TF35 Trophy Nyon Grand Prix at at Société Nautique de Nyon - Day 2

TF35 Trophy Nyon Grand Prix Day 2 © Sailing Energy / TF35

Two Races, Two Winners, in Two Different Winds

Day two of the TF35 Nyon Grand Prix began with a warning from the race committee that there would be "a bit of nothing from everywhere" across Lake Geneva — and that proved close to the truth. Two races were completed in two very different corners of the lake.

TF35 Trophy Nyon Grand Prix Day 2 - photo © Sailing Energy / TF35

The opening race was sailed off Nyon in 8 knots from the southwest, similar to day one but with slightly more pressure. At the start, Julien Firmenich's Ylliam 17 ducked the fleet on port and headed hard right up the opening beat, with Sails of Change 8 and Sails of Change 10 in pursuit.

At the top of the beat Ylliam 17 crossed ahead of the boats arriving from the left side of the course, but Duncan Späth and Julien D'Ortoli on Sails of Change 10, held port a little longer, found a lift into the gate and emerged in front at the first mark.

TF35 Trophy Nyon Grand Prix Day 2 - photo © Sailing Energy / TF35

The leading pair split downwind with no change in position. By the second beat the breeze had eased to around 6 knots and the margins remained tight until the second windward gate, where Zen Too, approaching on starboard and inside the mark, was forced to avoid Sails of Change 10 on port. The incident resulted in a penalty double gybe for Sails of Change 10 and opened the door for and oppetunistic Loïc Forestier at the helm of Zen Too to move into second, while Ylliam 17 stretched away to take a convincing win.

“It was a tight race but we are happy with how it went,” said Firmenich afterwards. “Yesterday was very difficult for us in the lighter breeze. We couldn’t really make the most of those conditions - we like to foil, you know. The racing always feels better when it’s like that.”

With the southwesterly fading in Nyon, an attempted second start was quickly abandoned as the wind disappeared altogether.

After a delay afloat, the race committee relocated to the Grand Lac, where enough southwesterly breeze had filled in to stage Race 4 in 8–10 knots. X-Wing were over early at the start and, in a repeat of the opening race, Ylliam 17 again ducked the fleet on port, this time followed by Sails of Change 10 and Zen Too.

TF35 Trophy Nyon Grand Prix Day 2 - photo © Sailing Energy / TF35

At the first gate the boats furthest right, closer to the shoreline, gained the advantage. Zen Too rounded in front with Sails of Change 10 pressing hard and Ylliam 17 comfortably third. The order remained unchanged downwind, but on the second beat, with the breeze once again beginning to fade, Sails of Change 10 played the shifts more effectively and edged past Zen Too in the closing stages to secure the win after the race was shortened at the windward gate.

Sails of Change helm Duncan Späth explained: “This particular race was very interesting: the location of the race course closer to Yvoire with the wind coming from the east, which promoted a few more lifts towards the coast which our tactician Julien (D'Ortoli) managed to make the most off. We battled it out with Zen most of the way but stuck to the right, which was difficult but proved to be the right option, it was really shifty so we are really happy to win.”

TF35 Trophy Nyon Grand Prix Day 2 - photo © Sailing Energy / TF35

Still hopeful of another race, the committee remained on station waiting for the northwesterly Joran wind descending from the Jura hills. For a brief period the breeze built to 13 knots, enough to begin Race 5, but the wind quickly collapsed again and racing was abandoned for the day.

Going into the final day Sails of Change 10 is ahead but tied on points with Zen Too, helm Loïc Forestier mused: “Given the conditions we’re facing this weekend, we need to keep things as simple as we did today and try to be as clear-headed as possible. We have to put maximum focus and energy into our decisions, and if we can do that, things should go reasonably well.”

The forecast for Sunday’s finale again points to light conditions, although organisers remain hopeful that enough afternoon breeze will arrive to complete the regatta.

Results after Day 2: