Geneva, 12 march 2001
Last Saturday during the General Assembly of the Swiss Sailing Federation held in Tenero, in Canton Ticino, Russell
Coutts, Skipper of the Swiss Challenge for the America’s Cup 2003, Bernhard Stegmeier, outgoing President of “Swiss
Sailing” and his successor, Francis Stockbürger, announced the official launch of the Swiss Challenge Tour.
Jochen Schümann, 3-time Olympic gold medallist, silver medal winner in Sydney and helmsman with the Swiss Challenge, has
developped a competition concept which will give Swiss sailors the chance to see how they measure up against members of
the Swiss Challenge.
"The aim is to give young sailors the opportunity to benefit from our experience, said Schümann. We will make the most
of these get-togethers to explain our progress, to talk about the history and the format of the America’s Cup, and to
give seminars that concentrate on the finer points of match racing."
Wishing to support and develop sailing in Switzerland, especially at junior level, the Swiss Challenge will distribute
valuable prizes to the winners of races with which it is associated. These prizes will be allocated to the junior
section of the club of the winner of each race. In cases where members of the Swiss Challenge win, the prize will be
given to “Swiss Sailing”, who will in their turn benefit the young hopefuls of Swiss sailing. So sailors, all hands to
the tiller!!
"The Swiss Challenge Tour is a tremendous opportunity to improve the level of sailing in our country, said Bernhard
Stegmeier. it’s also a source of fantastic motivation for young people".
Christian Scherrer, crew member of the Swiss Challenge, will be the circuit “Tour Officer”, in other words, he will
supervise the operational synchronisation of the races.
SWISS CHALLENGE’S AMERICA CLASS ON LAKE GENEVA.
Swiss Challenge’s training boat, ‘SUI 59’, is undergoing a face-lift at the Decision SA Boatyard; she will have her
first outing on lake Geneva in the middle of May, and will sail in front of our club: the Société Nautique de Genève.
To celebrate and share this exceptional event, we will soon have the pleasure of inviting you to a press conference
during which we will unveil the name, the logo and the colours of our new boat. You will receive details of this
conference as soon as possible. We are looking forward to welcoming you.
Program of the Swiss Challenge Tour:
12-13 May, Geneva (Societé Nautique de Genève and Centre d’Entraînement à la Régate), match racing aboard "Surprise".
9-10 June, Lugano (CVLL), long distance (Lüzzina 2001) in Surprises, match racing final.
7-8 July, Thun (TYC), long distance (Thun-Interlaken-Thun) in ‘Dolphins’, match racing final.
4-5 August, St-Moritz (SCStM), match racing in ‘Streamlines’.
8 September, Neuchâtel (CVN), Jura Lakes’ Championship, then match racing final.
15-16 September, Geneva (SNG), Grande Finale.
The Swiss Challenge for the America’s Cup was born out of Ernesto Bertarelli’s fervent wish to take part in the next
edition of this prestigious competition, and out of his determination to do everything in his power to try and win.
Flying the Swiss flag and carrying the colours of the Societé Nautique de Genève, Swiss Challenge benefits from the
experience and talent of Russell Coutts, 2-time winner of the Americaís Cup.