The final round of the Vulcain Trophy for Decision 32 multihulls has finished in Antibes. At the end of the season, Michel Desjoyeaux and Fonica emerged as the series champion ahead of Alinghi and Veltigroup. America’s Cup challenger of record Artemis Racing finished 4th overall.
The Vulcain Trophy consists of seven stages, including two in the Mediterranean Sea. This is the first time that Michel Desjoyeaux has competed on the circuit :
“We started poorly, as we finished eighth in the first Grand Prix. The aim should be consistency. Do not take risks, but be good and sharp all the time. That’s what we managed to do. From the start the crew was a delight. The challenge was bold, because we had never sailed together.
Alinghi and Ernesto Bertarelli finished the Trophy on the second step of the podium. Bertarelli and his team won the legendary Bol d’Or Mirabaud.
Ernesto Bertarelli looked back on the season:
“We congratulate Michel Desjoyeaux Foncia and who deserved their victory at the Vulcan Trophy. They were good throughout the season and have reigned supreme on the Decision 35 circuit. We are very happy with our season and we hope to do even better next year.”
Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis Racing was also new on the circuit, the challenger for the America’s Cup trying to get as much multihull practise as possible. The Swedish team tested a variety of different team members to race the Decision 35.
Artemis Racing’s Paul Cayard wrote:
Artemis Racing had some up and down scores and finished 5th in the event. This was two positions better than Velti Group (7th) who we were trying to pass for the a third for the season. In the end we came up one point short for the season and finished 4th overall. Still not a bad result for our first season.
The top of the class was Foncia once again who won the event here, as well as the season championship. Hats off to Michele Desjoyaux and the Foncia team! Alinghi finished 4th here in Antibes and second for the season.
