June 17, 2006 New Zealand skipper and America's Cup legend Russell Coutts crossed the finish line of the 68th Geneva Bol d'Or Rolex shortly before 2100 to take line honours. After some extraordinary close contact racing, keeping his crew of amateur doctors on their toes right until the last breath of wind, Coutts narrowly beat Philippe Cardis (Julius Baer), Loïck Peyron (Okalys) and Alain Gautier (Foncia.ch). At the entrance to the 'petit lac', just 5 miles from the finish, there were still four Decision 35 catamarans in the running for victory. From La Baule on France's Atlantic coast, Loïck Peyron was the first to come within sight of the line, driving hard down the French side of the lake under gennaker. At that point, Russell Coutts and Philippe Cardis were on the other side of the lake. Gybe after gybe, from wind pockets to wind holes, a different set of cards was dealt over and over again, the advantage changing ever few yards. Rooted to the helm, Coutts remained concentrated to the finish to ake victory on the last gybe.

Team Cuba Libra wins the Great Texas Race.

It is amazing how fast these guys are! Congrats to John and Tiffany.

Leaving now for the road trip back to So Cal. Read More for full results.

--Connie

June 17, 3:50pm - Team Chums I today gave up a lot of time helping Nautigear on the water after a rudder failure left them unable to manuver in this conditions well. I heard the Steve Piche said that the conditions today were rougher then ones he had on the Worrell. Team Chums I tried to assist them but was unable and stayed with them. At one point they sailed on further and made sure they kept them in site but then they pitchpoled. Team Chums returned to assist them and stayed with them the rest of the leg. More reflections later.. Connie

June 17, 3:30pm All teams are in... Team Cubra Libra hit the beach first on their Tiger, followed by TPR. Team Cubra Libra had a sizable lead on all the others. Team San Diego was the last to come in with a torn spinnaker and other boat problems after a violent pitchpole on the water. I herded up the Cats for a group shot and I will report more after the awards banquet tonight.

On a special note, we were all reminded today that all this racing is done on a big part for the fun and friendships. Steve Piche lost track of his daughter for way to long today and the guys formed a line in the water to search, the rest of us ran the beach. This is a big beach, goes on for miles, and everybody scattered to search. After about 15 min she was found quite a way down the beach and all was well. I think it shook us all and once again we are just are reminded that we are all one big family. Sail on... Connie

Remco Kenbeek and Paul Brouwer, sailing a F18 Capricorn, are the overall winners of the 29th Zwitserleven Round Texel. In a crowded party tent, they received their prizes from Chris Zegers on Saturday evening, June 17, 2006. It turned out, they were only forty seconds ahead of Hans Primowees, who rounded the isle single-handed with his 26-year-old Prindle. The F18 world champions, Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby (AUS) finished in third position with their Hobie Tiger.

Texel / Netherlands, June 17th 2006 - Saturday June 17 2006, Göran Marström and Thomas Persson (SWE) were the fasted team during the 29th edition of the Zwiserleven Round Texel. Their M20, build by Marström himself, crossed the finish in 4:10:34. Their fellow country members Mattsson/Malmsjo followed in second position and Bouscholte/Van Wieren (NED) finished third.

Surprising Prindle 15
More than an hour and ten minutes after Marström took the line honours, an old Prindle 15 finished. Competitor Hans Primowees was astonished at his provisional second position overall: “This weather is perfect for A-cats, so I though they would have won the race.” He mentioned his experience as a reason for his success: “I made full use of the current by staying inshore, while many cats choose for the Waddensea. Although Primowees participated in twenty Zwitserleven Round Texel Races, he is not a fanatic sailor during the rest of the season. Primowees: “A week before the event, I take my old Prindle out to practice in the Texel Dutch Open. I will bring the boat back next week.”