TF35 class in Geneva Grand Prix 2026 at Société Nautique de Genève - Preview
by TF35 Trophy 1 Oct 20:35 BST
2-4 October 2026
TF35 Versoix Grand Prix on Lake Geneva - Day 2 © Sailing Energy / TF35
Six points separate the seven TF35 teams heading into this weekend's Geneva Grand Prix, the final event of the 2026 TF35 Trophy. With the championship still wide open, the Société Nautique de Genève is set for a make-or-break three days on Lake Geneva from 2 to 4 October.
It has been that kind of season. From the opening event in Nyon, the TF35 Trophy has produced a remarkably even contest, with four different crews winning the four Grand Prix events held so far. After six rounds, no one has been able to establish a strong advantage.
Now, with the title on the line, the margins are as tight as they could be.
Sails of Change 8 arrives in Geneva at the head of the fleet on 10 points, with ZEN Too just one point behind on 11. Realteam Spirit is third on 13, followed by Ylliam 17 on 14 and Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier on 15. X-WING and Sails of Change 10 are both on 16.
In other words, only six points separate first from seventh.
For Sails of Change 8, the stakes are particularly high. Yann Guichard's crew has won the TF35 Trophy for the past two seasons and is chasing a third consecutive title. But with such little daylight between the crews, there is almost no room for error: "The level of the fleet is really very close, even more so than over the last two years, and that's really great in terms of competition," says Noé Delpech, tactician aboard Sails of Change 8.
The team made changes to the boat at the Grand Prix de Versoix in an effort to find more speed, but Delpech says the work is not yet finished.
"At Versoix, we made a few changes to the boat to try to improve the speed a little. We're not completely satisfied yet, so we'll make a few more small modifications for the final Grand Prix to get the most out of the boat."
ZEN Too will arrive in Geneva with the championship very much within reach. One point behind the leaders, the team has been one of the most consistent performers of the season and knows that a strong final event could be enough to take the title.
Realteam Spirit, meanwhile, brings plenty of experience of winning this championship, having taken the Trophy in 2021 and 2023. Ylliam 17 is also firmly in contention, while the battle behind them could be just as significant.
Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier, X-WING and Sails of Change 10 are separated by only a single point. A strong or weak weekend could therefore transform the final podium order.
The forecast is looking variable with a light Bise expected on Friday before relatively unstable light winds will make racing difficult over the weekend.
The first possible start is scheduled for 11.30am on Friday 2 October at the Société Nautique de Genève. Follow live at www.TF35.org