Anniversary – Le Grand Surprise celebrates its quarter century

This summer in Sciez, the Grand Surprise owners’ association celebrated the 25th anniversary of the cruiser designed especially for our waters. It was a fine opportunity to remind everyone that the series remains dynamic and, above all, very convivial.

With almost 300 units built between 2000 and 2015 – around 65 of which sail on Lake Geneva – the Grand Surprise is one of the most emblematic series on Swiss lakes. Born from the drawing board of Michel Joubert and Bernard Nivelt, as well as a fruitful collaboration between the Archambault brothers (the builders), François Séchaud and Philippe Raphoz, Archambault’s importers for Switzerland and French Lake Geneva respectively, the yacht very quickly filled a void in its category. “We wanted to design a new lake boat to replace the Sprint 95, which hadn’t been as successful as we’d hoped,” says François Séchaud, who was behind the Surprise’s success in Switzerland. “It was too complex – with flying runners and genoa – and lacked sail stiffness. It was also heavily penalized in the ACVL rules by its trapezes.”

Designed for demand

Particularly aware of the state of the Lake Geneva market, Philippe Raphoz and François Séchaud began working with the shipyard and the architect’s office to develop a unit perfectly suited to the demands of local customers. “We had to design a boat in the same spirit as the Surprise, which had met with phenomenal success, but a little larger,” describes importer François Séchaud. “The boat had to be versatile, easy to handle with a small crew, with a solid rig without runners, stiff on the canvas and with a nice line. The cabin had to be simple, with no headroom, but large enough for short cruises. As for the cockpit, it had to be spacious, welcoming and comfortable, and above all it had to perform well.” Despite these specifications, worthy of a five-legged sheep, the exercise was a success. And if a few adaptations to lake conditions had to be negotiated with the architects, the cruiser of just ten meters very quickly found its place with enthusiasts. “We felt that the original rig was too short, and that the boat wasn’t canvas-covered enough for our conditions. With the help of sailmaker North, we proposed adding a meter of mast, which would allow us to reach the maximum of our ACVL class. Some people feared that the boat would lack stiffness. But in the end, the idea was adopted. And as proof that it was a good idea, two seasons later, the Grand Surprise at sea adopted the lake rig.” Construction began in 1999, and the first unit was presented at the end of the year at the Paris boat show, a must-see event at the time. Success was immediate, and the boat quickly became a hit.

Appreciated right from the start

The Bol d’Or 2000, which took place in dream conditions, acted as a testing ground and contributed greatly to the yacht’s success. Three boats took the start and finished during the day, 36th overall and 12th monohull for the first. The other two finished 39th and 42nd. Jean-Marc Deyring, who had already had his eye on the project, was convinced by these results and signed a purchase contract just after the Lake Geneva Grandmesse. Thanks to his commitment, the gauge was born in 2002, as was the owners’ association, which Jean-Marc chaired for ten years. His dynamism has greatly contributed to the success of the series in the years since. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Grand Surprise, the ASPRO organized a gala evening during the Swiss championship, hosted by French-speaking Switzerland’s favorite housewife, Marie-Thérèse Porchet, accompanied by other famous comedians of the day. The light-hearted nature of the show saved the day, as no races were held during the four-day regatta. Since then, the Grand Surprise has clearly become the second most popular series on Lake Geneva, and continues to surprise with its excellent results. Little Nemo II, first in compensated time at the Bol d’Or Mirabaud 2024 (44th overall), is a reminder of just how competitive this yacht remains.

A party to match to celebrate the boat’s quarter-century in style, the ASPRO, now chaired by Bernard Borter (Little Nemo II), organized an event in keeping with the spirit of the series. “We worked for ten months to organize everything,” explains Jennifer Schlup, head of communications. Maurice Gay, Svetlana Abbet and the president were particularly involved. The Cercle Nautique de Sciez and its president Christophe Thomas also played their part, and contributed to the success of the project.” The first rendezvous was on the water, at a GPS point given to the fourteen boats present. “There were families, crews, couples… It was really great fun. The afternoon continued in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

The North Sails team, a partner of the festival, was on board a motorboat, providing entertainment and a bar as they passed from boat to boat. At the end of the day, after a parade, the fleet returned to the port of Sciez in a light breeze that arrived at just the right moment. 80 people then gathered at the brand-new Cercle Nautique de Sciez to continue the aperitif, the prize-rich tombola, the o¤cial part, the meal and the concert with local band Evil Monkeys. “We were very lucky with the weather, even if the evening was interrupted due to a thunderstorm. Everyone lent a hand and we were able to get through the rainy spell and resume the concert at 11pm.” The party continued late into the night for some. Those present will not soon forget this event, which served as a reminder that the Grand Surprise, although no longer produced, remains a dynamic and particularly convivial series.

The Grand Surprise’s participation in the Cinq Jours du Léman since last year, as well as its presence at the Swiss Boat Show, strengthen this class, which undoubtedly still has a bright future ahead of it.