When learning turns into sporting adventures!
The 2025 season at the Crans Nautical Club’s Adult Sailing School is already well underway, and what a journey it has been since spring! While the first evening classes allowed participants to familiarise themselves with sailing, the summer opened a whole new chapter: that of regattas. And what a chapter it has been!
From evening classes to competition
It all began in May and June, during the evening classes. Each week, our adult students refined their manoeuvres, learned to read the wind better, and gained confidence at the helm. But very quickly, a common desire emerged: to put these skills into practice in a different, more intense and more collective setting. What better way to do that than in a regatta?
And so our Surprise, a sailing boat designed for competition, became our group’s testing ground. For some, it was a completely new experience: their first taste of a flying start, their first millimetre-precise adjustments to gain speed, their first neck-and-neck duels with other crews. For others, already a little more experienced, the experience was an opportunity to go further and experience sailing with an extra dose of adrenaline.
Results that bring a smile to your face
Very quickly, the collective effort bore fruit. At the beginning of July, the crew – made up of juniors and adults – struck hard by winning the Semaine du Soir de Versoix. A victory in TCF3 – second in Surprise – boosted confidence and got the summer off to a great start.
To complete this symbiosis, the Sailing School’s Surprise joined the Mardi del Mundo regattas this summer, local events held in Nyon at the end of the day. And once again, the group managed to break into the established order.
But the story doesn’t end there. In August, during the Régate des Châteaux, the “Performance” group confirmed its level by taking a well-deserved second place. The following week, they gave another demonstration during the Semaine du Soir de Founex: another second place, still behind Malice, a yacht well known for having won the legendary Bol d’Or twice. Needless to say, holding their own against such an opponent is a source of pride and motivation for the whole group.
These results are proof that our approach works: progressing together, step by step, in a friendly atmosphere, while daring to measure ourselves against the best.
Above all, a collective adventure
Beyond the podiums, it is above all the team spirit that stands out from this first half of the season. Each regatta was an opportunity to welcome new crew members, young and old, who came to lend a hand. Some discovered the electric atmosphere of the starts, others found their place in the manoeuvres or sail adjustments.
What they all have in common is that they shared some memorable moments: laughter between manoeuvres, knowing glances after a successful manoeuvre, and sometimes intense silences when the wind dropped and every breath counted. Sailing is a technical, demanding sport, but also a deeply human one. And it is this aspect that we like to cultivate at the Adult Sailing School.
And now, heading into autumn
While the mid-season has already been rich in memories, the rest of the year promises more wonderful sailing. Autumn on Lake Geneva is a magical time: the summer crowds disappear, the winds become more consistent, and the light on the shores takes on incomparable golden hues.
It is an invitation to continue the adventure, to deepen your knowledge, and to continue to progress in a relaxed atmosphere. The autumn courses and outings will be the ideal opportunity to perfect your manoeuvres, learn how to adjust the sails better, and above all, enjoy the pleasure of sailing in often ideal conditions.
As the season slowly moves into its second half, one thing is certain: the Adult Sailing School has found its rhythm, between training, competition and conviviality. And while the sporting results are already a great reward, the best part is undoubtedly the collective energy that drives each outing.
