TF35 Trophy 2025: seven events, two new venues, one new team
by TF35 Trophy 21 Dec 2024 03:21 AEDT
23-25 May 2024
TF35 Trophy © Loris Von Siebenthal
The TF35 Trophy 2025 season is set to deliver another thrilling spectacle of high-performance foiling catamaran racing with a seven-stop tour beginning in May and concluding in October.
As the fleet of cutting-edge TF35s hits the water, sailors will battle it out on the scenic yet challenging waters of Lake Geneva, featuring two exciting new venues and a new team determined to make their mark.
Starting in spring, as the snow on the Swiss mountains melts and the lake starts to sparkle, the TF35 crews will be hanging up their skis to kick off the sailing season with four back-to-back regattas over a four-week period. The first will be held over the 23- 25 May in the charming medieval town of Nyon, a fixture on the TF35 circuit since its launch in 2021.
In early June the fleet will face a double race weekend beginning with the Grand Prix de Mies (June 6-8), organized by the Chantier naval de Mies, and followed by the Genève-Rolle-Genève long-distance race on June 7. This combination of inshore and distance racing is unique to the TF35 fleet.
The Bol d'Or Mirabaud (June 14), the world's largest inland lake regatta, will be a major highlight for both Swiss sailors and the TF35 fleet. The 123-kilometer course, running from Geneva to Le Bouveret and back, will see more than 500 boats on the water. In 2024, Sails of Change 8, a new addition to the TF35 fleet led by Yann Guichard, took the victory in this prestigious race.
"As a new team, winning the two long-distance races and the championship was incredible," says Guichard. "The 2024 season exceeded expectations, but we know there's more to come, and we're focused on returning even stronger in 2025."
The second half of the 2025 season brings fresh excitement with two new venues. The Grand Prix du Mailly, taking place from 11 to 13 September will be hosted by Julien Firmenich, owner and helm of Ylliam 17, in the grounds of the stunning Domaine du Mailly and with the support of the Club Nautique de Versoix. The TF35s will take part in three days of exceptional racing, followed by a friendly Sunday coastal course.
"For more than eighty years, the Domaine du Mailly has hosted numerous sailing competitions, driven by the family's desire to share their passion for sailing and the lake," explains Firmenich, "I was keen to continue the family tradition by organising this Grand Prix on the estate with the TF35s."
The Grand Prix de Crans (September 26-28), set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps, will see the TF35s return to a venue rich in history from the former D35 Trophy days. Bertrand Favre, the TF35 Class Director, expresses his excitement: "We're thrilled to bring the TF35s back to Crans, a venue that brings back fond memories of the D35 era."
The season will culminate with the Société Nautique de Genève, from 10 to 12 October, with the Geneva Grand Prix. Following the optimisation of the flight control system in 2024, the races have become even more intense, and the 2025 edition is set to raise the bar further. A new team announcement in early 2025 could disrupt the established order, just as Sails of Change 8 did in its debut season.
"The class has reached a new level of professionalism, and the reliability of the TF35 makes it easier for new teams to get up to speed quickly," concludes Favre. "It's a game where every detail matters, and each regatta can change everything".
To find out more about the TF35 Trophy visit www.tf35.org
TF35 Trophy : 2025 Season
23 – 25 May : Grand Prix de Nyon, Société Nautique de Nyon, Switzerland
6 + 8 June : Grand Prix de Mies, Mies, Switzerland
7 June : Genève-Rolle-Genève, Yacht Club de Genève, Switzerland
14 June : Bol d'Or Mirabaud, Société Nautique de Genève, Switzerland
11 - 13 September : Grand Prix du Mailly, Club Nautique de Versoix, Switzerland
26 - 28 September : Grand Prix de Crans, Club Nautique de Crans, Switzerland
10 - 12 October : Grand Prix de Genève, Société Nautique de Genève, Switzerland