The world of private banking and sponsorship of sports takes a nautical twist with the support of Swiss bank Lombard Odier of its Team Hydros catamaran in what is called the “Little America’s Cup” – taking place as the “big” America’s Cup came to a conclusion in San Francisco.

Two crews competing for Team Hydros represented Switzerland during the C-Class World Championship, starting in Falmouth, the UK southwest.

The four sailors of Team Hydros as well as the technical team have been training for over a year for the C-Class World Championship, catamarans that “fly” above the water using wingsails at the forefront of technology. The level of the competition is extremely high, including Volvo Ocean Race winner Franck Cammas and the most recent Little America’s Cup winner, Fred Eaton from Canada.

The technological adventure of l'Hydroptère and its record-breaking exploits have been made possible by the support pledged since 2005 by Thierry Lombard, managing partner at Lombard Odier & Cie.

According to the latest match report from the event, still under way at the time of going to press, one of the Hydros boats, sailed by Jérémie Lagarrigue and Billy Besson, is in second place, while the other is in fifth, and aiming for a third-placed podium finish.