After the summer break, the TF35 fleet returned to Lake Geneva in Mailly to kick off the second half of the season. Four days of racing, 13 races and one coastal race saw the crews get back into the rhythm of the championship, with particularly contrasting conditions: a strong and gusty breeze on Saturday, making the racecourse difficult to read and tactical decisions especially demanding, followed by a very light-wind Sunday, where every puff could make the difference.
For Sails of Change, this return marks the beginning of the final stretch of the championship. With two crews competing in the series, the team heads into the final two Grands Prix with a clear ambition: to keep improving and aim for the top places through to the end of the season.
Sails of Change 8 Takes Back the Lead
On board Sails of Change 8, Yann Guichard and his crew secured a strong second-place finish at the Grand Prix du Mailly. A performance built over 13 races, in conditions that were at times particularly difficult to read, allowing the team to retake the lead in the championship.
After an opening day sailed in a 7-to-10-knot Séchard, the conditions strengthened as the Grand Prix progressed. On Friday, the crews encountered a stronger breeze, before Saturday brought a particularly demanding day on the water. Winds ranging from 10 to 17 knots were gusty and unstable, with a highly challenging racecourse where pressure and wind direction were constantly shifting. The crews had to adapt continuously, identifying the best areas of pressure and making the right tactical decisions.
In an extremely tight fleet, Sails of Change 8 remained in contact with Realteam Spirit throughout the Grand Prix, including two race wins on the second day.
“It was a magnificent Grand Prix. We had sunshine, wind, 13 races and very different conditions. We fought all the way with Realteam and finished second. It’s a strong performance that allows us to retake the lead in the overall standings,” says Yann Guichard, skipper-helmsman of Sails of Change 8.
Despite some difficulties with boat speed, the crew managed to stay in the mix and hold on to second place in the Grand Prix standings. A position that left everything open heading into the final day.
Searching for Every Puff
Sunday brought a completely different picture. To close out the Grand Prix, the fleet moved away from the traditional windward-leeward format for a long-distance coastal race. The start was given in just two knots of breeze, on an almost mirror-flat lake.
In these conditions, the race became a true test of patience and precision. The crews searched for every puff of breeze, sometimes barely visible on the surface, trying to gain and preserve every metre. They also had to sail close to the shoreline to find more pressure, while avoiding patches of weed that could bring the boats almost to a standstill.
Every tack mattered, and every move across the racecourse had to be anticipated. After several hours of racing, Sails of Change 8 took the lead and crossed the final mark first, winning the coastal race ahead of Realteam Spirit.
“It was a difficult race! The breeze was very light, but we got a good start. We stayed at the front of the fleet and it was really great to take the win. We had to deal with the weed because the goal was to stay very close to the shore, which meant making a lot of tacks. But we had good speed, so we’re really happy,” Yann Guichard told the class at the end of the race.
The victory brought the Grand Prix to a positive conclusion for Sails of Change 8. Finishing second overall, the crew leaves Mailly with something even more valuable: the lead in the championship.
The closing stages promise to be intense. Realteam Spirit and ZEN Too remain just a few points behind, with two Grands Prix still to come.
“It’s going to be tight all the way to the end. There are now two Grands Prix left. We’ll work this week to make sure the boat is ready. Both Sails of Change boats still have everything to play for, so we’re really looking forward to the end of the season,” adds Yann Guichard.
Two Crews, One Shared Momentum
The return to racing also allowed Sails of Change 10 to find its rhythm again. With only a few days of training before the Grand Prix, Duncan Späth’s team gradually found its rhythm again and raised its game throughout the event.
After a difficult start to the Grand Prix, two consecutive race wins rewarded this progression. A confidence boost, but also a chance to assess the progress made and identify where further gains could be found.
“It feels good to be back racing in a full fleet. It allowed us to put things back into perspective, understand what we were doing well and less well compared with the others, then get back into our rhythm and optimise what we could,” explains Duncan Späth, skipper-helmsman of Sails of Change 10.
This progression sees Sails of Change 10 now sitting fourth in the championship, just a few points off the podium.
“We’re fourth overall, and there’s still a lot to play for. We’re going to make things happen where we need to,” adds Duncan Späth.
Two Grands Prix to Make the Difference
The Grand Prix du Mailly was therefore much more than simply a return to racing. Between gusty and difficult-to-read conditions, a particularly demanding light-air coastal race and a win for Sails of Change 8, the event allowed both crews to find their rhythm again and position themselves for the final stages of the season.
With Sails of Change 8 leading the championship and Sails of Change 10 in fourth place, both crews still have everything to play for in this final stretch.
In two weeks, the TF35 fleet will meet again in Versoix, from 11 to 13 September. Two Grands Prix remain, and with the margins so tight at the top of the standings, every race could make the difference.
The return is complete. The final sprint can begin !
