TF35 Mailly Grand Prix - Overall
by TF35 Trophy 30 Aug 20:41 BST
27-30 August 2026
On the final day of the TF35 Mailly Grand Prix, the fleet swapped the intensity of short-course windward-leeward racing for a long-distance test. With a course laid from Mailly to La Promentoux and back the teams would race for as many laps as possible within the three-hour window.
The wind, however, had other ideas. In classic Lake Geneva fashion, the morning revealed a beautiful but mirror-flat lake, with barely a breath of breeze.
After a short delay ashore, the teams eventually headed out, starting in just three knots of wind.
It was Yann Guichard's Sails of Change 8 that made the most of the conditions. Patiently working their way up the French shore, delicately tacking in the light breeze, they led from start to finish.
"It was a tough one," Guichard explained. "The wind was very light, but we had a good start. We stayed in control of the fleet, and it was fun to take the win.
"We had to fight the seagrass because the goal was to stay very close to the shoreline, so we had a lot of tacks to do. But yes, we had good speed, so we are super happy."
Realteam Spirit finished second, further extending the margin that had already secured them the regatta overall on Saturday.
That left the battle for the remaining podium places. With a three-point advantage over Zen Too going into the final race, the victory secured second overall for Guichard's Sails of Change 8, while Zen Too completed the podium after a consistent week of racing.
Sails of Change 8 tactician Noe was quick to acknowledge the performance of the winners.
"Congratulations to Realteam; they sailed very well. They were, all things considered, a little better than everyone else. The conditions this week were difficult. We made a few small mistakes at key moments, perhaps fewer than some teams and a few more than others, so overall we are happy to end the event in second."
Ylliam 17, meanwhile, brought their home event to a strong conclusion with third in the long-distance race, enough to secure fourth overall. Helmed by Julin Firmenich today's result is a satisfying end to the event hosted from the grounds of the Firmenich's lakeside home.
X-Wing finished the regatta fifth, followed by Sails of Change 10 in sixth and Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier in seventh.
For Realteam Spirit, the regatta marked a step forward after missing the 2025 season. Tactician Seb Col summed up the appeal of the TF35 class and the team's own progress at the end of the week.
"It's always a pleasure. This class is really fantastic. The boats fly in very little wind, so we're still racing in some interesting conditions," he said.
"There are still a few things we need to build a bit more confidence in. Missing a large part of last season, I think, unsettled us a little at the start of this season. But now we're in the process of rebuilding something solid."
The TF35 fleet has just 12 days to regroup before returning to the water for the TF35 Versoix Grand Prix, running from 11-13 September.