With winds in the high teens on Lake Geneva, the TF35 fleet launched into a blustery opening day of the TF35 Maily Grand Prix. Across four races, Yann Guichard’s Sails of Change 8 set the pace, never finishing lower than second.
However, the day was not as straightforward for Guichard’s team as the scoreboard suggests. In Race 1, they were caught in traffic off the start line. A quick tack into clear air paid off, allowing them to catch a lift and round the first windward gate in front. “We seized an opportunity in the middle of the lake, more out of necessity than strategy, but it paid off. Once free, we could use our speed to pull away,” explained mainsail trimmer François Morvan.
Race 2 saw Sails of Change 8 covered on the first beat by newcomers X-Wing, who matched them rounding the windward gate. Splitting downwind, X-Wing edged ahead and held on to claim their first TF35 victory. “The work we put in over the summer and during training has paid off. We’re battling with the others, and we’re very happy to have secured our first win,” said owner and helm Marco Favale.
In Race 3, Sails of Change 10 and Ylliam 17 led at the windward mark and looked set for a one-two finish, but a technical issue dropped Sails of Change 10 from contention. Host team, Julien Firmenich’s Ylliam 17, took the win, while Sails of Change 8, Zen Too and Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier were able to overtake.
The final race of the day was all about X-Wing again as she overtook Zen Too on the run to lead the fleet at the leeward gate. However, in her excitement to lead, she tacked too quickly, pitching a crew member into the water and almost capsizing. “That tack didn’t go as planned,” mused owner Favale. “The boat turned earlier and faster than usual. One of our crew members wasn’t ready and, with the power of these boats, he unfortunately ended up in the water. It was a very tense moment, as two boats were coming up fast behind us but everyone was OK.”
At the end of Day 1, Sails of Change 8 leads on four points, with Zen Too second on eight. Hosts Ylliam 17 sit third on countback, tied on nine points with X-Wing.
Despite the strong scoreline, Sails of Change 8’s trimmer Morvan stressed the effort behind them: “When you look at the result alone, it may seem like it was easy. But on the water, it’s always a battle — against the wind, against your opponents, against the boat. You give it your all, and at the end you count the points. Today we’re ahead, but at no point did we think it was easy. The goal is always to get the best out of what we can do.”
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