For the sixth time in his career, Alan will take the starting line at the Bol d'Or du Léman this Saturday, at the helm of the Libera Carondimonio (No. 2751), the defending champion of the Bol de Vermeil. A last-minute entry, at the helm of a boat launched just two weeks ago, and alongside a crew assembled at the last minute, who performed their first maneuvers together last Monday. The kind of project that relies above all on enthusiasm and good spirits—ingredients that particularly appeal to Alan and led to an incredible surprise victory last year.
“The Bol d’Or is always a pleasure. Getting together with friends, especially those from the Swiss Offshore Team who compete in all kinds of boats, is a celebration in itself,” says Alan Roura. “We don’t know each other very well yet, but we gave it our all in training this past week. The goal? To sail cleanly, do things right, and above all, have fun. The Bol d’Or is almost a national holiday in Switzerland. And you don’t turn that down.” It is a happy Alan, eager to return to racing on Lake Geneva, who will set off for his sixth Bol d’Or this Saturday morning. Contacted at the last minute, the Geneva native—a three-time Vendée Globe finisher—didn’t hesitate long before saying yes, as his schedule allowed him to participate in the race, with a slightly pirate-like spirit, built on resourcefulness and teamwork on board, which is what makes the Carondimonio adventure so charming
Especially since behind this unique partnership lies a story that reads like a happy coincidence. When Matteo Gentile, one of the co-owners of the unconventional monohull, was looking for an experienced skipper to take the helm. With a late registration and most of the local sailors already signed up, one name remained on the list. Not without some trepidation, Matteo finally dialed Alan’s number: “I’ll admit that Alan was the last on the list: not because of a lack of enthusiasm—quite the opposite—but because I was a little intimidated by the idea of offering him a project put together so quickly,” he admits. “I didn’t want to just throw anything at him. In the end, he was available and already in Switzerland. We’re all thrilled to have him on board!”
Surrounding the two men is a crew with diverse backgrounds and complementary skills. Iona Jan, a member of the Swiss Offshore Team and a regular at the CER and the Figaro in Lorient, immediately establishes herself as a key player in the team. “She’s very talented, super competent, and manages the whole team with remarkable ease,” Matteo emphasizes. “She has everything under control.” At her side, Amélie Bigler, fresh from a J70 World Championship, rounds out a solid core. The rest of the crew—friends and former teammates—will discover the boat at the same time as the race. A first for everyone, and that’s also what makes the adventure so appealing.
When it comes to goals, caution remains the order of the day: “Expectations are wide open,” admits Matteo. “At the start, just getting the boat in the water was enough to make me happy. But now that I see where we are, I realize we can really do something great.” ” While “finishing well-placed in the prototype monohull fleet would already be a great achievement,” what about going for the win? “With the conditions expected tomorrow, why not? Everything is still up in the air. Pressure? Honestly, none. We’re sailing with friends, on a boat that’s performing well, with smiles on our faces. Tomorrow will be nothing but pure joy!”
For Alan Roura, this Lake Geneva adventure is part of a broader philosophy: that of someone who remains eager for new experiences, to keep learning, sharing, and challenging himself. “I love stories that are out of the ordinary,” he sums up simply. The story of the Libera Carondimonio will undoubtedly be one of them. As for the rest, as is often the case on Lake Geneva, it will all come down to the wind.
Alan Roura : Libera Carondimonio (2751)Lucie de Gennes : J70 Fléchette by DatArt (2619)Joshua Schopfer et Felix Oberle : Surprise Spirit of (2190)
Guillaume Rol : TF35 Ylliam 17 (3517)Mathis Bourgnon : M2 SKYE (617)