Demole declared winner of 87th Bol d'Or sailing race after initial dispute

Bertrand Demole and his crew have been confirmed as the victors of the 87th Bol d'Or sailing race, following a period of uncertainty regarding their classification. The TF35 Ylliam XII crossed the finish line first between Geneva and Le Bouveret late Saturday night, but the official announcement of their win was delayed until Sunday afternoon.

The organizing committee initially considered Demole's boat, along with the third-place finisher Ylliam 17, as non-classified. The reason cited was an alleged violation of the crew number rule, with both boats reportedly starting with six crew members instead of the seven declared prior to the race.

This situation created a palpable unease, as the winner of the Bol d'Or is typically determined immediately upon the first boat's finish. The organizing committee eventually issued a brief press release, confirming Demole's victory and bringing a resolution to the dispute. The article notes that the full details of the event and its resolution are reserved for subscribers.