For the first time, the fleet of seven TF35s will meet on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, to take part in two training weekends. The first will be hosted by the Club Nautique de Crans from the 4 to 6 September and then, a month later, at the Société Nautique de Genève from the 9 to 11 October 2020.

Organised following the guidance given by the World Health Organisation, World Sailing and local authorities in regards to social distancing, the two training weekends will be a chance for the TF35 class to pilot the format of future regattas in preparation for the full TF35 Trophy Championship set to launch in 2021.

The training weekend will be a series of non-point scoring practice races, which will allow the race committee to test different course lengths, sizes of gates and starting lines. It will also be a chance to identify the minimum and maximum wind speed for sailing, to define the limits of use of the sails, and for the umpires to clarify the racing rules.

At each training weekend, there will be a strong focus on securing the lake allowing the seven teams to compete for the first time in full racing conditions on their new high-performance hydro foiling TF35s.

From a technical point of view, the training weekend is also a perfect opportunity to continue to develop the innovative automatic flight assistance system. Luc Du Bois, design and development manager of the flight system, explains: "Since the launch of the fleet at the end of June we have focused on getting each boat into operation. It quickly became apparent that it was necessary to continue to improve the system to meet the various expectations of the teams.

"The objective of the training weekends is twofold; to assess the level of reliability of the flight assistance system when seven boats are sailing together in full racing conditions and to make the last necessary improvements in order to arrive in mid-October at the optimal one-design system which will be implemented across the fleet for the 2021 season. "

At the end of the two training weekends, the TF35 will be ready for the official launch of the TF35 Trophy Championship in spring 2021. The schedule for the 2021 TF35 Trophy will be announced over the coming months.

Find out more about the new TF35 teams HERE.