Shaping up to be another festive Bol d'Or Mirabaud

Bol d'Or Mirabaud © Loris Von Siebenthal

The 81st edition of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud was introduced this morning at the Société Nautique de Genève, which will host the event on June 14 to 16.

With more than 500 boats expected to take the start, 95 are already registered as of now in anticipation of the word's greatest fresh water regatta. This year's emphasis will not only be the true lake festival the race is on water, but also include a dynamic program on land.

The opening ceremony will launch the festivities Friday evening, with the Léman steamer Neptune once again tied up at the honor dock. This provided a larger stage for last year's jubilee, and will be repeated this year. Mirabaud, title partner of the event, is celebrating its bicentennial and is contributing to the activities including two live concerts aboard the Neptune, open to competitors and the public alike. Friday evening, Time Machine will liven the Société Nautique de Genève terrace with a 70s-80s sound while Saturday, Zermatt's Wintershome will bring folk music to the scene. Beside these concerts, our partner will also provide several special gifts.

The start will be Saturday, June 15 at 10:00. The CGN will again offer a special discount to watch the start as described here. Spectators will also be able to see the start from the Société Nautique de Genève, open all Saturday and Sunday, as well as from other vantage points.

From a sport standpoint, multihulls will be honored with around ten Psaros 33s expected on the starting line. And let's not forget the Surprises, king of last year's race with a new record of 121 boats taking the start. For multihulls, Décision 35s will celebrate their last year as stars of the BOM, before TF35s become their airborne successors next year. Loyal to the race, thousands of amateur sailors will constitute the soul of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud aboard monotypes, prototypes, multihulls and monohulls, perpetuating the eclectic, festive, competitive and popular spirit of the race.

The event is proud to continue to count on its loyal partners. In the image of Mirabaud and Hublot, new enterprises will join the family: Stella Artois, 727 Sailbags, Hästens, the Geneva School of Engineering, Architecture and Landscape (HEPIA), the Association for Protection of the Léman (ASL) as well as Opage (Swiss Wine Geneva). With bags and clothes made from recycled sail materials, wines grown on the shores of the Léman and mattresses produced from natural products, the BOM continues its commitment to companies caring about sustainable development.

Live tracking will allow following crews in the race. Live video will be available on our website, YouTube, Léman Bleu and Radio Lac. Cameras mounted aboard boats will enable experiencing the BOM as if you were in it! Live feeds will be provided at key moments of the race, depending on (weather) conditions. The public can also follow the race on BOM social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat) with #BOM19.

Online registration is open here

Rodolphe Gautier, Bol d'Or Mirabaud president: "Final preparations are going well. More than ever, the Bol d'Or Mirabaud wants to vaunt its status as a lake festival. We look forward to experiencing and sharing this 81st edition with all!"

Nicolas Mirabaud, Managing Partner Mirabaud: "Last year, we celebrated the 80th edition of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud. This year, the atmosphere will be just as festive because, for its bicentennial, Mirabaud will offer gifts to participants and the numerous volunteers, two live concerts for the public at the Nautique as well as a surprise for the 200th boat to finish."