GC32 Racing Tour - Adam Minoprio and GC32 Norauto shine in Spain

by Norauto on 26 Sep 2016 It isn't just the boats that fly across the water, but also the GC32 Norauto team. Event after event, the French team have been improving their performance and are having a flying first season on the GC32 Racing Tour, despite the crew changes, variations to the race areas and sailing conditions.

Adam Minoprio together with Thierry Douillard, Nicolas Heinz, Arnaud Jarlegan and Matthieu Vandame have taken great care to perform well this weekend in Sotogrande. The pace was relentless with fifteen races in just four days. The team won ten races to extend their lead over the Swiss Team Tilt by twenty points.

With 15/20 knots and gusts of 25 knots on the first day of racing, the Andalusian race course provided interesting conditions for the flying catamarans to show off their moves. Minoprio, Norauto's skipper, was able to maintain his strength and guide his teammates to victory. On the first day Norauto went on to win five out of five races, taking a reassuring lead overall. On the second day, the wind died down and competitiveness grew between the teams, especially with Team Tilt, with Sebastien Schneiter at the helm, fresh from Rio to replace Arnaud Psarofaghis (racing on board Alinghi at the Extreme Sailing Series in Madeira) who managed to take a few race wins to finish in second. Team ENGIE skippered by Sébastien Rogues from France stepped up their game to take third.

With over fifty Norauto employees visiting Sotogrande, the winning team could feel well supported. “The GC32 Racing Tour has given us great exposure, more than we have had from any sponsorship”, explained Simon Valín, Director of Norauto Spain. “It is really amazing to sail on the GC32. The noise is incredible when you fly. I’ve had the good fortune to sail on board and I have truly been very impressed. I think the new America’s Cup format really gets lots of public interest.” concluded Valín.

Following victories at the Riva del Garda and the Copa del Rey and second place at the Foiling Week, Norauto takes one more win before they head back for a final event in France: The season finale will take place in Marseille from 13 to 16 October. The team returns to France to rejoin Franck Cammas and the Groupama Team France crew for AC class (45) boat testing in Brest harbour as part of their road to the America's Cup.

Adam Minoprio:

“When we go out sailing we are thinking we want to go out and win the race. We do not want to be conservative and this is practice for us as well as racing; we want to go for the best start we can. The participants are constantly doing better and better and everyone is way faster than they were in Palma and Malcalsine, it is only going to get harder. We had the full crew again, so those we have trained with back is much easier to trust the crew manoeuvres and chuck the boat around and choose the marks you want to choose instead of having to take the easier mark.

On day one we had 15 to 25 knots of wind and we had spent more time than the other boats in that breeze. To be able to foil with the boat flat and doing that makes the boat more stable, so you will be faster. We have had lot of good practice with the starts here and foiling and it is a chance to really sharpen up your boat on boat skills and your starting skills and the whole race mentality.”

Mattieu Vandame, trimmer:

“It was a great event and it went well for us. I think the crew worked really well together and there was a brilliant atmosphere. The shore crew did a great job, they were thorough and really solid which made a difference right from the start. The lead we gained at the start of the competition meant we were able to feel a bit more at ease and we are really happy to finish so well. Despite the crew changes, Team Tilt always does well and Engie had some good races too.”

Simón Valín Lora - Managing Director of Norauto Spain:

“We were looking for a sponsorship that matches the values we have in the company. We find these in the innovation aspects we develop, which we see reflected in the team, the company history with the people, its mechanics and the company as a whole. Norauto is an international company and our sponsorship its based on a long term strategy which incorporates the various cultural differences across the countries where we are present. The sailing team is international and shares these same qualities.'

GC32 La Reserva de Sotogrande Cup Overall Rankings:

1 - NORAUTO (FRA) skipper Adam Minoprio (NZL) - 29 points
2 - Team Tilt (SUI) skipper Sébastien Schneiter - 49 points
3 - Team Engie (FRA) skipper Sébastien Rogues - 62 points
4 - ARMIN STROM Sailing Team (SUI) skipper Flavio Marazzi - 65 points
5 - Realteam (SUI) skipper Jérôme Clerc - 65 points
6 - Malizia - Yacht Club de Monaco (MON) skipper Pierre Casiraghi - 70 points
7 - Mamma Aiuto! (JPN) skipper Naofumi Kamei - 91 points

GC32 Racing Tour 2016 Overall Rankings following four events:

1 - NORAUTO (FRA): 5 points
2 - Team TILT (SUI): 8 points
3 - ARMIN STROM Sailing Team (SUI): 15 points
4 - MALIZIA - YC Monaco (MON): 23 points
5 - Gunvor Sailing (SWE): 24 points
6 - Team Engie (FRAU): 24 points
7 - ARGO (USA): 24 points
8 - Mamma Aiuto! (JPN): 30 points
9 - Realteam (SUI): 31 points
10 - Spindrift racing (FRA): 36 points
11 - ORANGE Racing (NER): 37 points