Thirteen races, gusts exceeding 30 knots, and Lake Geneva showcasing nearly its entire range of weather conditions: the Mailly Grand Prix lived up to its promise. While Realteam Spirit secured a commanding victory ahead of Sails of Change 8 and ZEN Too, with just two races remaining in the TF35 Trophy, nothing is decided yet. Only two points separate the top three in the championship!
Realteam is playing for consistency
On Lake Geneva, winning a race is one thing. Consistently posting good results when the wind shifts in strength and direction is quite another. From August 27 to 30, Realteam Spirit won the Mailly Grand Prix largely thanks to its ability to stay in the running regardless of the conditions. On Thursday, however, the first day seemed destined to go to Ylliam 17. After nearly six hours of waiting, the Séchard wind settled between 7 and 10 knots, finally allowing the TF35s to get underway. Julien Firmenich and his crew won two of the three races. But right from the first race, the margins set the tone: the winner finished just eight seconds ahead of second place… It promised to be an exciting series!
Friday completely changed the dynamics of the race. After the thunderstorms, a southwest wind of 10 to 17 knots swept across the course. The TF35s accelerated to speeds exceeding 30 knots, and tactical decisions were just as crucial—but above all, they had to be made instantly. Sails of Change 8 wins two races, but Realteam weathered the storm without ever falling out of contention. Not even a winch malfunction was enough to halt its progress. At the end of the day, Jérôme Clerc and his crew took the lead.
When the TF35 Shows Its Muscle
Saturday likely offered the best demonstration of what makes this class so spectacular. Five races, four different winners, winds reaching 17 knots, and razor-thin margins between the competitors. The regatta is in full swing, and even the slightest misreading of the course or a setting that’s not quite as perfect as a competitor’s can completely change the dynamics of the race. The TF35 is a fabulous boat in these conditions, and the racing is thrilling!
Realteam has been particularly strong in this race. The tenth race proved to be one of the turning points of the weekend: in second place, Realteam took advantage of Sails of Change 8’s sixth-place finish to widen the gap. By Saturday evening, its eight-point lead had already mathematically secured the Grand Prix victory.
From 30 knots… to almost nothing
Lake Geneva, however, had one final challenge in store for the crews. On Sunday, conditions changed drastically: the Genthod–La Promentoux coastal race got underway in winds of about 2 knots. Foiling was no longer really an option. The crews had to hunt for every little gust and avoid the treacherous spots on the water. Sails of Change 8 finds the best route by hugging the coast and wins this final race—which was ultimately shortened—ahead of Realteam. Behind them, Ylliam 17 snatches third place from X-WING by just two seconds. Even when the TF35s stop foiling, the regatta remains intense!
Two points among the top three
Overall, Realteam took the win ahead of Sails of Change 8 and ZEN Too. It was an important victory, but the championship remains wide open. Sails of Change 8 retains the lead in the TF35 Trophy with 6 points. Realteam and ZEN Too are tied for second with 8 points. Behind them, Sails of Change 10 and X-WING have 10 points each.
The next event—the Versoix Grand Prix, September 11–13—promises to be thrilling, ahead of the Geneva finale. The battle for the title is entering its final stretch…