The fourth season of the TF35 high-performance one-design foiling catamaran will kick off this month in Nyon, Switzerland, with the first of six events on Lake Geneva.
Hosted by the Société Nautique de Nyon from 24 to 26 May, the TF35 Nyon Cup will be the first chance for the teams to compete against each other since Malcesine in September 2023. Over the long winter period, the crews have been working hard developing the boat as class manager Bertrand Favre explains: "We spent the winter updating the flight control system. The first tests this spring have shown improved stability and boat behaviour at all points of sail, even in rough conditions, which was the objective".
From Nyon, the TF35 fleet will race out of its unofficial home in Mies, where they will be warmly welcomed by host Club Nautique de Versoix and boatyard SUI 4616, over the 7 and 9 June. "It's always a pleasure to welcome the TF35 Trophy to Mies. The teams, most of whom are based here, feel a bit at home," says Nicolas Rossier of Nautic Concept SA. "The atmosphere is very friendly, and we look forward to this event every year, whether on the water or on land at the boatyard, which has a stunning view over the lake."
As is typical of the TF35 Trophy, the Mies event will be a mix of Grand Prix and long-distance racing with two days of windward-leeward racing on either side of the Genève-Rolle-Genève on the 8 June, when the fleet will join the masses for a 13:00 start off the Geneva Yacht Club to race the 30 nautical miles course. Defending their Genève-Rolle-Genève title will be Bertrand Demole, helm of Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier, who won in 2023 after 4h 38m in a sprint finish with Spindrift and Ylliam 17.
Having warmed up their long-distance skills, the crews will join the 85th Bol d'Or Mirabaud the following weekend. After two years of painfully light winds for the world's largest inland lake regatta, the TF35 teams hope to have enough wind to showcase what the boat is capable of.
New to the tour for 2024 is The TF35 Choisi Cup, which will take place in Bursinel from 30 August to 1 September for three days of racing off the coast of the Société Nautique Rolloise, opposite the magnificent Villa Choisi estate.
The 2024 TF35 Trophy final will take place at the Société Nautique de Genève from 20 to 22 September and will be hosted by Realstone to raise awareness for sailing cancer charity Léman hope. Having dominated the leaderboard in 2023, winning every event of the season, Jérôme Clerc's Realteam Sailing will be the target for the chasing fleet; "On paper, we won every event, but it was tough on the water. We fought with Spindrift and Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier for every place last year," explains Clerc.
With a new team to be announced in the coming weeks, the 2024 season is shaping up nicely for the fleet.
For more information on the TF35 Trophy, visit TF35.org
24 - 26 May - TF35 Nyon Cup, Société Nautique de Nyon, Switzerland
7 and 9 June - TF35 Mies Cup, Mies, Switzerland
8 June - Genève-Rolle-Genève, Geneva Yacht Club, Switzerland
15 June - Bol d'Or Mirabaud, Société Nautique de Genève, Switzerland
30 August - 1 September - TF35 Choisi Cup - Bursinel, Société Nautique Rolloise, Switzerland
20 - 22 September - Realstone Cup For Léman hope, Société Nautique de Genève, Switzerland
