The Syz Translémanique en Solitaire will bring together a record number of participants to celebrate its 50th edition. The 150 best sailors on Lake Geneva will compete on a demanding course between Geneva and the Vieux-Rhône.
Organized by the Société Nautique de Genève, the Syz Translémanique en Solitaire celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. On this occasion, the race will exceptionally open up to a record 150 participants, promising a memorable spectacle. Single-handed sailors will set off at 9:30 am on Saturday for the most demanding regatta on Lake Geneva, sailing to the other end of the lake and back, over a theoretical course of 125 kilometers.
Offshore sailor Justine Mettraux, a member of the Société Nautique de Genève, is delighted with this return to her roots: ” This race represents a milestone in my solo career and I can’t wait to come back and compete in it again, especially now that it’s being held for the 50th time. “she declared.
” We’re seeing tremendous enthusiasm for this 50th edition, and I’m also delighted to see that the volunteers are still there,” says Manuel Schmidt, the new president of the Organizing Committee. ” Translem’ has found its cruising speed over the years. From its very first editions, the event has attracted around a hundred competitors. It then evolved as boat technology improved. The course became longer and more demanding in 2017. At the same time, new, faster boats have arrived, while safety has improved with the development of GPS beacons. .
The queen of the Syz Translémanique en Solitaire will once again be the Surprise category, with no fewer than 47 boats entered (compared with 46 last year). The Surprises have already won 15 times on corrected time, including the last three years. There are many favorites in this highly competitive class, but we’ll be keeping a close eye on the performances of Cédric Pochelon (Kahlua), winner last year and in 2016, as well as Thierry Campiche (Adrénaline Les 2 Rives) and Marius Lanz (Malice).
Eleven Grand-Surprises will also be present, along with eight Toucans.
Among the real-time favorites are six Psaros33 monohulls and one Psaros 40, François Thorens’ Cellmen ARDENTIS, a three-time winner of the race (2017, 2020 and 2022).
Alexander de Weck, 18, will be at the helm of the formidable Luthi 1090 Katana. Runner-up last year, he has clearly announced his intention to go one better!
A number of “veterans” will also be taking part, including the indefatigable Pierre Mercier, a true legend of Lake Geneva sailing, aged 84.
Finally, the number of female participants is up slightly on last year, with twelve women (compared with eleven in 2022 and six in 2021).