Norauto grows stronger with new podium finish at 2016 GC32 Racing Tour

by Norauto Press on 11 Jul 2016 The “Malcesine Cup- Foiling Week” was brought to an end yesterday on Lake Garda, Italy. The organizers decided to cancel Sunday’s races following the collision of a press RIB and Malizia - Yacht Club de Monaco on Friday (thankfully without any injuries).

This second meeting on the GC32 Racing Tour 2016 was therefore played out over a total of nine races from Thursday to Friday, with not much in it between the French of Norauto and the Swiss Team Tilt. With four wins each at both events, the crews found themselves separated by just one point in the general rankings.

After Norauto’s victory at Riva last month, and the Swiss team's victory at the Malcesine Cup yesterday, these two teams are now tied on points at the top of the overall leaderboard. The victory was narrowly missed, but this event has done a lot for Franck Cammas and his crew, allowing them to consolidate their good results on the GC32 Racing Tour. The crew’s speed consistency and good starts are a good sign for the rest of the season. After Italy, the fleet will head to Spain. The next event will take place from the third to the sixth of August at Palma de Mallorca, during the famous Copa del Rey.

Although there were no regattas on Sunday, the Norauto team still went out to train, concluding more than 10 days of continuous sailing aboard their foiling catamaran, which was just as exhilarating as it was demanding.

“I am very happy with the team’s work.” Franck Cammas said last night. “We were unable to finish ahead of Team Tilt, since our fifth place finish slightly affected our position and yesterday’s race was cancelled while we were leading due to lack of wind, and of course due to the fact that we did not get to race today. Nevertheless, I think we have made great progress since the Riva Cup last May, especially on the starts, where we managed to get ourselves in the lead 80% of the time. The crew has been able to perform many manoeuvres with the gennaker, something which we still have yet to perfect. Speed is still our main strength but we have to improve other aspects of racing, which we take as a positive. We also see the potential in the other teams such as Team Tilt, who are obviously our closest opponent as well as Gunvor Sailing from Sweden, who came third overall. They have a good overview of the course but lack consistency.” said Franck Cammas.

While the French were fighting for their place in the final of the Euro 2016 at the Stade de France, the French sailors were already heading back to their base in Lorient. This afternoon, the French team competing in the 35th America’s Cup will share a big moment with the public: the launch of their new catamaran. Franck Cammas, Michel Desjoyeaux and Olivier de Kersauson, the three founding members of Groupama Team France, and their sponsors, including Norauto, and will accompany the patron: four-time Formula 1 champion, Alain Prost, who will smash the traditional bottle of champagne before a ‘blue-white-red’ party begins, also open to the public.

Team Norauto at Malcesine
Franck Cammas: Skipper
Hervé Cunningham: Bowman
Thierry Fouchier: Mainsail trimmer
Devan Le Bihan: Bowman
Thomas Le Breton: Tactician
Adam Minoprio: Mainsail trimmer

Overall standings of the Malcesine Cup- Foiling Week (nine races):
1 – Team TILT (SUI) S.Schneiter – 18 points
2 – Norauto (FRA) F.Cammas – 19 points
3 – Gunvor Sailing (SWE) G.Petterson – 32 points
4 – Argo (USA) J.Carroll – 40 points
5 – Malizia – YC Monaco (MON) P.Casiraghi – 46 points
6 – Armin Strom Sailing Team (SUI) F.Marazzi – 60 points
7 – Mamma Aiuto! (JPN) N.Kamei – 64 points
8 – Team Engie (FRA) S.Rogues – 67 points
9 – Realteam (SUI) J.Clerc – 76 points
10 – Orange Racing (NER) Laurent Lenne – 79 points

Provisional overall standings of the GC32 Racing Tour 2016 :
1 – Team TILT (SUI) S.Schneiter – three points
2 – Norauto (FRA) F.Cammas – three points
3 – Gunvor Sailing (SWE) G.Petterson – seven points
4 – Armin Strom Sailing Team (SUI) F.Marazzi – nine points
5 – Argo (USA) J.Carroll – 11 points
6 – Malizia – YC Monaco (MON) P.Casiraghi – 13 points
7 – Team Engie (FRA) S.Rogues – 13 points
8 – Spindrift racing (FRA) Y.Guichard – 17 points
9 – Mamma Aiuto! (JPN) N.Kamei – 17 points
10 – Realteam (SUI) J.Clerc – 19 points
11 – Orange Racing (FRA) Laurent Lenne – 19 points