Pierre Casiraghi is back with his crew on Malizia in the run-up to the second GC32 Racing Tour which starts Thursday 11th May in Riva del Garda, Italy at the Riva Cup. It’s an adventure the Monegasque started last year alongside Boris Herrmann, Sébastien Col, Richard Mason and Adam Piggott. For this event, there are 11 teams from four continents.
Crédit : M Chytka
A promising debut
At the end of the first season on this new generation foiling catamaran that takes off in 9 knots and up, Pierre Casiraghi finished 6th overall. It was a successful warm-up Tour that not only allowed him to compete against the best, but also confirmed him as a fully-fledged racer. The results speak for themselves: two race wins, three seconds and ten third places. Malizia even set her own speed record at an adrenalin-pumping 38.4 knots, which is just over 71km/h.
Top level field
The GC32 Racing Tour comprises five stages between Italy, Spain and France, and the level keeps on rising. The field is on a par with the boats, in other words, impressive. Hailing from Sweden, Italy, France, Switzerland, United States, Japan and Monaco, most of the competitors are from the America’s Cup or Olympic stable and have a list of prizes that would make the biggest names in sailing blush.
Winner of four of the five stages including the one in Marseille, Norauto (powered by Groupama Team France engaged in the America's Cup 2017), led by Franck Cammas and Adam Minoprio, left their opponents no chance. The Swiss on Team Tilt skippered by Sébastien Schneiter and Flavio Marazzi’s ARMIN STROM Sailing Team completed the 2016 podium.
Armed with his experience and assisted by talented sailors, Pierre Casiraghi has the right cards in his hand to tackle the first stage of the GC32 Racing Tour, version 2017. All the signs are good. Having arranged training sessions in regatta conditions at the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series and more recently in Palma, the YCM’s Vice-President is approaching this season with confidence.
“After that first experience last year, we have trained hard and enthusiastically for the second season. If we are to continue to progress, it’s vital we keep the same crew and keep sailing together. We are so looking forward to racing again!”
Races start Thursday from 1.00pm.
From I Andrieux
