5 Jours du Léman
Only the Surprises will be at the start of Lake Geneva’s most courageous race. The double-handers will set off from Vidy on July 20. Skippers reports daily.
The 33rd edition of the 5 Jours du Léman will take place from July 19 to 26. The regatta proper will take place from Sunday July 20, with the traditional prologue on Sunday July 20 at 2 pm. Finishes will take place from Friday, July 24 at 2 p.m. to Saturday, July 25 at 11 a.m. This is the decision of the brand-new organizing committee for “Europe’s largest double-handed regatta, in closed waters and without assistance”.
A few new features await participants. This year, the regatta will be run exclusively in Surprise boats. Secondly, the committee has overhauled the finishing system, which will now comprise several smaller loops, to avoid mixing up the groups. For the rest, the main loop is retained. Starting out from the organizing club, Cercle de la Voile de Vidy, competitors must make their way to a waypoint in Geneva, then to Le Bouveret, before resuming the most courageous of Lake Geneva circumnavigations.
Skippers will be providing a daily video chronicle of the race. You can find it here:
The organization has also set up a map tracking system on the race website (5jours.ch). On the race course, the battle promises to be serious, with the return of some historic winners, such as three-time winner Loris von Siebenthal. Since its inception, the 5 Jours has seen some of the world’s finest sailors, including Justine Mettraux, Alan Roura, Stève Ravussin, Philippe Durr, Éric Monnin and Renaud Stitelmann.
The program
Saturday, July 19 :
8 a.m.-2 p.m. Confirmation of entries and boat check
Sunday, July 20 :
10:30 Competitors’ briefing
11:45 am Competitors’ meal
2 p.m. Start of the 5 Jours du Léman
Friday, July 25 :
2 pm Opening of the finish line, welcome and celebration for the crews
Saturday, July 26 :
11 a.m. Closing of the finish line
6 p.m. Results and prize-giving ceremony at the CVV
7:30 pm Crew and volunteer evening at the CVV