The GC32 foil catamarans return to Fraglia Vela Riva, Lake Garda
by Elena Giolai 25 May 2022 06:08 PDT
26-29 May 2022
GC32 foil catamarans at Lake Garda © Elena Giolai
Garda Trentino is the world centre of reference for the major seasonal events that are increasingly aimed at the new generation of foil sailing.
After the European Championship of the new iQFoil Olympic class, it is the GC32 catamarans that finally, after a two-year forced stop, return to Fraglia Vela Riva to put on a show with the debut of the 2022 Circuit.
At Riva del Garda from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 May, those catamarans that had made even those who do not follow sailing so much talk about them, when, at the first regattas organised at Fraglia Vela Riva, even the Prince of Monte Carlo Pierre Casiraghi took part.
Participation is always at the highest level, this year with the arrival of the two Alinghi Red Bull Racing SUI 8s, skippered by Arnaud Psarofaghis, the only member - together with Mettraux confirmed in the Alinghi America's Cup team, and SUI 15 with skipper Maxime Bachelin. One boat with the most experienced and one of young sailors, who are approaching catamarans of this size and can learn from the 'big team'.
This year the Alinghi Red Bull Racing crews will probably face tougher competition from the SailGP teams participating in the GC32 Racing Tour and some of the long-standing GC32 teams. Among the former, competing in Riva del Garda will be the Danes of Team Rockwool Racing, led once again by match racer and former Volvo Ocean Race sailor Nicolai Sehested. The crew will be the same as in 2021, including former match racer Rasmus Køstner, who previously competed in the Extreme Sailing Series as co-skipper.
Among the owner-drivers will be Jason Carroll's (two-time Melges 32 world champion) American Argo, with world match race champion Canfield on board as tactician. There will also be the Swiss Black Star Sailing Team of Christian Zuerrer, flanked by New Zealander Chris Steele and the ever-present coach Flavio Marazzi. Also among the participants is the Australian ".film AUS Racing" of Simon Delzoppo- president of the GC32 class, who, being at the helm, proves that even an amateur sailor can race on these bullets that sail at 30 knots. Finally, Erik Maris' French Zoulou, with 2010 America's Cup winner on board BMW Oracle Raoing, Thierry Fouchier. For Riva del Garda and the Fraglia Vela Riva it was a week of great sailing and just the right amount of glamour with side events such as the presentation of the scientific media partnership between One Ocean Foundation and Rockwool, partner of the Danish team competing in Riva.