Audemars Piguet has been the main co-sponsor since 2007The Ladycat catamaran claims victory in the Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2010
Last Sunday, June 13th 2010, the Ladycat team of which Audemars Piguet has been the main co-sponsor since 2007 won the world's largest and most prestigious closed-water regatta. On Lake Léman this weekend, the fair sex prevailed over a number of great ocean sailing champions! The Ladycat, skippered by Dona Bertarelli and "manned" by a mainly female crew, won the 72nd edition of the Bol d'Or, crossing the finishing line well before the 515 other participants after 16 hours and 49 minutes of sailing – and almost two hours ahead of the runner-up boat.
After an excellent start at 10 am on Saturday morning, the Ladycat D35 successfully maintained its lead virtually throughout the race, opening up a substantial gap after the halfway mark rounding at Le Bouveret. This performance naturally delighted the invitees of Audemars Piguet and the Grand Hôtel Park Gstaad, the two main sponsors of Ladycat for the past four years, who were able to admire the race start from the CGN "Lavaux" boat specially commandeered for the occasion. "We are thrilled to have been able to rise to the challenge with our catamaran, which is just as technical and sophisticated as Audemars Piguet watches. The team work and our strategic choices enabled us to win, and we are proud of this achievement", said Dona Bertarelli.
Over the past three years, the Ladycat team members have displayed their determination, their expertise and their competitiveness on the waters of Lake Léman. Last weekend, the concerted efforts and the sheer tenacity of the crew, composed of Dona Bertarelli, Arnaud Gavairon, Emmanuelle Rol, Elodie-Jane Mettraux, Justine Mettraux, Morgane Gautier and Christian Wahl, were duly rewarded after an extraordinary race against top-class teams and professional skippers. "I am especially proud of the magnificent performance of Dona and her crew. Impressive clear-sightedness, a magnificent team spirit and exceptional determination enabled them to claim the highest spot on the winners' podium", said Philippe Merk, CEO, Audemars Piguet.
The Manufacture Audemars Piguet has a well-established tradition of commitment to sailing. In 1985, it supported the UBS Switzerland and Pierre Fehlmann in his round-the-world team race. In 2000, it discovered the America's Cup with the first Swiss challenge Be hAPpy, before accompanying Alinghi in its successive feats at the 31st and 32nd editions of the America's Cup. Building on this rich past in the nautical world, Audemars Piguet decided to support the Ladycat project right from its inception, having been immediately won over the ambition and the daring of what was an all-female team until last year.
It is also worth noting the excellent result achieved by Audemars Piguet staff member Vincent Boaron, who scored a superb monohull victory with his crew on the Oyster Funds sailboat. After a difficult start to the race that left them trailing two hours behind their competitors at the Le Bouveret halfway mark, the team sailed back up Lake Léman at impressive speed using remarkable tactics that enabled them to win their category. This success adds to the existing track record of the Oyster Funds team which had already won the Bol d'Or Mirabaud in 2005 and 2008. This exciting and extremely promising start to the season certainly augurs well for a sailing summer full of thrills and successes for Ladycat and Audemars Piguet!