The seventh and last stage of the 2021 TF35 Trophy, the #2 Scarlino Grand Prix today marked the end of the very first season of this new class of foilers in Italy. Second behind Realteam, both this week and overall for the season, Ernesto Bertarelli's team ended this championship on two good notes: Alinghi won the first grand prix at the beginning of May, and won the season's last race. Spindrift made up the rest of the Grand Prix's podium and the TF35 Trophy. Ernesto Bertarelli: "It was another great weekend of competition. Spindrift has come a long way, but Realteam remains the team to beat. These boats are very demanding and it's positive to see the teams perform after such a short time on the TF35s. I look forward to welcoming an eighth crew next year. In a circuit of boats over 30 feet foiling upwind, racing with eight is already a substantial fleet and I think twelve would be the maximum. The boats will be improved by next year, which is why we have just decided not to race this winter in order to have time to work in the yard." Second behind the team to beat: Realteam! Jérôme Clerc and his team recorded an almost perfect score around the marks. Winner of four out of five Grand Prix this season, Realteam has set the bar high. Thanks to the team's work on shore and on the water, Alinghi fought to the end, but finished three points behind in the annual championship. Nils Frei: "The Realteam crew sailed very well all year. Solid, they had excellent starts and were very hard to pass. We have the potential to beat them and know what we must work on, but this year they were better! We had a lot of fun sailing here in Scarlino, although we are still in the development phase on the boat." A windy Grand Prix to close the season Six teams competed in Scarlino's second Grand Prix, with Zen Too unable to compete due to technical issues. The race committee was sensible and made reasoned decisions to preserve the boats. This Sunday, no race was launched because of wind that was too strong. Nicolas Charbonnier: "There is obviously some disappointment in finishing second, given we invested a lot of time and energy this season. We have been very consistent throughout the championship and will carefully analyse what we can improve upon to come back stronger next year, including manoeuvres, speed, starts, and tactics. It is the combination of a series of details that will make the difference." Positive results for the first season of TF35 After a short test event in 2020, the seven crews of the TF35 Trophy have raced as a fleet for real this season. And like any class launch, the progression curve is huge. Pierre-Yves Jorand: "It was a wonderful first season for the TF35! We had varied conditions on Lake Geneva and at sea, and the boats showed good performance. Even on the two long distance runs in light airs. Now it's time for the development of the flight software and sails, the reinforcement of certain parts and we are already delighted to see eight TF35s line up in the spring of 2022 with the arrival of an Italian team." Valuable learning for 2022 After five Grand Prix and two long distance races, the team members will take stock after the first 100% foiling season. Between the GC32 and TF35, it's been a year full of flying! It is now time for debriefing and to look to progress next year. Arnaud Psarofaghis: "We still have work to do to get a good handle on the boat, especially on-board operation and manoeuvring. By also improving the system and the software that control the foiling I think it will be possible to do a "dry lap" (doing the entire race while flying "dry" from start to finish, without even touching water in the manoeuvres. To this day, tacks are not foiling ones). This winter, we will continue to analyse our performance and that of our opponents. We will also try to simplify the processes as much as possible." Bryan Mettraux: "We have been very lucky with the weather conditions this season, from the training sessions in March before the first TF35 Trophy races, to these events at the Marina di Scarlino in Italy in open and salt water. It was very interesting to sail in the sea. These boats were designed primarily for light air on the lake, but future developments will make them more reliable even in medium wind and wave." David Niklès & João Cabeçadas: "This winter the class will make some changes to the foils, especially the flaps. In strong winds and waves, like here in Italy, they need to be reinforced. We will also work with the class on a number of other improvements. From Alinghi's perspective, while respecting the monotype rules of this class, we will also try to optimise our boat to be faster than our rivals!" A memory of this very first TF35 Trophy? Ernesto Bertarelli: "The successful launch of a class of boats that foil upwind and downwind and that can be steered by passionate sailing owners. Thrills are guaranteed and sailing is very likely to be challenging!" Florian Trüb: "The start of the Genève-Rolle-Genève, when we almost capsized a minute after crossing the line!" Nicolas Charbonnier: "When I was at the top of the mast to observe the wind during the Bol d'Or Mirabaud, and the boat started to foil. A first!" Arnaud Psarofaghis: "The progress that we will have made throughout this first season and the solutions found to accelerate this new class." Pierre-Yves Jorand + Nils Frei + Bryan Mettraux: "The arrival in the Bol d'Or Mirabaud at night, with the seven TF35s flying shoulder to shoulder around Yvoire in Geneva." While the TF35 returns to Switzerland for its winter break, there is still one event in the team's 2021 calendar: The last stage of the GC32 Racing Tour, in early November in San Pedro del Piñatar (Mar Menor, Spain). Summary of the rankings of the Grand Prix of Scarlino #2 after nine races (the worst score being withdrawn from four rounds validated): 1st - Realteam: 10 points 2nd - Alinghi: 18 points 3rd - Spindrift: 19 points ... Final general classification of the TF35 Trophy 2021 after seven events (NB: from four validated events, the worst score is removed / The results of the two long races add up to form only one event): 1st - Realteam: 6 points 2nd - Alinghi: 9 points 3rd - Spindrift: 16 points 4th - Ylliam XII: 21 points 5th - Zulu: 22 points 6th - SailFever: 22 points 7th - Zen Too: 31 points Click here for the full classification. Click here to watch the races in 2D thanks to the GPS tracker placed on board each boat. To find out more tf35.org To learn more about the race monitoring system, the team composition and the TF35 Trophy in general, a summary of the event is here. #GoAlinghiGo  //  #TF35Trophy Credit for photos © Loris von Siebenthal & Lloydimages

Reigning world champion, Alinghi finished second at the GC32 Worlds in Villasimius, Italy. Tied on points with Red Bull Sailing Team after 14 races, the rule says the one finishing before the other in the last race ends up in front overall. The team had an excellent last day but broke its starboard foil two-thirds of the way into the last race. The hazards of motor sports! The double Olympic champions Hagara / Steinacher won gold while a second Swiss team, Team Tilt (Sébastien Schneiter), completed the podium. Alinghi continues to lead the annual "GC32 Racing Tour" Championship. Arnaud Psarofaghis: "We had everything to play for until the last day, it was an exciting world championship! The world title didn't escape us only on the last round, though. We lacked consistency this week. We lost too many points in the first few days in situations that could have been avoided. Today we raced really well to make up the gap, then take the lead before the last race and I'm really happy with the performance on board. Congratulations to Roman, Hans Peter and all their team, it was a pleasure to race against them!" Varied and complicated conditions Eight teams competed in fourteen races in Sardinia in mixed conditions during the four days of competition. Very light breeze and rain played the spoilsport during the first two days, with respectively one and three races validated. On Saturday and Sunday, the 32-foot foilers were finally able to complete the full programme by lining up for ten races in magnificent conditions. Timothé Lapauw: "We had a very good last day. In strong air we have good speed and efficient manoeuvres. The wind was very variable the first two days, which made it difficult on board. The race patterns were not clear and the strategy difficult to establish." The comeback Helmed by Arnaud Psarofaghis, Alinghi were seven points behind the leaders entering into the last day of competition. With three wins and a second place, the reigning world champions made a magnificent comeback this Sunday, September 19, to finish tied on points with Red Bull. Nicolas Charbonnier: "We have sailed among a fleet of eight boats here compared to six in the other races this season. It's still a small fleet, but it's always interesting the more numerous it is. The classification was really tight, unlike the other GC32 races this season. We had fewer good days during these Worlds, but reacted very well and are very happy to end on such a good day. Despite the damage..." Unfortunate foil damage in the last race A mechanical sport like competitive sailing generates its share of complications, sometimes beyond the control of the team members. Alinghi paid the price in the last race of this championship. With the team heading for overall victory by sailing at the head of the fleet and having started race 14 with three points lead on Red Bull, the team's starboard foil (the right part allowing the raising of the boat above the water) broke into two pieces. Bryan Mettraux: "Every year, at the start of the season, we do NDT (non-destructive testing), an ultrasound of all the carbon parts - the hulls, foils, beams and mast. This scanner allows us to check the state of wear of the boat, to identify and repair any initial cracks. We did not observe anything during the last scan and no signs of wear have been visible to the naked eye since, unlike a rope or block, which show weaknesses visually." A first victory for Red Bull The third of the four stages of the 2021 season, the Villasimius Cup, which also served as the World Championship, is won by Red Bull. The Austrians even sign for their very first victory since arriving on the circuit! The owner-helmsman classification (Owner Driver Trophy) goes to Erik Maris (Zoulou). Yves Detrey: "Red Bull sailed well all week, while our first races were more complicated. We are obviously disappointed to have suffered this foil breakage in the last race and not to have been able to fight to the end. In the history of the GC32 fleet, this is the first time that a foil has broken like this." Still leading the GC32 Racing Tour 2021 After three stages of the annual championship, Alinghi maintains the lead in the general classification, three points ahead of Red Bull. The team will stay in Italy and return to Scarlino for the last TF35 event of the season, September 23-26. As for the GC32 Racing Tour, the fourth and final stage of the season will be held in early November in San Pedro del Piñatar (Mar Menor), Spain. General classification after 14 races - GC32 World Championship and Villasimius Cup (3rd round of the annual championship) 1st - Red Bull Sailing Team: 43 points 2nd - Alinghi: 43 points 3rd - Team Tilt: 50 points 4th - Black Star Sailing Team: 51 points 5th - Team Rockwool racing: 58 points 6th - Zoulou: 60 points 7th - Argo: 90 points 8th - Swiss Foiling Academy: 109 points Extract from the provisional general classification of the GC32 Racing Tour after three races 1st - Alinghi: 4 points 2nd - Red Bull Sailing Team: 7 points 3rd - Black Star Sailing Team: 9 points Click here for the full results. Options to review the racing modeled in 2D thanks to the gps tracker placed on each boat from the first to the fourth days of competition: Tractrac website, or via these free apps (click here for an Iphone, or here for an Android). To find out more gc32racingtour.com To learn more about the race monitoring system, the team composition and the GC32 Racing Tour in general, a summary of the event is here. #GoAlinghiGo  //  GC32racingtour Credit for photos © Sailing Energy / GC32 Racing Tour 2021

The seven TF35s embraced salt water all together for the first time in their careers this week. The fleet migrated to the Italian town of Scarlino, in Tuscany, for the last two Grand Prix of the 2021 TF35 Trophy. A four-day regatta in lovely conditions made possible twelve races, at the end of which Alinghi finished second, just one point behind winner Realteam. Spindrift completed the podium. Ernesto Bertarelli: "We had a lot of fun sailing here at Scarlino, with exemplary hospitality and organisation. The conditions were perfect, the TF35 reacted well at sea and we are going to work on some improvements to be made. Congratulations to Realteam, who sailed very well and fully deserves the victory. It was a pleasure to race against them!" Finally at sea! After five stages on Lake Geneva, the TF35 Trophy crews were able to test their foilers in competition mode in salt water. There were little differences to be found with sailing on the lake, thanks in particular to ideal wind and sea conditions all week. Yves Detrey: "We didn't change our methods in relation to how we sailed on Lake Geneva - salt water does not influence foiling, or if it does only in an infinitesimal way. The main difference was that it was a bit windier than our first regattas on the lake. And the small waves reminded us that we were at sea! The damage to our two rudders yesterday cost us a few points, with the flaps having torn off (rear part of the rudder foil, which is angled). But that doesn't detract from Realteam's performance, of course!" A tight ranking to the end at the top of the table Only one point behind Realteam at the end of each day, Alinghi fought until the last. Jérôme Clerc and his team gave the team a hard time! After the first three races of Day 2, which were won by Spindrift, the three boats were tied even. Arnaud Psarofaghis: "We only had one day of training with the full crew before this Grand Prix and hadn't sailed the TF35 since the Bol d'Or Mirabaud, so we're happy with our result. We made some small mistakes, especially in some strategic and tactical choices. Realteam sailed better in all conditions and made fewer mistakes than us. To date, two groups of competitors have been identified within the fleet. The difference is probably due to the number of days training. The leading teams also experienced less crew changes and we may have understood better how this new foiler works." Ideal conditions Installed for two weeks in Scarlino, where the last stage of the season will also be held in two weeks, the TF35 Trophy teams have benefited from dream-like conditions. Nicolas Charbonnier: "The wind was more stable than on the Lake, which created less difference between the boats. It was very tight and interesting! The duel with Realteam was intense. Finishing just one point away from them each evening and after four days illustrates this perfectly." Everything to play for in the final Now two points ahead of Alinghi, Realteam maintains its lead in the overall championship standings. The goal in the final in two weeks will be to finish ahead of them. Mathematically, it will also be necessary for a boat to come between the two rivals for a victory in the championship to be possible. There are lots of unknowns, but one thing is certain: the whole team is looking forward to returning to Scarlino for the final! Before that, the direction now is Villasimius for the GC32 World Championship and the defence of the title won in 2019. The team has already taken off for Sardinia. The scheduled four-day regatta will start on Thursday September 16th. Extract from the ranking of the Scarlino Grand Prix # 1 after 12 races (the worst score being withdrawn from four validated rounds): 1st - Realteam: 19 points 2nd - Alinghi: 20 points 3rd - Spindrift: 28 points ... Click here for the full results. Extract from the provisional general classification of the TF35 Trophy after six events (NB: from four validated events, the worst score is withdrawn / The results of the two long races are added together to form only one event): 1st - Realteam: 5 points 2nd - Alinghi: 7 points 3rd - Spindrift: 13 points 4th - Ylliam XII: 16 points 5th - SailFever: 17 points ... Click here for the full classification. Click here to watch the races in 2D thanks to the GPS tracker placed on board each boat. To find out more tf35.org To learn more about the race monitoring system, the team composition and the TF35 Trophy in general, a summary of the event is here. #GoAlinghiGo  //  #TF35Trophy Credit for photos © Loris von Siebenthal

A recap // What: One-design circuit created in 2014 and which will include four events in 2021, contested in Europe. Alinghi competed for the first time in 2015 in their foiling debut, then again in 2019 when the team won the championship. More info is here. Who: Five to 10 international teams bringing together professional sailors and owner drivers. Five team members usually form a crew. Where and when: From July to November 2021, in Portugal, Italy and Spain (click here for the racing calendar). How: The teams compete aboard a 32-foot foiling catamaran called a GC32, in successive 20-minute races launched around buoys. When weather conditions allow, the events take place near the coast. Race tracking options Follow the team via different means during the various stages, each of which is comprised of four days of competition (up to six races each afternoon – but please take note of the fact that the time zones will change according to each event's location). On Twitter @alinghi > Publication of results and assorted pictures and video On Facebook @alinghi and Instagram @alinghi > Interviews, video & photos Online > gc32racingtour.com: Races modeled in 2D (live and in replay) from the first to the fourth days of competition > alinghi.com: News and photos   Équipage du GC32 (SUI 8) Helmsman and skipper: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) Co-hemlsman, co-skipper: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Tactician and mainsail trimmer: Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Frontsail trimmer: Bryan Mettraux (SUI) Foil trimmer: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Substitutes: Nils Frei (SUI) and Florian Trüb (SUI) Technical Team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Niklès (SUI) Team Director Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more gc32racingtour.com Hashtags for the events #GoAlinghiGo  //  #gc32racingtour  //  #gc32 Credits for photos © Sailing Energy/GC32 Racing Tour

As tradition dictates, some 450 boats and several thousand sailors launched an assault around Lake Geneva, departing to the sound of the cannon firing at 10am on Saturday. For multihulls, the 82nd edition of the world's largest closed-basin regatta can be classified in the series of classic early summer Bol d'Ors, with light wind, thermal breezes and a lot of twists and turns! Nils Frei: "After a good start, we were vying for the lead at the head of the pack, before being overtaken by two D35s and an M2. Being in front is good. But in light and shifty wind conditions, it shows, when you come to a halt, those chasing you the areas with no wind. They then come back into contact, by being able to bypass this 'lull' that you have found yourselves in. "And then at one point comes the finish line, which yesterday was after 12:50 in the race for the TF35s. This is the last transition that you must not fail to nail. Some wind came in, we took off this time shortly after some boats and we finished 4th, 34 seconds behind Ylliam - Comptoir Immobilier, whom we congratulate, just like Zen Too and SailFever, who completed the podium." Miles ahead that melt like snow in the sun We counted six 'new starts', where M2s, D35s and TF35s were almost on a tied line of departure. Each time, the boats, once split, returned to contact, or even took the lead. At 2pm, Alinghi was up to 11km ahead of Realteam. A few hours later, the two boats were back level! Nils Frei: "As soon as the wind picked up a little, the TFs get on their foils, the gaps fill up or widen quickly, leaving little chance for the M2 and D35, kings of the light air. "The good news from this Bol is for the TF35 class, for whom this was a baptism of fire on the Bol d'Or. As we feared in this type of conditions, the M2 and D35 largely were the protagonists at the head of the race. At 13 hours for the leaders and with about 140km travelled, the average speed was around 6-7 knots. It's slow for the multis when the record for the event is 5:01:51. Despite this, the seven TF35s seized the first seven places. It is a success for this new class with complex but well-crafted specifications. "At our level, we will continue to develop techniques in light conditions and we will be delighted to run the Bol in a stronger wind!" Accept the random nature? Nils Frei: "The sport is really different from a grand prix type regatta and when you start a long race like the Bol, you have to accept this element of randomness, which becomes more of a factor. It is not easy to take in and there is no magic bullet in light air. You have to be in the right place at the right time and, above all, be on the right boat. We have the feeling of having sailed well. If we had to repeat the race, we wouldn't change much. We had a great speed and we started again well after each 'new start', but at the end, as fast as it was unpredictable, we missed a chance." When the wind finally picked up, six TF35s were sprinting at 25 knots in the pitch black on approach to Geneva, escorted by dozens of motorboats with all lights blazing. The first four TF35s arrived in the space of 34 seconds, the next two crossing the finish line at the Société Nautique de Genève a minute later. In the provisional general classification of the TF35 Trophy, Realteam takes the lead, one point ahead of Alinghi. Spindrift is 3rd before the summer break and the two final rounds, which will be held in Scarlino. Note that the rules of the classification of the season allow for the withdrawal of the worst score: Realteam played its 'joker' by finishing 7th in the event that combined the two long races (Geneva-Rolle-Geneva and Bol d'Or). There is no doubt that the battle will be intense to win the very first TF35 Trophy awarded in Italy in September. Until then, the team will continue to its second annual regatta circuit and will soon be flying to Lagos, southern Portugal, before the first stage of the GC32 Racing Tour from July 1st to the 4th. Extracts from the rankings of the 82nd Bol d'Or Mirabaud: 1st - TF35 Ylliam XII – Comptoir Immobilier: 12h49'27 2nd - TF35 Zen Too: 12h49'46 3rd - TF35 SailFever: 12h49'52 4th - TF35 Alinghi: 12h50'01 5th - TF35 Realteam: 12h51'15 ... 8th and the 1st D35 - Emil One: 13h04'07 9th and the 1st M2 - Degroof Petercam: 13h06'34 .... 17th and 1st monohull (Bol de Vermeil) - Raffica: 14h06'23 Click here for the ranking including all boats. Extracts from the provisional general classification of the TF35 Trophy after five events (NB: from four validated events, the worst score is removed / The results of the two long races add up to form only one event): 1st - Realteam: 4 points 2nd - Alinghi: 5 points 3rd - Spindrift: 10 points 4th - Ylliam XII: 11 points 5th - Zoulou: 11 points Click here for the full classification. To find out more tf35.org  //  boldormirabaud.ch To learn more about the race monitoring system, the team composition and the TF35 Trophy in general, a summary of the event is here. #GoAlinghiGo  //  #TF35Trophy  //  #BOM21 Credit for photos © Loris von Siebenthal, Gilles Martin-Raget and jeanmiphotographies