M2 Catamaran Season Championship to benefit in 2012

by Vincent Gillioz on 29 Nov 2011 In 2012, the M2 catamarans of Lake Geneva will be amongst the most dynamic high-tech multihulls in the world with thanks going to Class partners Safram and TeamWork. The circuit will be modernised and will expand to both France and Italy.

The M2 catamaran season championship – the Safram - TeamWork M2 Speed Tour – will benefit from an ambitious and dynamic concept in 2012. New destinations - France and Italy - new courses, new teams: the class evolves and modernises itself, echoing the latest trends and thus remaining at the cutting edge.

With twenty-eight high tech one-design catamarans already built, and sixteen confirmed for next year’s championship, the M2 Speed Tour will be one of the world’s top high tech multihulls circuits in 2012.

'Our goal is to carry on organizing a competitive championship whilst remaining attractive and innovative for the owners,' said Rodolphe Gautier, President of the M2 class. 'That's why we will compete in events in Hyeres and participate in the prestigious 100 miles of Lake Garda. At the same time, we will still compete in Lake Geneva’s classic regattas: the Bol d'Or Mirabaud and Geneva-Rolle-Geneva.'

Faithful to its pioneering spirit, the M2 class will adopt new racing formats seen this year in the America’s Cup circuit, including short (30 minutes) races, reaching starts and rounding marks located near the shore to maximise the show. A two legs long distance course at sea, with the catamarans pulled up a sandy beach at lunch break, is also planned in Hyères.

The Safram - TeamWork M2 Speed Tour 2012 will include seven regattas: the Grand Prix of the Mediterranean, the Raid de Porquerolles, Geneva-Rolle-Geneva, the Bol d'Or Mirabaud, the Grand Prix Genolier, the Italian Grand Prix and Centomiglia.

Class partner Safram will provide the teams with complimentary trucks and drivers in order to facilitate the transport of the boats to the Mediterranean in May, and Italy in September.

Besides the arrival of new Swiss German crews, the participation of international teams is also expected as some M2 catamarans might be provided to the best local teams in France and Italy.

Safram - TeamWork M2 Speed Tour 2012: Program

1. Grand Prix de Méditerranée, Hyères (17 - 20 mai 2012)
2. Raid de Porquerolles (19 mai 2012)
3. Genève Rolle Genève (9 juin 2012)
4. Bol d'Or Mirabaud (16 - 17 juin 2012)
5. Grand Prix Genolier du Léman, Morges (30 juin - 1er Juillet 2012)
6. Grand Prix d'Italie, Gargnano, Lac de Garde (6 - 9 Septembre 2012)
7. Centomiglia, lac de Garde (8 Septembre 2012)

Safram - TeamWork M2 Speed Tour 2012: Participants

1. SUI 2 SSC Group (Jean-Pierre Ziegert / Pierre Quinodoz)
2. SUI 3 FLAM Gestion (Clarin Mustad / Steve Tinguely)
3. SUI 5 Parmigiani (Bertrand Geiser / Christophe Stamm)
4. SUI 7 KSR (Didier Pfister / Luis Sanjuan)
5. SUI 11 Gouzer Huitres (Yves Gouzer / Xavier Lambert)
6. SUI 13 ex. Banque Piguet (Olivier Schenker)
7. SUI 16 ex.Banque Heritage (Pierre Bachelin / Philippe Durr)
8. SUI 17 Tilt (Alex Schneiter / Charles Favre)
9. SUI 20 TeamWork (Antoine Thorens / Olivier Légeret)
10. SUI 21 ex. Team 21 (Yvan Ducrot / Nicolas Denervaud)
11. SUI 23 ex2 (Michel Paquet / Alain Tissot)
12. SUI 24 Patrimonium (Christoph Syz / Nicolas Rossier)
13. SUI 26 Victorinox Swiss Army (Daniel Monnier)
14. SUI 33 Genolier (Michel Vaucher)
15. SUI 131 Valruz Création (Claude Berger / Yvan Bourgnon)
16. SUI 666 SAFRAM (Rodolphe Gautier/ Axel Meyer)

NB : D’autres participants sont pressentis.

Safram M2 Speed Tour website

The Safram - TeamWork M2 Speed Tour is an annual championship made of seven races and open to the M2 Class. M2 yachts are 28 feet (8 m 53) catamarans with an air draft of 15 m 50.

A title sponsor of the M2 Speed Tour since 2007, SAFRAM is a Swiss based European transport company serving manufacturing and trading companies seeking high-quality logistics services.
TeamWork joined the M2 Speed Tour in 2011 as a main partner. TeamWork is an independent IT services company. Founded in 1999, it is the leading SAP partner in the French speaking part of Switzerland.