Classics in the sunshine

  31.08.2020 Sports & Leisure

The Gstaad Yacht Club and its long-time partner, the Gstaad Automobile Club, organised the 14th GYC Rally & Yachting event, welcoming automobile and sailing afficionados from both clubs. The event, which has become a fixture in the Gstaad events calendar, was a great success: exciting routes and ideal weather conditions made for a perfect combination.

On Friday morning, 7th August all 26 cars assembled for registration at the GAC headquarters in Feutersoey followed by the sailing competitions at Lac Retaud. Due to lack of wind and high temperatures, the sailing competition with brand new America’s Cup model-boats had to be cancelled. Instead, a rowing challenge with a twist was on the programme, with one member of the team on the boat and the other in the function of the coxswain at the lakeside.

The GYC commodore, Manrico Iachia, GYC managing director Cindy Schönrich and GAC president Stephane Gutzwiller welcomed all participants during dinner and took the opportunity to provide a little glimpse and brief pilots and co-pilots about the events of the following day.

The early Saturday morning – exactly 150 years after the America’s Cup first took place under this name – presented the line-up of classic and modern cars around the perfectly trimmed lawn of the Le Grand Bellevue, in front of the Gstaad Yacht Club.

This year’s event featured some magnificent cars that certainly are in the books of automobile history, such as two 275 GTB Ferrari, the 2002 Bentley Continental R Special Les Mans Edition Azure, and a Ferrari 812 Superfast. A real treat for anybody who appreciates collectables.

At 9am the cars were ready at the starting line. The oldest car in the contest, the rare 1926 Bentley Le Mans drove off towards Niedermuhlern for a first coffee break. The route took the participants over the Gurnigel pass and the sinuous and scenic roads of Guggisberg, to the Restaurant, La Pinte des Mossettes near the charterhouse in the La Valsainte. Since the 13th century it is located in this remote part of the Gruyère region, now the only community of the order in Switzerland. Once everybody had arrived, the participants had time to exchange their experiences of the day over an outdoor lunch, which was served under the shade of a beautiful old maple. The prize giving ceremony then took place back in Gstaad, at the GYC club house. The Manricho Iachia expressed his gratitude to all the participants for bringing their outstanding cars to the Rally & Yachting and also to the GYC and GAC teams along with the helpers for all the hard work they put into the organisation of the event.

This year’s race was dominated by the Cook and Müller families. The winner of the 2020 GYC Rally and Yachting was Sir Andrew Cook and his son Mr William Cook in their Bentley Continental Mulliner. Second place went to the brothers Timothy and Tobias Müller, who drove a Morgan Plus 8. Finally, third place went to James Toyne and Barney Mc-Donald driving a Ferrari 246 Dino.

GSTAAD YACHT CLUB

 


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