From racing down the slopes to flying above the water, Marco Favale’s path to the TF35 Trophy is one of a sports enthusiast looking for the next thrill. The Franco-Italian entrepreneur and former alpine ski racer becomes the latest name to join the TF35 class, launching his new team, X-WING, ahead of the 2025 season.
Based in Switzerland since 2012, Favale’s sailing story began on the Atlantic coast of France aboard his family's Requin. It was a revelation. "My father-in-law introduced me to sailing on a shark in Noirmoutier. I got hooked straight away, especially in one-design regattas. That’s when the pleasure of sailing really kicked in,” he recalls.
Looking to refine his skills, Favale soon turned to Lake Geneva as his new training ground. His first instinct was to join the lake’s dominant fleet, the one-design Surprise, but aesthetics won out over logic: “It’s a great boat for progression, but I found it lacking in design flair. I’m still Italian—I love beautiful lines!”
That love of design led him to the Smeralda 888, a sleek, Mediterranean yacht and the match felt fated: Favale was born on 8/8/80, making the triple-eight connection irresistible. He joined the class, racing regularly in the Med, where he crossed paths with Olympic medalist and America’s Cup sailor, Manu Dyen.
It was Dyen who first mentioned the TF35—“like talking about Formula 1”. The conversation stuck. A few months later, an invitation from TF35 skipper Bertrand Demole brought him aboard Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier during the 2024 season finale in Geneva.
“There was no wind at first, then suddenly we caught a breeze and the boat just lifted. I fell in love immediately,” Favale remembers. “The silence, the smoothness, and the speed—it was like nothing I’d experienced before.” A conversation with the class followed, and a few months later, Favale acquired the former Artexplora. The TF35 dream had become reality.
The name X-WING? That comes from a playful rivalry during a Smeralda regatta in Monaco. One competitor had named his black boat Black Star and adorned it with Darth Vader’s mask. “I asked him, ‘What could beat you?’ He said, ‘The Millennium Falcon.’ So, that became my boat’s name.” Wanting something different for his TF35, Favale chose another rebel fighter from the Star Wars universe—X-WING.
For the campaign, Favale has assembled a formidable team. Leading the project and trimming the mainsail is Manu Dyen, alongside several names fresh from the 37th America’s Cup with the Swiss team: Nicolas Charbonnier, Lucien Cujean, Yves Detrey, and Arthur Cevey. Rounding out the crew are Xavier Revil, Thomas Deplanque, and Donatien Carme.
Despite the team’s relaxed atmosphere the mission is clear: improve quickly and enjoy the ride. “We’re not putting too much pressure on ourselves, but we are ambitious. We know we’re starting a bit behind the fleet, but we’re here to challenge the best and have fun doing it. Every day we learn something new, and that’s what drives us.”
The 2025 season will also mark Favale’s first participation in the iconic Bold’Or, a bucket-list event for the new TF35 skipper. “I’m thrilled to take part in such a legendary race. It’s going to be an incredible experience.”
Sailing a TF35 is a different world, he adds. “It’s not traditional sailing—it’s more like piloting. When you lift off, it’s silent. No noise, no bumps. It’s smooth, almost surreal. You feel the wind in your hair, but not the speed. It’s magic.”
To find our more about the TF35 visit www.tf35.org.
