Double race weekend for TF35: Mies Grand Prix and Genève-Rolle-Genève

TF35 Trophy Nyon Grand Prix Day 2 © Sailing Energy / TF35

The TF35 Trophy resumes this weekend with the second event of the season: the Mies Grand Prix on May 29 and 31. Sandwiched in between is the Genève-Rolle-Genève long-distance race on Saturday, May 30.

It is one of the most demanding weekends of the season for the TF35 crews, who must switch between configurations and tactics for short-course windward-leeward racing and long-distance competition. In contrast to the wintry conditions that greeted the fleet at the season opener in Nyon last week, Mies is expected to deliver near 30°C temperatures throughout the weekend. A 10-15 knot northeasterly breeze is forecast for Friday before lighter winds on Saturday and the threat of thunderstorms on Sunday.

The two days of windward-leeward racing for the Mies Grand Prix will be organised by Nautic Concept at the Mies boatyard, with support from the Club Nautique de Versoix. Sails of Change 8 claimed victory here in 2025 after an expertly managed weekend and will again start among the favourites. However, with the team still settling into its 2026 crew line-up - and with Sails of Change 10 and Zen Too both impressing at the opener in Nyon - the fleet feels unusually open heading into the weekend.

The other major event of the weekend - counting as one race within the TF35 Mies Grand Prix - is Saturday's Genève-Rolle-Genève. Organised by the Yacht Club de Genève, the Lake Geneva classic is widely regarded as the traditional prelude to the Bol d'Or, which follows the next weekend. More than 200 boats are expected on the start line, with the cannon due to fire at 1:30pm in front of the Tour Carrée.

The 2025 edition left a lasting impression as Ylliam 17 took victory in 2h 22m 19s, just three minutes outside the race record set in 1990 and only 26 seconds ahead of Sails of Change 8. This year, however, the picture could look very different, with heat and light winds forecast to make life significantly more complicated for the crews.

X-WING grinder Lucien Cujean explained: "If the estimated race time goes beyond six to eight hours, we'll probably adapt the boat more towards light-air conditions. We'll do one final weather briefing on Saturday morning, together with a last tactical analysis of the Genève-Rolle-Genève route to make the right decisions."

Since the TF35 championship launched in 2021, the Genève-Rolle-Genève has produced five different winners: Zoulou in 2021, Alinghi Red Bull Racing in 2022, Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier in 2023, Sails of Change 8 in 2024 and Ylliam 17 in 2025. It underlines the depth of competition within the TF35 fleet, where races are regularly decided in the final metres.

Follow the TF35 live on the official website from Friday onwards, as well as on the Class Instagram and Facebook channels.