Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

TF35 Realstone Cup for Léman Hope Day 1: Technical opening day in Nyon

by TF35 Trophy 20 May 2022 01:54 BST 19-22 May 2022

After an hour of practice racing under brilliant sunshine on the sparkling waters of Lake Geneve, the seven TF35 teams had shaken off any winter dust that might have accumulated. They were ready for the Realstone Cup for Léman Hope, the opening event of the TF35's 2022 season.

After a short break under AP, as the wind kicked up to 21 knots and then settled down again, Lake Geneva's notoriously fickle breeze allowed just one race to take place in a comfortable 15 knots from the southwest.

In this, the smooth consistency of Realteam Sailing saw the 2021 defending champions leading the race by the first mark, with co-skipper Jérôme Clerc once again setting the pace for the TF35 fleet and crossing the finish line clear ahead to take the only win of the day.

In the chasing trio, Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier rounded the windward gate in second, followed by Spindrift in third. However, an excellent first run downwind from Alinghi Red Bull Racing and a perfectly executed leeward gate rounding saw Ernesto Bertarelli's crew break away from the pack and start to reel the leaders in.

"We had a few training exercises to do today before the first race to co-ordinated everyone onboard," explained new recruit Lucien Cujean. "Our start wasn't as planned, but we had a very nice comeback downwind. Nico (Charbonnier) made a very good call on the tactics, and Arnaud (Psarofaghis) on the performance side meant we were running the boat at 100%, so it felt good to close the gap on Realteam".

On the finishing line, Alinghi Red Bull Racing was around 5 seconds off Realteam, with Yann Guichard helmed Spindrift taking third and Ylliam slipping to fourth. There was very little on today's racecourse to divide the teams' conditions wise, no significant shifts or geographic advantages to play, so as the wind faded out to 8 knots and the teams foiled downwind; the upper hand to be had was boat handling.

New team to the fleet this season Vitamina sailing team started well with Adam Minoprio calling the shots for helm Andrea Lacorte. The new crew slipped down the fleet during the race, but held on to a sixth at the finish.

In fifth, at the end of today's racing ZEN Too's mainsail trimmer Jocelyn Keller explained: "It was a nice race. We had a terrible start but managed to recover well, so we are happy with how we're managing the boat. We have a few new people on board, so we are still getting used to it, there was a close capsize when a big gust hit us, but the more time we spend racing, the more it will come into place."

Tomorrow the forecast is for a building southwesterly that is set to reach 30 knots midafternoon. To make the most of the day before the conditions get too intense, the race committee will start racing at 10.30 local time. To follow the live race coverage visit www.tf35.org.

Realstone Cup for Léman Hope
Overall Ranking (After one race)

1. Realteam Sailing - 1pt
2. Alinghi Red Bull Racing - 2pts
3. Spindrift - 3pts
4. Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier - 4pts
5. ZEN Too - 5pts
6. Vitamina Sailing - 6pts
7. Team SAILFEVER - 7pts

For more information visit tf35.org/teams

Related Articles

Sails of Change 8 second in Bol d'Or du Leman
The crew of the TF35 won the TF35 Trophy race After fifteen and a half hours of racing featuring multiple lead changes, Yann Guichard and the crew of the TF35 Sails of Change 8 won the TF35 Trophy race and took a very narrow second place in the Bol d'Or du Leman. Posted on 15 Jun
Sails of Change 8 2nd in the Bol D'or du Léman
404 sailboats launched into the 86th edition of the race On Saturday, June 14 at 1000, 404 sailboats launched into the 86th edition of the Bol d'Or du Léman. Despite an unexpected breeze during the first hour of the race, patience was required throughout the course to make the most of the very light winds. Posted on 15 Jun
TF35 Mies Grand Prix overall
Sails of Change 8 victorious Sails of Change 8, skippered by Yann Guichard, delivered an impressive performance on the final day of the TF35 Mies Grand Prix, winning three out of four races and solidifying their dominance throughout the event. Posted on 9 Jun
Thrilling competition at Genève-Rolle-Genève Race
185 boats taking to the waters of Lake Geneva The 61st edition of the Genève-Rolle-Genève race delivered an exciting day of competition, with over 185 boats taking to the waters of Lake Geneva. On the morning of race day, the weather forecast was as unpredictable as ever. Posted on 7 Jun
TF35 Mies Grand Prix Day 1
Sails for Change 8 dominates the opening day Day one of the TF35 Mies Grand Prix on Lake Geneva saw six-cutting edge foiling catamarans transition from becalmed to racing in a steady 11-knot breeze, completing two fast-paced races. Posted on 7 Jun
TF35 Nyon Grand Prix overall
First Regatta Victory for Ylliam 17 Julien Firmenich's Ylliam 17 claimed victory this weekend at the opening event of the 2025 TF35 season in Nyon, marking their first-ever regatta win since joining the fleet in 2023. Posted on 25 May
TF35 Nyon Grand Prix Day 2
Sails of Change 10 makes it count in light air Despite spending most of the day on the water patiently waiting for wind, the Race Committee eventually managed to squeeze in a single race in the faintest 5-6 knot Séchard breeze, the only scoring opportunity on day two of the TF35 Nyon Grand Prix. Posted on 24 May
New sporting goals & ambitions for Sails of Change
The positive family legacy continues With the TF35 season set to open this coming weekend with the Nyon Grand Prix, ambitions are high among the Sails of Change Team as the two crews led respectively by Yann Guichard and Duncan Späth seek to realise their respective targets. Posted on 24 May
TF35 Nyon Grand Prix Day 1
Beginner's luck? X-Wing second after opening day The opening day of the 2025 TF35 season on Lake Geneva saw the six cutting-edge foiling catamarans ghost their way around the racecourse in a delicate 5-knot breeze, completing two races. Posted on 23 May
X-Wing joins the TF35 Trophy fleet
Franco-Italian entrepreneur and former alpine ski racer becomes the latest to join From racing down the slopes to flying above the water, Marco Favale's path to the TF35 Trophy is one of a sports enthusiast looking for the next thrill. Posted on 21 May