Semaines du Soir lémaniques
Ah …! Evening Weeks …! They begin in the late afternoon with simple, pleasant regattas, depending on the summer, flat lake, gentle evening breezes and the mildness of the end of the day. They continue with the inevitable aperitif and a convivial meal. Under the spotlights, the atmosphere takes off and the music starts to dance. It’s all about refuelling and making sure you don’t die of thirst. Then the hours tick away until the middle of the night… and sometimes even beyond.
The Lausanne Sailing Club’s Semaine du Soir is one of the oldest. 105 years old. It’s a perfect illustration of the origins of these summer regattas. When the weather’s fine, they cement social ties within a club. That’s what Evening Weeks are all about: a few late-afternoon tacks, and then it’s time for the party! So much so, in fact, that the sailing part sometimes plays an almost secondary role, as a pretext for non-regatta-goers to take part in the “village fĂȘte”.
Settling scores at the CVL
Three quarters of a century ago, the Semaines de la Voile (Sailing Weeks) were like fiercely contested jousts. Pierre Mercier recalls that not every evening was as festive as it is today. “As a child, I used to go racing with my father AndrĂ©, aboard Nausicaa. I was struck by two things. In the changing rooms of the Cercle de la Voile (CVL at the time, in Ouchy), of which a similar building remains, the NANA, Johnny Cornaz aka “Le Chinois” and Jean-Philippe Descoeudres with his boxer face would verbally clash over silly questions of starboard refusal! It was a very masculine world, which hardly accepted
women in regattas. This certainly weighed on the development of the series. And yet, among the regatta sailors of the time, luthier Pierre Gerber, with his undeniable sensitivity, said: “Holding a helm is like holding the bow of a violin. The Semaines du Soir were an opportunity to spend evenings with friends. Before TV and telephone networks.” Former president Chantal Rey underlines the commitment of the organizers: “We were always looking for maximum originality. For the 100th, we had over 50 boats. On Friday evening, we introduced a disguised regatta! One crew went so far as to decorate their boat, and another came as a mountain man, complete with alphorn! It was really hair-raising! But what really scared us was the fear of an incident. During a rough week, a dinghy capsized and we had to wait for the rescue team to intervene.”
Boats in Rolle? Let’s party!
A popular event since its launch in the 1980s, Rolle’s Semaine du Soir has always been as joyful as it has been… tricky. A dreamy stretch of water, a magnificent setting, live bands, but a relatively cramped venue for up to 600 people. President Christophe “Caneton” Berthoud insists: “It’s a must for any club. It’s more a week for regulars, who come to meet up, than for young people who want to race first. Today, people are less available. We used to have up to 60 boats on the water, now there are only 30. One week up to force 3 is fine. At force 5, it’s more stressful. In Rolle, the rescue team is on watch every night. To avoid a drunk guy falling into the water and drowning. Watch out for late nights!
Founex blows up the winches!
In Founex, the Club Nautique celebrates its 20th Semaine du Soir. Led by its president, JĂ©rĂŽme Sutter, the organizing committee deploys a wealth of imagination to make it a festive occasion, with sailing at the forefront. “We’re organizing a bar on the sea wall, to show people what sailing is all about and explain the regatta to them. Under the tent, we’ve installed an old Star cut in two – which took part in the Olympics! -as a second bar. We invite live music groups, organize a karaoke night, and on Fridays, it’s regatta and fancy dress night! The best-dressed crew wins the “Founachu” challenge, an anchor that weighs its weight and bears plaques in memory of all the winners.
Villeneuve, one of the pioneers
The Semaine du Soir de Villeneuve has been the talk of the town since its inception in the mid-1980s, under the impetus of Roland Pellet, its initiator. Far and wide, people were interested in coming to the end of the Haut-Lac, to the Semaine de la Voile de Villeneuve – even if it could be an “air hole” like a stormy fan! Of all the clubs organizing Semaines du Soir, CVVi attracts around forty participants – a figure that has been falling in recent years. In Villeneuve, too, the after-party brings together orchestras, restaurateurs and winemakers. All these activities help to fill the Club’s coffers. But the number of boats taking part in the event is falling, down to 20 from 40 in its heyday. A giant paĂ«lla feast for more than 300 guests is another way to boost numbers.
Versoix, a week of beatings and mourning
But there are also some sad episodes at the Semaines du Soir. In Versoix, the 1999 event ended with a heavy toll: one drowned and 9 boats sunk. Philippe Durr was aboard the 8 m JI Lafayette. “We had a buoy to turn towards Yvoire. At the start, it was blowing a light drier. On the way back, a violent gale from the airport hit the fleet, decimating it. Nine boats sank by eco-page (side filling). Papillon, Vincent Zanlonghi’s 15 m SNS, a Toucan, a Yngling, the Aga Khan’s Lacustre Roxana, a 30 m… in short, the apocalypse. Aboard Roxana, “Gibus” couldn’t swim. It was Robert Favre, using his watch jacket as a life jacket, who saved him. Guy Budry was less fortunate. We couldn’t see a thing, and there was a thunderous hailstorm. In the storm, he looks for his wife. He found her and saved her. He, not knowing how to swim either, drowned. BenoĂźt Deutsch, CNV sailing instructor and base manager, adds: “In 1999, we didn’t have radar to see the storms coming.” Philippe Durr also remembers the crazy kermesse that was the Semaine du Soir in Versoix: around a hundred boats, 900 people ashore to party! He organized it for 10 years, with local baker Pierrot Marguerat as starter. At first, the plan was to race only one evening…
SNG, the Firmenich initiative
At SNG, we don’t celebrate Semaine du Soir, but Semaine de la Voile. Its origins can be traced back to the Firmenich family, who organized the first edition in front of their home in Genthod in the 1960s. Eric Arnulf recalls three stages in the history of the Semaine de la Voile: “In the 1980s, there was a start in AsniĂšres at around 2pm, and racing went on until 7pm. In 2000, the start was moved back to the SNG, with starts between 5 and 6 pm. The week lost its importance. More recently, thanks to VĂ©ronique, La Nautique’s legendary chief starter, the week has been revived, thanks in particular to the Friday costume regatta.
