The two skippers won the most demanding regatta on Lake Geneva, in corrected time and real time respectively, at the end of a very intense race.
The 52nd edition of the Translémanique en Solitaire was held this weekend from the Société Nautique de Genève, in pleasant weather conditions, with a predominance of southwesterly winds and southerly thermals (Molaine). Relatively consistent, with the exception of a few calm zones on the Upper Lake, this wind enabled the smaller class yachts to dominate the compensated time rankings.
Guillaume Girod, the brilliant winner of the real time classification (Challenge Dragon), was only 71st in the compensated time classification, won by Alain Stettler (member of the Thunersee Yacht Club), 22nd on the finishing line, who arrived 2 hours 47 minutes later and was awarded the Challenge Tuiga.
“Oh my God!” he exclaimed when told of his victory. “I can’t believe it, it’s incredible! I never thought I’d win here on Lake Geneva. It’s fantastic!”
Sailing aboard a Melges 24, Stettler was competing in his first Translémanique. “I’ve taken part in two Bols d’Or, so I know a thing or two about Lake Geneva. But I have to admit that I wasn’t sure of my tactical choices, especially at night. I kept a close eye on what the others were doing on the cartography…”
Stettler is a regular at the Swiss Sailing League. Aged 53, he says he has sailed a lot in his life, “but less now”. With the exception of the international stars who have won the Translémanique en Solitaire (Alain Gautier in 2013, 14 and 16, and Charlie Dalin in 2021), he is the first non-Lémanique skipper to win.
Valentin Berner on Grand Surprise Zygomatik and Jean-Philippe Ryter on Toucan Altagang completed the podium in the compensated time rankings.
The real-time ranking, which crowns the fastest and most spectacular monohulls on Lake Geneva, was dominated by Guillaume Girod (Raijin). Already in the lead at the halfway mark, he beat Luc Munier (Carpediem Cube) by 2:53 and Alexander De Weck by 3:17.
“The race was very intense from start to finish,” said Girod. “With the Psaros 33 group, we exchanged positions throughout the regatta; it was a very intense race. To win this edition, we really had to stay focused right up to the finish line. This is the first time I’ve won the Translémanique en Solitaire and I’m very happy with this victory.”
His direct pursuer, Luc Munier, has more than twenty Translem participations to his name, including a victory in 2006. “It’s getting tougher and tougher,” he said at the end of his race, his features drawn. “The level is excellent, and the rivals aren’t letting up… Off Corsier, we were hit by some fairly strong Molaine gusts, at around fifteen knots; far too much for the sails we were wearing at the time. I managed this passage well and took advantage of it to make up my deficit and finish second. I’m very happy with this result.
Third at the finish line, 20-year-old Alexander de Weck was racing his fourth Translem, including three aboard Katana. “It was without doubt the most difficult Translem I’ve ever done: we had to make a lot of sail changes,” he explained at the end of his race. “I’m a little disappointed with third place, and I’ll be back next year to win.”
Among the race highlights was Thomas Lepere’s victory in the Surprise category, the largest of the 37 boats. Lepere beat Blaise Urben and Arnaud Machado.
Finally, Charlotte Frei, from Pully, won the Ella Maillart Challenge awarded to the first woman in compensated time.
Manuel Schmidt, President of the Organizing Committee, is delighted with the excellent organization of the regatta and the exemplary work of all the volunteers. “What pleases me most,” he adds, “is the race’s longevity, with once again 130 loyal participants. From a racing point of view, I also found the race exciting from start to finish; it took place in conditions that enabled the fleet to remain relatively grouped right to the end, resulting in a very intense regatta and a fine spectacle.”