Bol d’ Or disaster
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| Drifting conditions for the start of the Bol d’ Or |
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| A small portion of the fleet |
The Bol d’Or is probably the most important inland lake regatta in the world. Started in 1939, it welcomes monohulls and multihulls each year on Lake Geneva, starting in Geneva, Switzerland and sailing the 123 kilometer (66.5 nautical miles) course from Geneva to Le Bouveret and back. There is typically upward of 500 boats entered and it’s a place where the latest high-tech foiling technology is showcased. It can be showcased because Lake Geneva is typically flat with light winds and easy sailing angles, but this most recent edition of the event was anything but. The fleet started off in typical conditions and the biggest headache was trying to avoid bumping into another yacht, but later in the day things started to change; and for the worse. An early summer squall suddenly piped up bringing with it 50 knot gusts. The entire fleet was caught off guard and many yachts were dismasted and/or sunk. This video is excellent as it shows the crew sailing along in perfect conditions, but then you start to see the black curve of the squall, the boat picking up speed and then… well I don’t want to spoil it for you.
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