Sails of Change 8, skippered by Yann Guichard, delivered an impressive performance on the final day of the TF35 Mies Grand Prix, winning three out of four races and solidifying their dominance throughout the event.
Held from June 6 to 8, the regatta showcased the unpredictable nature of sailing on Lake Geneva, where mixed wind conditions kept teams on their toes. Yet, it was Sails of Change 8 that rose to the occasion, emerging as the clear frontrunner and leaving their rivals in their wake.
On June 7, the Geneva-Rolle-Geneva race unfolded, where Ylliam 17 snatched victory in a nail-biting finish. Sails of Change 8 had led the charge for the entirety of the 2-hour, 22-minute race, only to see their hard-earned lead slip away in the final 26 seconds. “It was a great Grand Prix; I'm exhausted. We really pulled out all the stops. Well done to the team—a slightly different crew than usual, but they did an extraordinary job. This one's for them too,” reflected Julien Firmenich, Ylliam 17, on their regatta.
As the final day of the Mies Grand Prix unfolded, the battle for second place heated up between Ylliam 17 and Sails of Change 10. Ylliam 17 showcased remarkable consistency, stepping off the podium only once, while the final standings revealed a mere point separating them. Duncan Späth from Sails of Change 10 spoke about their first podium finish: “This is our first podium since we arrived. We're really happy; we've faced some great challenges, and it's been pretty evenly matched, so we're really looking forward to what's to come. The conditions weren't easy, so well done to everyone.” ZEN Too finished the Mies Grand Prix in fourth, followed closely by Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier in fifth, and X-wing in sixth.
As the event concludes, excitement is building for the next race, and teams will strive to match the impressive performance of Sails of Change 8 and their tightly-knit crew—Noé Delpech, François Morvan, Bruno Mourniac, Adrien Mestre, and Solune Robert. Yann Guichard, skipper and helmsman, reflected on his regatta: “It was a difficult Grand Prix for everyone. If you look at the results, you'd think it was easy for us, but that wasn't the case. It was complicated onboard to find the right speed and positioning. We put pressure on Noé, who managed to make the right choices almost all the time, especially when it was tough. We're delighted with the win and with the fact that we're now close on points with Julien Firmenich and his team in the Championship. They were impressive. We're looking forward to the Bol d'Or.”
Rivalries will be renewed next weekend as the six TF35s once again battle it out on Lake Geneva at the iconic Bol d'Or Mirabaud, the world's largest inland lake regatta.
