Armin Strom Sailing Team

It is easy to understand why Armin Strom (Swiss Watch Manufacture) selected Flavio Marazzi for the high-tech GC32 Class: he’s probably the finest Swiss all-rounder in the sport. Flavio has a distinguished career in the Star, narrowly missing out on podium finishes at two Olympics out of four. He also finished second twice in the Star Worlds and won the Star Europeans in 2007. Flavio is genuinely multi-talented, also clocking up successes in the more classic boats, including six World Championship victories in the International 5.5-metre Class. The Armin Strom Sailing Team debuted in 2013 and spent a further year shaking down a completely transformed boat packing L-foils and T-rudders on its carbon-hulls that allow it to foil and reach speeds in exceed of 35 knots. ASST arrived at the inaugural GC32 Racing Circuit 2014 event in Traunsee, Austria, last spring, with a good mix of owner-drivers and professional sailors, including Chris Draper, Francesco Bruni, Tom Slingsby, Paul Campbell James, Sebastien Col and Jes-Gram Hansen. Three months later, ASST won its first event in Marseille ahead of Sebastien Col and GDF Suez. A success that came in a week of flat water and ideal conditions of 8-18 knots - proof positive of just how quickly the team mastered the art of foiling. The fleet then immediately headed to the States, where the GC32 winter calendar spanned the Quantum Key West regatta and a second event in Miami. Flavio has said he is “looking forward to the first GC32 Racing Circuit in Europe in 2015 with 6-10 boats on the line and great foiling action around the course. Foiling in big catamarans in a big fleet has never been tried before. It is an absolute first!”. This fantastic adventure has been made possible also by the support of Armin Strom, an independent watchmaking manufacture based in Biel/Bienne, which melds the finest watchmaking practices with the most innovative technologies available. Its limited edition models, such as the Formula 1-dedicated Racing Collection, are a particular favourite with collectors. Marazzi has been a brand ambassador for its Water models since Armin Strom dedicated one to his Olympic participation at London2012.