Blue skies and a light 7-10 knot sea breeze provided excellent conditions for the opening day of the TF35 Versoix Grand Prix, with the seven-boat fleet completing four races in the afternoon. The standout performers were Julien Firmenich’s Ylliam 17, who appeared to have an extra gear in the tricky conditions.
In Race 1, Ylliam 17 started with the main pack but found areas of pressure to pull ahead and take the win unchallenged by three boat lengths. X-Wing finished second, while Realteam Spirit edged Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier for third in a photo finish.
Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier tactician Maxime Bachelin commented on the day’s difficulties, noting the unusual wind patterns and emphasising the importance of staying in the pressure rather than simply choosing sides.
Race 2 followed a similar pattern, with Ylliam 17 establishing an early lead. However, Realteam Spirit managed to cover Ylliam 17 and take the win, with Ylliam 17 finishing second.
Race 3 saw Zen Too take an early lead before falling into a patch of light breeze, allowing Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier to seize the opportunity and take victory, with X-Wing securing their second second-place finish.
The fourth race showcased another strong performance from Ylliam teams, with Ylliam 17 claiming their second bullet of the regatta. Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier followed closely in second, and Sails of Change 8 took third.
It was a challenging day for Sails of Change 8 and Sails of Change 10, who struggled to keep pace with the leading boats. The TF35 fleet will reconvene for a crew party hosted by Sails of Change, ahead of the Double’s long-distance race tomorrow.
#Ylliam17 #tf35class #VersoixGrandPrix #tf35trophy
Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here
Follow our coverage of what’s happening in the foiling World Click here
