From the Editor…

Setting course for the first year of the second decade of the third millennium… Switzerland, and with her all of Europe, has just closed the only non-Anglo-Saxon parentheses in the entire history of the America’s Cup. With the exception of the United States, only three countries have succeeded in winning the world’s oldest sports trophy: Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland. In the swell from the Gulf of Lions, in early February off the coast of Valence, Alinghi was unable to repeat its exploit a third time, after 2003 and 2007. The Swiss team has nevertheless distinguished itself by placing the first Frenchman at the helm of a yacht in an America’s Cup match: Loïck Peyron.

The decade that the sailing world leaves in its wake turns out to be new in terms of Franco-Swiss relations; ties have never been stronger between the freshwater and sea water docks. For several summers now, all the top French skippers have been spending their weekends on Lake Geneva aboard D35, the Challenge Julius Baer high-tech cats: Bidégorry, Cammas, Gautier, Fauconnier, Le Peutrec, and Peyron.

Conversely, the Swiss yachtsmen have been monopolizing the podiums of the Surprise in France, or taking part, in the case of the Ravussin brothers, in the record-breaking campaigns of giant French multihulls. Having become the world’s fastest sailing boat last autumn, the Hydroptère is another spectacular example of collaboration between the sailing enthusiasts and talents of the two countries. Moreover, French visitors have been following their little Swiss neighbours closely on the website skipperstv.ch.

What’s next? The future European MOD 70 circuit, dreamed up in Switzerland, but for which the first person to register was a certain Michel Desjoyeaux.

Yachting does not rest. The Mediterranean numbers more than 1,500 Swiss flags. French shipyards occupy a coveted place in the heart of Swiss cruise operators, for whom the favourite boat show is none other than the one in Cannes. Can we tack again together this coming decade? Yes we Cannes!

Brice Lechevalier
Editor Skippers, voile & océan

The Skippers voile & océan is the leading sailing magazine in Switzerland with a circulation in France and Germany exceeding 30,000. As the official magazine of the Swiss sailing federation Skippers is sent out quarterly to its 20,000 members (25,000 subscribers in all). Its very qualitative approach has won it partnerships with the most prestigious boat events in Switzerland and abroad. Skippers now offers an exclusive platform of sailing news and films at www.skippers.tv.