Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2022: the great lake festival is back

After an unusual edition last year, the great lake festival is back in 2022! The Bol d'Or Mirabaud is a not-to-be-missed event for Lake Geneva enthusiasts and will be held from June 10 to 12, starting in Geneva. It promises to be rich in sporting challenges and festivities.

The presentation of the 83rd Bol d'Or Mirabaud edition took place this morning at the Société Nautique de Genève in the presence of organizers, the media and race partners. After the unfortunate cancellation of the 2020 edition followed by a year void of festivities, the great lake festival is back in 2022 with - in addition to a rich regatta from a competition standpoint - a great social and festive program for all competitors and spectators, who are welcome to the SNG during the event.

This year, the brand-new sports pavilion will host the BOM village for the first time and will serve as the gathering place for the opening ceremony, celebration of the winners and the prize ceremony. The race office as well as the press room and TV studio will also be in this new, modern, and pleasant space.

The opening ceremony will launch the festivities on Friday evening at 19:00. This will include presentation of the BOM ambassadors: five women sailors from all over the world who make up the Sailing Squad, an innovative project originated by the event's title partner, Mirabaud. The traditional weather briefing presented by MétéoSuisse will follow. The festive part of the event will then begin with a concert by the group Time Machine at 20:30. (another concert and a DJ are also planned during the weekend).

Next comes the competition, with the race start scheduled for Saturday at 10:00. The racecourse is Geneva to Le Bouveret and back, on a theoretical 123 kilometer (66.5 nautical mile) course, the record for which has been held since 1994 by the trimaran Triga IV in 5:01. Several records are at stake, including the total number of victories per sailor, to which Pierre-Yves Jorand, Christian Wahl, Ernesto Bertarelli and Alex Schneiter can all lay claim. The TF35 hydrofoil catamaran regatta will also be of particular interest, especially the performance of Alinghi Red Bull Racing, now officially a challenger for the next America's Cup under SNG colors. Arnaud Psarofaghis, a sailor of the team, was invited to the press conference this morning and stated, "The Bol d'Or Mirabaud is an unmissable event for us. Firstly, because it is the festival of the lake and all the local sailors are delighted to participate. This is the case for me, every year! I will never forget my first Bol: I was only 10 years old, and I sailed with my uncle and my grandfather. From a sports point of view too: we are aiming for a performance with our TF35. We have already started training, in both the TF35 and GC32 class, with two teams. These two boats are our main training platforms for the America's Cup. See you in June to see if these training sessions have paid off!".

Winner in 2019 and 2021, the Hungarian Libera Raffica, skippered by Zsolt Király, could well win the Bol de Vermeil for keeps, as it did in 2016, which would be a historic achievement. However, no team is positioned to take home the Bol d'Or for keeps, awarded to anyone who wins it three times in five years.

"426 yachts took the start in 2021", recalls Yann Petremand, new president of the organizing committee. "We very much hope to increase this number to 500 registered boats. In any case, we are doing everything we can, with a very competent and committed organization team, and more than 100 volunteers whom I'd like to thank for their commitment."

The Bol d'Or Mirabaud is proud to be able to count on its loyal partners, Mirabaud and Hublot. New companies have also joined the organization, such as the Intercontinental Hotel. Just for Smiles is the charitable partner of the BOM 2022, while ASL is the environmental partner.