Realstone Racing on top again

The D35s contest their Grand Prix Grange & Cie in Geneva

Six races were sailed in the bay of Geneva on the first day of the D35's Grand Prix Grange & Cie.

The races offered surprises and the provisional overall ranking has undergone significant changes over the course of the day. The top three after day one: in first position, the Jérôme Clerc-skippered Realstone Sailing, followed by Philippe Cardis on de Rham Sotheby's and Nicolas Grange on Okalys Corum.

It was a beautiful first day of racing for the Grand Prix Grange & Cie out of the Societe Nautique de Genève. The penultimate stage of the 2012 Vulcain Trophy, presented by Business & Decision, started in fantastic conditions. Except for a few raindrops early in the morning, there was a constant 10-knot wind, albeit very shifty, which gave a bit of spice to the racing, as much for the organisers as the sailors. The Race Committee had to restart a new starting procedure in particularly for the second race after a major wind shift. The public could follow the races from on shore, with no binoculars needed.

On the water, the atmosphere was tense and very challenging for many competitors. The races were more interesting than ever. Five out of nine competitors have won one regatta today. De Rham Sotheby's won two. The second race was won by the host of the Grand Prix Grange & Cie, Nicolas Grange, skipper of Okalys Corum. Realstone Sailing won the fourth race, while Alinghi took victory in the last race of the day.

Artemis Racing claimed the fifth regatta, but just failed to win a second one, because of a mistake (they missed a buoy and had to return).

The second day of the Grand Prix Grange & Cie which promises to be sunny and looks already equally interesting and fun.

Provisional ranking:
1. Realstone Sailing - Jérôme Clerc (11 points)
2. De Rham Sotheby's - Philippe Cardis (18 points)
3. Okalys Corum - Nicolas Grange (18 points)
4. Zen Too - Guy de Picciotto - Fred Le Peutrec (18 points)
5. Alinghi - Ernesto Bertarelli (19 points)
6. Ladycat - Dona Bertarelli (21 points)
7. Artemis Racing - Torbjorn Tornqvist (25 points)
8. Veltigroup - Marco Simeoni - Boris Lerch (28 points)
9. Nickel - Fred Moura (41 points)