Opening victory for Alinghi in the TF35 Trophy
by Alinghi 3 May 05:17 PDT
30 April - 2 May 2021
In lining up at the start of a Grand Prix that provides for up to five races a day, you don't know exactly when the regatta will end, because wind is a key component of the equation.
Despite a fleet hungry and raring to go after the long period without racing, the weather didn't play ball, allowing for three races in three days, launched on Saturday off Nyon. By finishing second once, and twice first, Alinghi had the advantage at the halfway stage. And due to a lack of wind on the last day, the scores remained the same at the end, with Alinghi winning by one point ahead of Realteam, with Spindrift completing the podium.
Of course, all the members of the team are delighted with the victory in the opening of the very first championship of the TF35 class. Above all, everyone agrees that it arrived as the result of the hard work put in since the TF35 SUI 100 was launched in June 2020.
Bryan Mettraux: "The conditions were difficult for all the crews with this unstable wind meaning foiling and being able to fly the boat was tricky. But that's also what makes the sport interesting. Upwind for example, you have to manage the transitions between a "flying" mode under a gennaker (the biggest headsail) and a "foiling" mode under a jib (smaller headsail), the angles change, the speeds too...It's very technical and we still have a lot to learn in these phases. "
Yves Detrey: "It's important to win, because that's our goal after all! We would have been disappointed to finish second or third because we have worked hard over the past few months to get there."
Arnaud Psarofaghis: "It's always good to win the first regatta of a brand new championship. Unfortunately, we all had to wait a long time for this, but we were able to be impactful when needed."
Nils Frei: "Every minute spent aboard this new foiler is beneficial to us because we continue to learn. This is even more the case when the conditions are difficult, and they were!"
The team would like to thank the Société Nautique de Nyon and its volunteers, in collaboration with the TF35 class and the authorities, for having all worked, in compliance with health rules, to return to competition after a 17 month hiatus.
Find the seven TF35 Trophy teams again in the waters off Nyon from May 14 to 16 for the second Grand Prix of the season.
Overall Results: (three races)
1st Alinghi, 4pts
2nd Realteam, 5pts
3rd Spindrift, 9pts
See the full results here...