After their summer break, the TF35 fleet is back on Lake Geneva and ready to launch into part two of the 2025 season. Kicking off tomorrow, the Mailly Grand Prix will bring three days of intense windward-leeward racing, before wrapping up with a relaxed long-distance challenge designed to showcase the boats in a more playful format.

The event is hosted by Ylliam 17 owner Julien Firmenich, who welcomes the fleet to the beautiful grounds of the Firmenich family’s lakeside residence in Genthod, near Versoix. For the long-distance race, the course turning point will be set according to the day’s conditions, with the target of a three-hour contest. By keeping it non-point-scoring, the race remains all about enjoyment and spectacle, giving teams the chance to push the foiling cats without the pressure of championship points.

“We are super happy to see the estate come alive with the teams this weekend. It's a beautiful venue for this kind of event, and it has been a tradition for us to host for a very long time, so we are keeping it alive, which is nice. We are going to have some good conditions this weekend. We have a few crew changes due to Sail GP and an injury, but the new team is ready to give their best,” explained Firmenich. 

At this halfway stage of the season, Yann Guichard’s Sails of Change 8 leads the overall standings, having stamped their authority with a win in the TF35 fleet at the Bol d’Or and a dominant performance in Mies. Just one point behind, Firmenich’s own Ylliam 17 is proving the breakthrough story of the season after claiming the opening regatta in Nyon, an historic first-ever victory for the team after only two years in the fleet. Sitting third overall is Guy de Picciotto’s Zen Too, with Loïc Forestier at the helm, a model of consistency at the sharp end of the pack.

Meanwhile, Ylliam XII, Sails of Change 10, and the newest arrival X-WING have all shown flashes of brilliance, each scoring podium finishes during the opening half of the season. Their challenge now is to turn those moments of success into the kind of steady results that define a championship campaign.

Racing begins tomorrow at 11:30 with sunshine 12-15kts from the southwest. Follow all the live race coverage here.