Sails of Change launches its 2026 TF35 season and welcomes two new crew members
by Sails of Change 12 May 08:12 PDT
Sails of Change launches its 2026 TF35 season © Adrien Nivet - polaRYSE / Sails of Change
After a 2025 season marked by victory in the TF35 Trophy with SUI8 and a 3rd-place finish for SUI10, the Sails of Change team is entering a new season. The team welcomes two new sailors, Billy Besson and Matthieu Ravussin, who join an already well-established crew.
Remaining true to its baseline, "One family, one team, one mission," Sails of Change is built around three core values: team spirit, the constant drive to improve and perform on the water, and a concrete commitment to protecting biodiversity.
A team culture at the heart of the project
Sails of Change is first and foremost a human adventure, built over time around a strong culture. It is driven by the family passion of Dona Bertarelli, Yann Guichard and Duncan Späth, combined with top-level sporting ambition and a deep environmental commitment.
"Over the years, we have created much more than just a team. Many sailors have been with us for a long time, forming a true family. Through the Sports for Nature programme, our environmental commitment is fully embedded in the project. Sails of Change is also a story of passing things on, which I am proud to share with my children." - Dona Bertarelli, Owner of Sails of Change
The integration of new profiles is part of this dynamic, with the ambition to continue progressing while preserving the cohesion that makes the team strong.
An evolving crew to stay at the highest level
As defending champions with SUI8, the team approaches the season with ambition in an increasingly competitive environment.
"Two changes in the crew this year: Billy Besson joins as mainsail trimmer and Matthieu Ravussin on the headsails. Billy, a world-renowned foiling catamaran specialist, and Matthieu, who brings solid TF35 experience, strengthen the team with highly complementary and experienced profiles.
The season promises to be a real challenge: we have won the last two championships and would love to make it three in a row, but the level is clearly higher. I expect a very competitive season right through to the final Grand Prix. As always, we will have a dual objective: perform at every Grand Prix while positioning ourselves strongly for the overall standings, without forgetting the major races such as the Genève-Rolle-Genève and the Bol d'Or du Léman.
Finally, Duncan will be a direct rival for the podium. I'm looking forward to racing against him: as family, I'd like him ahead, but in competition preferably behind! That's also the strength of having two boats within the team — it pushes us to raise our level from the very start of the season." - Yann Guichard, Skipper SUI8.
On SUI10, progression remains at the core of the project, with a clear determination to consistently close the gap to the top teams in the fleet.
"The goal is to keep improving and stay in touch with the leading teams, with the ambition of fighting for the podium. The start of the season requires us to be both patient and opportunistic." - Duncan Späth, Skipper SUI10
Performance and responsibility: an inseparable commitment
Beyond sport, Sails of Change continues to pursue an environmental approach fully integrated into its operations. Since January 2026, the team's base has been powered entirely by renewable energy, and all team members have been trained through the Sports for Nature programme.
On the water, this commitment translates into particular attention to sailing practices on Lake Geneva, with measures designed to limit emissions and preserve a fragile ecosystem: supervised operations, optimized waste management, anti-pollution equipment, and ongoing awareness training for the teams.
In daily operations, the team prioritizes train travel and includes vegetarian meals to reduce its carbon footprint. At the same time, Sails of Change continues its scientific commitment through the Lemanscope programme.
This commitment is part of the ongoing support provided by Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy for the international "30x30" initiative, displayed on the team's sails and aiming to protect 30% of the world's oceans and lands by 2030.