La Translémanique en Solitaire Preview

The 2021 Translémanique was held in challenging conditions. The winner, the late Charlie Dalin, finished in 10 hours, 12 minutes, and 58 seconds © Société Nautique de Genève

The 53rd edition of Lake Geneva's most demanding regatta will take place on August 29th and 30th, starting from the Société Nautique de Genève. With 130 competitors at the starting line, including several prominent figures in offshore racing, such as Mathis Bourgnon, winner of the Mini Transat, and Renaud Stitelmann, winner of the Mini Globe Race, the 2026 edition promises to be particularly competitive. Many thanks to BCGE, committed to our side for three years as our main partner, for their support of the Translémanique en Solitaire.

The Translémanique en Solitaire confirms, year after year, its status as an unmissable event for sailing on Lake Geneva. Raced on a theoretical course of 125 kilometres between Geneva and the Old Rhône and back, the 53rd edition will bring together 130 competitors, including some of the best regatta sailors on Lake Geneva, as well as offshore sailors eager to take on one of the most demanding challenges in Lake Geneva sailing.

This year, the Translem' is taking on the feel of an offshore race, with the presence of several sailors who have recently distinguished themselves on the oceans. Starting with Mathis Bourgnon, recent winner of the Mini Transat in the Prototype category, who will sail aboard the Psaros 33 Tchié'n Tchigre owned by Axel Meyer, President of the Geneva Nautical Society.

Winner of the 2020 Translémanique and recent 5th in the Mini Transat in Production sailboats, Joshua Schopfer will sail aboard the Surprise Spirit Of.... The Mini with which he competed in the Mini Transat, Mingulay, will be present on the starting line; it is now skippered by Aurélien Gard under the colors of the Naviguer en Solidaire association.

Renaud Stitelmann, winner of the Translémanique in 1989, 1993, and 1997, two-time winner of the Bol d'Or du Léman, and three-time winner of the 5 Jours du Léman, won the inaugural Mini Globe Race this year. This solo, round-the-world race is sailed in stages aboard one-design plywood sailboats measuring just 5.80 meters. Renaud—known as Isidore to his friends—covered 24,000 nautical miles and dominated the event from start to finish, winning every leg and setting a new record time of 180 days, 11 hours, and 25 minutes. He will compete in the Translémanique aboard the Surprise CNM Voiles Gautier.

Among the offshore sailors, we should also note the presence of Arnaud Machado, 12th in the 2015 Mini Transat, who will sail aboard Surprise L'Enfant Bleu / Pro Yachting. And Nicolas Groux, currently skipper of the Psaros 33 MSC, 14th in the 2011 Mini Transat.

Guillaume Girod, winner of the 2025 Translem' in real time, will attempt to retain his title at the helm of the Psaros 33 Raijin. Alain Stettler, winner on corrected time, will be at the starting line aboard his Melges 24.

Among the other top contenders, Alexander de Weck, on the Luthi 1090 Katana, will attempt to win his first Translémanique race. He has a particularly high-performance boat, on which the late Charlie Dalin triumphed in 2021. Another prominent competitor, Victor Casas, multiple Swiss champion and winner of the Bol d'Or du Léman, will be sailing aboard a Tofinou 9.70.

The best-represented category will once again be the Surprise class, with 34 boats at the start. This category includes several veterans of the 5 Jours du Léman, among them Charlotte Frei, Marius Lanz, Daniel Bouwmeester, and René Mermoud. Other one-design classes include ten Grand-Surprises, nine Psaros 33s, and eight Esse 850s.

The winners of each class will be rewarded at the end of the race. Three prestigious trophies will also be up for grabs: the Tuiga Challenge, awarded to the winner in corrected time, the Ella Maillart Challenge, which will reward the first woman in the corrected time ranking (five registered this year) and the Dragon Challenge, which rewards the first competitor to cross the finish line in real time.

Organized by the Geneva Nautical Society since 1974, the Translémanique en Solitaire is Switzerland's premier solo regatta. Each year, it offers the most experienced sailors on Lake Geneva, as well as competitors from abroad, the opportunity to test themselves on a demanding course. With 130 competitors, including several Lake Geneva champions and a strong contingent of sailors recently returned from ocean racing, the 2026 Translémanique en Solitaire promises a high-level competition.

A big thank you to all the volunteers, especially the Race Committee and the security team, who make the organization of this event possible.

Follow the race via translemanique.ch