TF35

THE TF35 TROPHY RESUMES THURSDAY IN MAILLY, THE RACE FOR THE TITLE REMAINS OPEN.

After more than two months of summer break, the TF35 Trophy resumes this Thursday, August 27th, with the Grand Prix du Mailly, which will run until Sunday, August 30th. At the start of this second half of the season, nothing is yet decided for the seven competing crews. In a particularly tight fleet, every point will be crucial in the race for the title.

The 2026 season began in mid-May in Nyon under particularly challenging conditions. Light winds, freezing temperatures, and unpredictable waters forced the seven crews to demonstrate patience and opportunism. Sails of Change 10, skippered by Duncan Späth, managed to capitalize on the situation and secure victory, winning its first Grand Prix since joining the circuit.

Two weeks later, the Mies Grand Prix offered a completely different experience, with a turquoise blue lake, sunshine, and a steady breeze of around 15 knots. Sails of Change 8, skippered by Yann Guichard, dominated the event, securing five victories on the first day.

The fleet then participated in the two traditional long-distance races on Lake Geneva: the Geneva-Rolle-Geneva, part of the Mies Grand Prix, followed by the Bol d’Or du Léman the following weekend. Both races were held in very light, or even non-existent, wind conditions, and once again severely tested the sailors’ nerves, with suspense maintained until the very last meters.

After a particularly competitive first part of the season, the crews enjoyed a long summer break. “We took a long break this summer. We resumed training a week ago, which is quite short to get back into the rhythm. So we’ll have to be efficient as soon as the competition resumes,” explains Loïc Forestier, helmsman of ZEN Too.

“It’s a bit like the start of the season, because nothing is decided yet and everything is still very close. We have to continue working as we did at the beginning of the season and be in the game right away,” he concluded.

This mindset perfectly sums up the situation before the start of the second half of the season. The standings are far from settled, the gaps are small, and each crew will need to quickly regain their form to secure a victory.

The final sprint begins this week with the Grand Prix du Mailly, from Thursday, August 27th to Sunday, August 30th. The first three days will be windward-leeward courses, followed by a coastal race on Sunday. The weather forecast is changeable, with sunshine, a risk of thunderstorms, and a drop in temperatures. As for the wind, sailors will need to adapt to its variations. This stage will be crucial and could reshuffle the overall standings.

The fleet will then meet again at the Versoix Grand Prix, from September 11th to 13th, before the final event of the season, the Geneva Grand Prix, from October 2nd to 4th. Three races remain before the winner of this sixth season of the TF35 Trophy is crowned.

See you on Thursday for the resumption of the Championship.