the Diam 24 and a podium finish recently in the D35 Trophy 2015 in Switzerland, this performance in the GC32 was just reward for a team that has accumulated more than 180 days of sailing since last March and now turns itself 100% to the Jules Verne Trophy round-the-world record attempt this winter on the 131ft trimaran Spindrift 2.

Final in Marseille A storm rose up this morning (Sunday) in Marseille. After a short wait on the water and some beautiful 'runs' speed, the competitors had to take shelter and racing was abandoned. Absent from the event in England at the end of June, the GC32 Spindrift skippered by Yann Guichard was second in Austria and the same in Germany, Italy and France. It was a successful entry into the world of flying boats for this multihull specialist, who had these thoughts on the season:

What is your assessment of this first season on the Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour? “It’s been a positive season for the team, who were learning this year, both about these boats and also about flying. We got better and better at exploiting the potential of the boat. We still have great room for improvement, but to finish on the podium this season is very encouraging.”

Why is it important for the Spindrift racing team to race on these foiling boats? “Since the last America's Cup in San Francisco (2013), the flying multihulls have developed enormously and it’s only the beginning. For an innovation-driven team like ours, steeped in the culture of multihulls, it was about getting on that train. It’s essential for sailors but also for our technicians and the design office because these machines represent an area of exciting and very stimulating investigation.”

The finish of the GC32 season marks the end of the three one-design circuits contested by Spindrift racing this year as you prepare for the Jules Verne Trophy, how are you feeling? “Well, already, I’m delighted by the excellent results achieved on these three completely different circuits, and with three podiums, including a victory in the Tour de France à la Voile. The sporting objective was also to let the sailors sail, especially those who will be on maxi this winter. We’ve had our minds and eyes turned towards that round-the-world goal for a long time now. We’ve been working for three years with Dona (Bertarelli) and the whole team. I feel we’re ready. I know I’m well supported and cannot wait to leave.”

Overall classification for the Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour 2015:
1 - Sultanate of Oman - 10 points
2 - Alinghi - 11 points
3 - Spindrift racing - 14 points
4 - Armin Strom Sailing Team - 20 points
5 - Team ENGIE - 21 points

Overall classification in the Marseille One Design (September 31-October 3):
1 - Alinghi - 42 points
2 - Spindrift racing - 45 points
3 - Sultanate of Oman - 47 points
4 - Team ENGIE - 57 points
5 - Armin Strom Sailing Team - 66 points

Classification of GC32 Spindrift:
October 3 - second, Marseille One Design - France
August 27 - second, Trofeo Di Roma - Italy
July 30 - second, Sailing Cup Kiel - Germany
May 28 - second, Austria Cup - Austria

GC32 Spindrift team:
Yann Guichard, skipper
Christophe Espagnon, mainsail
Thomas Le Breton, trimmer
Jacques Guichard, headsails
Matthieu Vandamme, foredeck

Support team:
Stéphane Guilbaud, team manager
Laurent Chategnier
Brice de Crisenoy
Fred Le Gouallec
Judith Heredia