After 11 hours and 48 minutes of racing, Bertrand Demole’s Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier crossed the finish line first in the 87th Bol d’Or du Léman. However, the victory was marred by controversy as the team was initially disqualified for changing its crew after the registration deadline. By the following morning, the Jury overturned the disqualification, citing a technical error in the ruling process.
Initially, Marco Favale’s X-Wing was awarded the victory, enjoying the celebrations that come with winning the Bol d’Or du Léman. However, the true victor emerged later when the results were revised in favour of Ylliam XII.
“Despite the finish we really had enormous fun taking part in this Bol d’Or in exceptional conditions,” said Jeremy Bachelin from Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier. “We stayed among the front-runners and managed the situation well. We enjoyed a wonderful finish to the race, flying back up the lake with the sunset behind us, crossing the finish line just at dusk. It was magnificent.”
Leading up to the race, forecasts predicted light winds with sunshine, transitioning to thermal breezes overnight. X-Wing’s tactician Nicolas Charbonnier noted their strategy was influenced by previous races where the Swiss shore had shown advantages.
As the race commenced, conditions initially appeared challenging with just four knots of breeze. However, the wind picked up to 10 knots by the time the fleet reached Versoix, allowing the TF35s to foil and race towards Saint-Prex. While Ylliam XII, Ylliam 17, and X-Wing took an early lead, they faced challenges as the breeze softened off Morges, prompting a compression in the fleet.
At Lausanne, the wind dwindled again, forcing crews into displacement mode. However, Ylliam XII managed to maintain a slight advantage. The fleet’s dynamic shifted when X-Wing capitalised on a westerly breeze off Lausanne, propelling them ahead on the return leg to Geneva.
The return journey was remarkably faster, taking only two and a half hours as the boats reached speeds of around 20 knots. Just as X-Wing seemed set to retain its lead, a last-minute change in wind favour allowed Ylliam XII to overtake and claim victory.
In the end, the Jury confirmed Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier as the winner of the 87th Bol d’Or du Léman, with X-Wing finishing second and Ylliam 17 in third. “The Bol d’Or remains a hugely important event in Switzerland,” Charbonnier remarked. “We are a new team, and to perform so well is really special. This race is long and filled with uncertainties, and when things go your way, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
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