Offshore success, world championship breakthroughs, and interclub camaraderie

The Gstaad Yacht Club (GYC) Racing Team launched into the season with impressive momentum, notching standout performances across the sailing spectrum – from offshore endurance tests and Olympic-class world championships to exclusive interclub regattas. The club’s blend of seasoned athletes and emerging talents continues to make waves internationally.

At the ILCA 6 Women’s and ILCA 7 Men’s World Championships in Qingdao, China, GYC’s Anja von Allmen achieved a personal milestone, finishing 11th out of 99 competitors –her best result yet at a World Championship, improving significantly from 28th place last year.

“It was a tricky event,” Anja noted. “Lots of waiting, racing only two out of six days, with half the races in light winds and the rest in heavy breeze. Qingdao really tested us.” Her adaptability and resolve in such varied conditions confirm her steady climb toward the front of the fleet.

In the men’s ILCA 7 class, Gauthier and Martin Verhulst also represented GYC with determination, finishing 33rd and 91st out of 138 sailors, respectively. Meanwhile, Lou Eisenhut, the youngest member of the GYC Racing Team, delivered a promising performance at the Swiss Easter Regatta selection, finishing fourth and securing her qualification for the 2025 ILCA 4 World Championship – an encouraging signal of the club’s next generation taking form.

While the younger sailors impressed ashore, GYC’s offshore contingent was equally busy at sea. Competing in the Myth of Malham Regatta, one of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s most respected offshore challenges, the club fielded an international team aboard the classic 64-foot yacht Crusade. Facing 15° C temperatures, 30-knot winds, and a punishing swell over the 235-nauticalmile course, the team held their own in demanding conditions. Under the leadership of GYC Sailing Officer Daniel Heine, Crusade achieved 3rd place in IRC Group 2, 1st in the Classic Division, and a noteworthy 10th in Line Honours. Their effort not only earned accolades but also secured qualification for the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, a legendary 700-nautical-mile contest marking its centenary this July.

Adding another jewel to the season’s crown, GYC took part in the Castle Trophy 2025, hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) in Cowes in partnership with GYC. The invitation-only event celebrated interclub tradition and competitive spirit, featuring six prestigious clubs including the Société Nautique de Genève, Yacht Club Italiano, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, and the Royal Thames Yacht Club. Crews raced in J70s under a mixed-gender format, reinforcing the inclusive ethos of the event.
GYC’s team – helmed by Virginie Lienhart with crew members Patrizia Matti, Sophie Lienhart, and Reinhard Suhner – sailed to a strong second-place finish, just behind the host club RYS. Alongside the racing, participants enjoyed a tour of the historic RYS clubhouse and a private visit to Osborne House, underlining the event’s mix of elite sailing and rich social heritage.

The collaboration builds on a longstanding friendship between RYS and GYC, forged through the latter’s annual Ski Yachting event in Switzerland. In a celebratory close, the clubs announced the return of the Castle Trophy Ski-Sailing Edition in 2026 – further blending alpine tradition with nautical prestige.

GYC