Sailing Switzerland

Today is day one of the second Act of the new EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup, a grouping of the traditional European regattas not counting for the ISAF Worldcup. In addition to the Olympic classes, the Paralympic 2.4 m and Sonars will be racing. The best attention have the Lasers, where the World nbr 1 Tom Burton AUS encounters again Tonci Stipanovic CRO, Robert Scheidt BRA, Andy Maloney NZL and Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA, to name but a few. All entry lists.
Only two Swiss teams are on the lists of participants: Yannick Brauchli/Romuald Hausser SUI are even among the co-favorites in the 470 men behind the safe values Belcher/Ryan AUS, Fantela/Marencic CRO and Leboucher/Garos FRA. Matias Bühler/Nathalie Brugger SUI in the Nacra 17 will endeavour to top their remarkable result of the Hyères Worldcup. The event-website. Good wind conditions have been forecast as from this afternoon with a breeze of up to 15 kn.

Cool temperatures and a 10-14 kn breeze prevailed yesterday for the first races of the Finn World Masters off La Rochelle FRA. The 285 boats were split in two fleets for the first two qualification races. Both, Eric Lidecis USA, for the first time at the Masters, and the past Masters Champion André Budzien GER, won the two races of their fleets. The OK-Dinghy-World Champion Karl Purdie NZL follows on rank 3. The defending Champion Michael maier CZE is 4th. A good first day also for some of the over 20 Swiss Finns: Thomas Gautschi SUI, finishing 7/17 is on rank 14, Beat Heinz SUI follows as 18th (4/24) and Piet Eckert SUI is on the 22nd place (20/10). Jan Eckert SUI had a good first race as well (rank 5), but a premature start in the second race eliminated him from the top ranks. The report and the results.

Very variable conditions prevailed over the past weekend at the traditional Pentecoste Regatta in the Bay of Rapperswil SUI with stormy gusts, lulls, sun and rain. Winner in the Dynamics was Dominique Turnherr and his team, Martin Zobl was first in the Lacustres and Patrick Stöckli was once more on top of the Onyx'. The report of the Onyx-Class (germ.) (PDF).

A thick fog and no wind again on the last day of the Young European Sailing and no racing was possible. Most of the classes have only one race completed, and the 420 - the only class with Swiss boats - even remained without a valid result. Among the winners of the many classes are Chiara Steinmüller GER (Laser Radial), Jasper Steffens/Tom Lennart Brauckmann GER (29er), Szymanski/Baldewein GER (470) or Marcus Kerketerp DEN (Laser 4.7). The final report and all ranking lists.

With three races on Saturday and four heats on Sunday, the Memorial Faini off Morges was quite a success. In the 5.5 m, Bernard Haissly SNG is first thanks to the win of the last of the seven races, ahead of the tied Jürg Menzi TYC. The best 15 m SNS team are Mark Buchecker/Matthias Bermejo YCL, winning 4 of 6 races sailed. The event-website.

The breeze was much too strong on Lake Neuchâtel yesterday and no more racing was possible at the GP Estavayer. Overall winner in the M2-cats is therefore 'Team Tilt' with Lucien Cujean SUI ahead of 'Spam' with Charles Favre SUI and 'TeamWork' with Antoine Thorens SUI. The report.

Bad luck with the weather for the over 600 sailors at the 2013 'Young European Sailing' Regatta in Kiel, as after a rainy night, the wind was very light on day 2, and only one race by class or less was possible. The 420 have no valid results after two days. See the comments by Kilian Wagen/Grégoire Siegwart SUI. The 29er rankings have no value as only half of the fleet completed two races. As for the Lasers, the leaders are Philipp Kasüske GER in the Standards, Chiara Steinmüller in the Radials and Markus Kirketerp DEN in the 4.7. All results and the report of the day.

A beautiful and challenging North-Easterly of 5-6 bft prevailed on day one of the GP d'Estavayer event of the 2013 M2 Speed Tour on Lake Neuchâtel. Four races were sailed and three of them stressed the teams to their limits. Crews over board, capsizes without major damages happened in the last race of the day where only two teams finished without incidents. Technical skills prevailed over tactics in these conditions and it was Lucien Cujean SUI with his 'Team Tilt' – the Swiss team qualified for the Youth America's Cup – who finished on top after this fulminant start of the GP followed by '75e Bol d'Or' and 'Team Work'. The news, the M2 Speed Tour website and the video of the 100 milles de la Pentecôte of Saturday.

The Tornado Europeans on Lake Constance ended yesterday with two races sailed in the freshest breeze so far. Jordanis Paschalidis/Konstantinos Trigonis GRE booked two bullets, but not enough to replace Roland and Nahid Gaebler GER on top of the rankings to defend the title. Nikolas Mavros/Alexandros Tagaropoulos GRE finished third. Martin and Julia Rusterholz SUI remained on rank 5, Marcel and Jörg Steiner SUI as well as Jean-Marc Cuanillon/Gregor Schmucki followed closely behind on the ranks 6 and 7. The final rankings and the short report.

Good conditions prevailed on Lake Geneva for the Laser Points' Championship Regatta of Pully where 3 to 5 races were sailed. Asya Luvisetto SNG is on top in the Laser 4.7 (26 participants) ahead of Jacques Leveque SNG and Oliver Strässler YCB. The local Fiona Testuz CP was the winner in the Lasers Radial (31 participants) in front of Luca Hänni YCB and Stephan Naé CVVT. Rapahel Moser SCE was first in the Lasers Standard tied with Markus Ochs CVVT and Cyrill Knecht ZSC. The final rankings.

The roughly 40 teams at the Opening Regatta of the 2013 'Championnat du Petit Lac', the annual circuit on the lower part of Lake Geneva, organised by the Club Nautique de Crans, enjoyed an accommodating afternoon surrounded by two rain showers. The line honors went to 'Syz & Co' (TR1) of Philippe Gay, ahead of 'Oyster' of Marc Houlmann. Winner in the Surprise was Nicolas Kauffman on 'Choco-Boom' ahead of Michael Kwiatek and Thierry Lanz. In the Alexandre Vandini was just a length in front of Jean-Marie Mechelany and Daniel Hubert. All results and the club website.

Very light and unconstant winds prevailed during the traditional Pentecost Saturday Long-Distance Regatta Zürich - Rapperswil on the upper end of Lake Zurich. Holding back at the start, Flavio Marazzi SUI opened the throttle of his brand-new, ultra-fast GC32-cat, rushed thru the fleet and crossed the finish line after 3 hours 22 minutes 11 minutes ahead of the second-ranked Chaps 30 of Bruno Schmid. Madeleine Maurer on an Onyx 3 was 3rd. The results in real time and the class rankings.

No wind and a thick fog delayed the starts and upcoming thunderstorms lateron limited racing on the first day of the Young European Sailing Regatta in the Bay of Kiel. Racing was only possible on the courses close to the shore. Winners of the only race in the 29ers were Jasper Steffens/Tom-Lennart Brauckmann GER ahead of Christian Wolte/... GER and Ole Kuck/Niklas Kath GER. Sailing were also the Europes with Sverre Reineke GER as winner of the only heat. On top of the Lasers 4.7 is Philipp Steenbuck GER in front of Hannah Andersohn GER. No Swiss racing so far in the 420s where the the ISAF Youth Worlds selection is at stake for them. All entry lists and the report of the day.

Lucy McGregor GBR, Stephanie Roble USA, Klaartje Zuiderbaan NED and Julie Bossard FRA are the semi finalists in the French Match Race Championship today. Alexa Bezel SUI on rank 9 was eliminated early after the Round Robin. The Bericht und die reports.

Four races were completed on the second day of the Tornado Europeans on Lake Constance. After two more bullets, the advantage of Roland and Nahid Gäbler GER as first in the overall rankings is now 5 points on Iordanis Paschalidis/Konstantinos Trigonis GRE. Mavros/Taragopulos GRE are 3rd, Martin and Julia Rusterholz SUI 5th of the 31 teams. The results.

A record-size 309 Finn fleet from 30 nations and 4 continents begins its Masters Championship (40+) today. The favorite is again the defending champion and 4-times Olympian Michael Maier CZE. 21 Finn sailors from Switzerland (!) are on the entry list, among them the newcomers Jan and Piet Eckert SUI, Olympic diplomands 1992 in the FD. The entry list and the preview (in French).

Yesterday, the traditional 100 Miles Pentecost Regatta was on the program. The M2 cats, by far the fastest of the fleet, finished the shortened race in a little bit over two hours. Charles Favre SUI on 'SPAM' won just two seconds ahead of Alex Schneiter SUI ('Tilt'). 13 teams participated. Today, the Grand Prix d'Estavayer is on the program. The report. The complete 100 Miles' rankings with all classes has not yet been posted on the events website early this morning.

Round Robin 2 of the French Women's Match Race Championship is almost terminated at the French Northern Bretagne Coast. Lucy McGregor GBR keeps rank 1 with a 12-2 wins' score followed by Julie Brossard FRA and Stephanie Roble USA with 11-4. For Alexa Bezel SUI, the situation to qualify for the quarter finals, the last 8, will become very tight, as - on rank 9 with a 4-11 score - she will meet the experienced Lucy McGregor and Anna Kjellberg SWE today. The results and the daily report.

Two races were sailed yesterday at the Tornado European Championship 2013 on Lake Constance in well-established Westerly breeze. Roland and Nahid Gäbler GER were the winners in both heats, ahead of the defending champions Paschalidis/Trigonis GRE. Martin and Julia Rusterholz SUI had a good first day and are at present 4th among the 31 teams. The short report and the results.

The extended Whitsun weekend is - as every year - the time for an intense 3 or 4-days' regatta activity, not only in Switzerland, but all over Europe, where a number of Swiss sailors participate in international events such as the Youth European Sailing Regatta ('YES') in Kiel (as from today) or the Finn-Masters in La Rochelle (beginning tomorrow). Our 365 days' events coverage will bring you the latest news on Whitsun Sunday and Monday as usual.

Round Robin one has almost been completed at the French Women's Match Racing Championship on day one of the event. As expected, Lucy McGregor GBR is the clear leader with a 7-0 score ahead of Klaartje Zuiderbaan NED, 6-1, and Stephanie Roble USA, 6-2. Alexa Bezel SUI is on position 5 with a 3-4 record. The results and the event-website.

69 A-Cats started to the French A-Cat Champions in the Bay of Hyères over the past weekend. Five races were completed, partially in a strong Mistral breeze. Overall winner was Bob Baier GER ahead of Chris Field GBR and Eugenio Calabria ITA. But the most spectacular appearance was Mischa Heemskerk NED, who finally got his A-Cat equipped with foils thru the measurement control. Inspite of the modifications asked for by the measurers, he succeeded to make his A-Cat fly. He won the last two races and finished 6th overall. Best of the five ranked Swiss was Sandro Caviezel SUI on rank 21 overall with the race ranks 3/3/6/dnf/dnf. Charles Favre SUI followed just behind on the 22nd place. The results and the report.

Last weekend, the newly developped OneDesign-catamaran GC32 had her maiden regatta on Lake Traun. Among the pioneers opting for this new boat is the former Starboat helmsman Flavio Marazzi TYC, who - lacking an international class calender for the 32-foot multihull at the moment - will participate in the major long-distance races on the Swiss lakes. Already next Saturday, he will start at the Zürich-Rapperswil race, but also other classics such as Geneva-Rolle-Geneva, the Round Lake Constance or the Bol d'Or on Lake Geneva are on the program. Kiel Week, Cowes Week and the Centomiglia on Lake Garda are also among the venues to attend. The team of Flavio Marazzi consists among others of Matias Bühler SUI, the matchracer Keith Swinton AUS, Diego Stefani URU and Marco Lamas ARG. Yesterday, the Marazzi cat was baptised on the occasion of a press conference in Zürich by the former Miss Switzerland Jennifer Ann Gerber. The report (german) (PDF).

No change on top of the Match Race World Rankings: Ian Williams GBR and Claire Leroy FRA stay on rank 1. While the Open Ranking remain quite stable - Eric Monnin SUI keeps rank 13 -, there are major changes in the women's rankings, as the retired 2012 Olympic Games campaigners disappear more and more in the classification. The long-time nbr 1 Anna Tunnicliffe is now on 3rd. Taking benefit from this situation is Alexa Bezel SUI on rank 12, her best ranking ever. The ISAF report.

As everywhere in Switzerland, there was a West wind with rain situation in Lucerne for the 15 m2 SNS regatta of the past weekend. 10 teams participated and Hans and Pia Lüdi CVVC were the winners after five races ahead of Hans Heer YCL and Aloiy Fuchs YCSe with their teams. The final rankings.

The windless Saturday on Lake Sempach was followed by a not very spring-like Sunday with a gusty West wind, allowing to sail three races by class. Winner in the Dart 18 (8 teams) were Werner Heynisch/Monika Schroeder, and in the Dyas (10 teams) Peter Brandt/Regula Baerlocher both teams finishing all heats on top of the rankings. The report.

The Corsaire Class sailed their 2013 Swiss Championship on Lake Neuchâtel over the past Ascension Day weekend. Eight races were sailed in well established West wind conditions, all won by Rolf Uhlmann and his team for another impressive Champion's title. Silver and Bronze went to Martin Steiger and Adrien Dreyer. 23 teams participated. The final results.

Difficult conditions prevailed on Lake Aegeri for 11 participants at the Spring Championship of the local SCAe. The format according to the Sailing Instructions asked to cover a maximum distance within a two-hours time limit. The initial West-Northwest breeze with rain showers alternated with lulls and finally a windshift to East-Southeast. Coping the best with these confusion conditions was the local Kuno Birrer with Ruth Bucher-Lorenz as crew. Lucas Powell was the best Optimist sailor. The results.

'Histoire d'O', the first regatta of the Société Nautique du Léman Français (French side of Lake Geneva) was sailed on last Saturday in very light winds, a first reunion of the maxi-monohulls on Lake Geneva. After two rounds on the large course off Thonon FRA, it was 'FullSpeed' taking the victory ahead of 'Syz & Co', 'French Connection' and 'Oyster Found'. The results have not yet been posted on the organiser's website.

Four race wins on the last day lifted Damian Suri SUI on top of the Optimist rankings at the Dutch Youth Regatta - at the same time the Netherlands Optimist Championship - attended by 406 sailors from 15 nations. At equal points on rank 2 follows Scipio Houtman NED, Lennert Steelandt BEL is on 3rd. The best girl Esmée Van Drielen NED is 7th. Wolf van Cauwenberghe SUI follows on rank 10. The results. Winner in the younger Benjamin Optimists is Yigit Citak TUR ahead of Alvaro Valido ESP and Valentin Müller GER. Gauthier Verhulst SUI is 4th, Joshua Richner SUI follows on rank 6 among the 117 participants. Another Swiss victory is to note in the Lasers 4.7 with David Biedermann SUI. Quentin Swaelen BEL and Timo Gruis NED follow on the ranks 2 and 3. In the Lasers Radial, Van Aanholt, a famous name of Laser Sailing in the late 70s of the last Century, shows up again with Just Van Aanholt AHO as winner. Sébastien Schneiter SUI finished on the good 4th place among the 43 participants from 4 nations. All other results - 10 youth classes in total particpated - and the event-website.

Round two of the Melges 32 European Series ended yesterday on Elba ITA with three more races. Winner in this owner-driven class was Lanfranco Cirillio ITA with Michele Paoletti ITA as tactician. Edoardo Lupi/Pietro Sibello ITA and Andrea Pozzi/Lorenzo Bressani ITA are on the positions 2 and 3. Edoardo Pavesio ITA/Chris Rast SUI follow on rank 5 ahead of boats with prominent tacticians such Vasco Vascotto ITA, Hamish Pepper NZL or Mark Mendelblatt USA. The report and the results.

No change in the last races in the top ranks at the Yngling Swiss Championship on Lake Thourne. Thorsten Schutt/Robert-Jan Kentgens/Kaj Morwinski GER are the Champions ahead of Klaus Diem AUT and his team. The race for the best Swiss team ended in favor of Colin Nussbaum/Thomas Huber/Christian Frey SUI as 3rd just one point ahead of Rico Gregorini SUI and his team as 4th. 27 teams from 3 nations participated. The final rankings.

Olympic Garda 2013 is over for the SUI-Team. Admittedly, the best Swiss improved their results in all three attended classes, but the bad results at the beginning of this Series let the Medal Races too far away. Best of the day for the first time were in the 470 men Yannick Brauchli/Romuald Hausser SUI with the ranks 4/2/2 lifting them on the 7th place overall, just not good enough for the Medal Race according to the new format used at Riva with only 6 qualifiers. Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SUI finished 17th, Fabrice and Guillaume Rigot SUI 19th and Julian Flessati/Tobias Rüdlinger SUI 20th. Manon Kivell-Luther SUI finished on rank 11 in the Lasers Radial, Nigina Römer SUI dropped on rank 22, Fiona Testuz SUI is 44th. Progressing were Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI on the 12th position in the Nacra 17 with the day ranks 6/7/10. The event-website.

All classes sailed four races on the Ijssel-Meer yesterday. Scipio Houtman NED took the overall lead in the huge Optimist fleet with 3 bullets in his group. David Lucan AUT and Damian Suri SUI follow two points behind on the ranks 2 and 3. The leader of day one, Wolf Van Cauwenberghe SUI, dropped on rank 10. The ranking list. In the younger Optimist Benjamins, Yigit Citak TUR remains in the lead. Benjamin Gauthier SUI moved up on rank 3. In the Lasers 4.7, David Biedermann SUI moved up on top 3 points ahead of Timo Gruis NED. William de Smet BEL is the new leader in the Lasers Radial, with Sébastien Schneiter SUI on rank 5, only 3 points behind the leader. All other rankings (420, 29er, Splash, RS:X, Techno293, Cadet) and the event-website.

After a long waiting ashore, the North-Westerly breeze filled in on Lake Uri with 1-2 Bft for just one race, the even had to be shorteneds. Jürg Wittich/Felix Trachsel SUI were the winners, taking the overall lead. Philipp Rotermund/Nils Hollweg GER follow at equal points on rank 2, Jürg Ryffel/Alex Gouda SUI moved up on rank 3. It is uncertain whether the instable weather situation will allow for more races today. The results (PDF) and the perfectly edited video of the day.

Five races have been completed on the first two days of the Melges 32 European Series. Lanfranco Cirillo/Michele Paoletti ITA are the leaders ahead of Filippo Pacinotti ITA/Nathan Wilmot AUS. Edoardo Pavesio ITA/Chris Rast SUI follow on rank 5 of the 21 teams. The results and the daily report.

The Esse 850 Swiss Championship in the Bay of Rapperswil ended yesterday with a last race. Inspite of an 8th place, Alain Marchand/Dario Caffaro/Loïc Gaussen/Fanny Brouchoud SCStM defended the first place. Christoph Renker RCO missed the title by one point only, and also Daniel Schroff YCK on rank 3 was only 2 points behind. The final rankings (PDF).

Grey was the weather on Friday with no races and very devastated the sailors learning about the tragic fatal accident of Andrew Simpson GBR, member of 'Artemis Racing', an active participant in the D35 Vulcain-Trophy Series 2013.
Yesterday, the 10 teams had to wait until 14 hrs CET for a puffy 'Joran' breeze to fill in, allowing to complete five races. Winning 4 heats, Ernesto Bertarelli SUI with his 'Alinghi' is the clear leader ahead of 'Realstone' with Jerôme Clerc SUI and 'Zen Too' with Fred Le Peutrec FRA. The results and the report of the day.

The Yngling Swiss Championship continued yesterday on Lake Thoune with three more races. Today - the final day with two heats on the program - will be crucial for the title between Thorsten Schutt GER and Klaus Diem AUT just one point behind. The 3rd-ranked Thomas Beck SUI follows with a backlog of already 10 points. The results.

The H-Boat Swiss Championship ended yesterday with the races 5 and 6 again in rain and unconstant winds. Sven Holzer GER and his team are the 2013 Swiss Champions ahead of Oskar Koch SUI and Christian Fierz SUI with their teams. The final rankings.

The only Swiss sailing yesterday were Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI in the four Nacra-17 races off Malcesine/Lake Garda. No improvement in the rankings was possible and they remain on rank 15. The results.

Sad and grey was the weather as was the mood among the 60 starboat sailors learning that Andrew Bart Simpson GBR has left us in his best years in a fatal accident with the AC72 Artemis on Frisco Bay, and the participants were with him in a minute of silence. The ones that met him on the race course will never forget his open and friendly approach to anybody.
Much rain welcomed the 26 teams from 3 nations at the mountain-surrounded Lake Uri in Central Switzerland, and there was no chance for the traditional thermal breeze to build up. After some waiting hours, a surprisingly steady Westerly wind filled in and allowed to sail a race late in the afternoon in a 2 bft breeze. Philipp Rotermund/Nils Hollweg GER won the race ahead of Christoph Burger/Renato Marazzi SUI and Jürg Wittich/Felix Trachsel SUI. The results (PDF) and the video.

Only the windsurfer were sailing yesterday on the Ijssel-Meer. Superior winner in the RS:X was Matthjs Van t'Hoff NED with four bullets. In the Techno 293, Sam Wennekes NED is on top.
Switzerland is represented in the Optimists and Lasers 4.7 only, and Wolf Van Cauwenberghe SUI on rank 1 in the 408 boats' Optimist fleet. All ranking lists and the event-website.

The foul weather delayed racing at the Skud-18 and Access European Championships on Lake Constance to the late afternoon yesterday. The Paralympic Bronze medalists Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR were the expected winners in both races of the SKUD-18 and lead ahead of Gualandris/Zanetti ITA and Cantelejo/Villa ESP. Parker/Moerch SUI follow on rank 5. Also two heats were sailed by the Access 303 double, where four SUI-teams lead the rankings among the 24 teams. Joshua Rothenhäusler/Dominique Scheller SUI, day ranks 1 and 2 are on top. All other results and the event-website.

Good conditions to complete two races prevailed on Lake Zurich yesterday, and this inspite of the rain. Race 4 early in the morning in a slackening wind went in favor of Marco Vogelsang and his crew. After some warming up ashore, racing was resumed in the afternoon in a fresh 3-4 bft breeze with two general recalls. Winner of race 5 was finally Tom Löfsted YCAs, the overall leader after 5 heats is Alain Marchand SCStM two points ahead of Daniel Schroff YCK and another two points of Christoph Renker RCO. The results.

Three races were sailed yesterday on Lake Thoune in good Westerly wind conditions. Thorsten Schutt GER and his team are the new leaders closely followed by Klaus Diem AUT. Still in the race for the title remain the two locals Thomas Beck SUI and Rico Gregorini SUI on the ranks 3 and 4. The results.

Inspite of rain and unconstant local winds on the Lucerne arm of Lake Lucerne, the 4th race of the H-Boat Swiss Championship could be completed in an average 2 bft breeze. Again, it was the GER GER 1486 Holzer team followed by SUI 453 Christian Fierz. Clear leaders in the overall rankings (PDF) are therefore Sven Holzer GER and his team, followed by Christian Fierz SUI and Oskar Koch SUI on the ranks 2 and 3 of the 17 teams.

Manon Kivell-Luther on rank 13 in the Lasers Radial is the best ranked Swiss. Nigina Römer SUI follows on rank 18, Fiona Testuz SUI is 43rd. In the 470 men, the development teams Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SUI, now on rank 14, Fabrice and Guillaume Rigot SUI 20th and Julian Flessati/Tobias Rüdlinger SUI 24th are sailing on the level of the Olympians Yannick Brauchli/Romuald Hausser SUI on rank 17. In the Nacra-17 are Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI now on rank 14. The event-website.

Three races were sailed yesterday on the first day of the traditional Dutch Youth Regatta on the Ijssel-Meer. A Swiss is on top of the Optimists (409 participants) with Wolf Van Cauwenberghe SUI ahead of Lennert Steelandt BEL and David Lucan AUT. Deike Bornemann GER as 5th is the best girl. Damian Suri SUI follows on the 6th place. First in the younger Optimist Benjamins is Igit Citak TUR. Joshua Richner SUI is on the good 5th positions. Timo Gruis NED is on top of the Lasers 4.7, where David Biedermann SUI is on the good 3rd place of the 44 participants. Emma Plaeschert BEL is on top of the Lasers Radial (42 participants), Sébastien Schneiter SUI follows on rank 5. Floris van de Werken/Lars van Stekelenborg NED clearly lead in the 420s with three bullets. Jennifer Poret/Lucie Scheiwiller FRA follow on rank 2. The best Swiss team are Lea Rüegg/Diana Otth SUI on the 13th place of the 27 teams. In the 29ers, an Indian boat is on top with Kelapanda Ganapathy/Varun Thakkar IND. All results and the event-website.

The 4th International Swiss Championship of the Esse 850 class began yesterday in the bay of Rapperswil on the upper end of Lake Zurich in sunshine and a light Westerly breeze. Three perfect races were sailed, but the light wind shifts were very challenging for the teams. Three different boats crossed the line as winner: Max Juchli with his two sons took race 1, Alain Marchand was on top of the 2nd heat and Daniel Schroff dominated race 3. Leader after the first day is Alain
Marchand with 'OTTOCINQUE' ahead of Christoph Renker and Daniel Schroff with 'Sail NORTH'. The results (PDF).

Two races were sailed yesterday on the first day of the Yngling Swiss Championship on Lake Thoune. Thomas Beck TYC is the first leader one point ahead of the three tied teams of Katrin Barth YCS, Klaus Diem AUT and Thomas Kristiansen SCH. 27 boats from Switzerland, Germany and Austria participate. The results.

Three races were sailed on day one of the International H-Boat Swiss Championship 2013 on Lake Lucerne. Good sailing conditions prevailed and the day's leader is the team GER 1486 Holzer ahead of Team SUI 531 Koch. 17 boats from Switzerland and Germany participate. The results (PDF).

Best of the 8 Swiss boats on Lake Garda was as in Hyères Nigina Römer SUI in the Lasers Radial who is on position 13 even ahead of the world nbr 2 Isabelle Bertold CAN ! Manon Kivell-Luther SUI follows on rank 28, Fiona Testuz SUI is 43rd. The Swiss 470 hierarchy has been changed in the 470 men as the Swiss Olympians (and Italian Champions 2013) were challenged by the Swiss development teams. Fabrice and Guillaume Rigot SUI are the best ranked on the 15th place, thanks to a 5th position in the 3rd race. Only one point behind follow on rank 16 Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SUI, Yannick Brauchli/Romuald Hausser SUI are on rank 17 for the moment, closely followed by Julian Flessati/Tobias Rüdlinger SUI on rank 20. In the Nacra-17, Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI are on rank 13 of the 30 teams. The Event-Website.

Designed in the Netherlands and built in Dubai, a new 32 foot one-design-catamaran has come to live for the first time in a World premiere on Lake Traun. Six teams have declared their interest so far, sharing the three multihulls constructed up to now. Short races and a distance race have been on the program. The prevailing 8-10 kn breeze was ideal for the mostly newcomers to catamaran sailing. After 4 duels - one cat hat to stay ashore due to a damage - the young AEZ team with Max Trippolt AUT leads ahead of Flavio Marazzi SUI, who has the firm intention to join this class. The report, the results and the video of the day.

Today begins the 'Garda Trentino Olympic Week' on Lake Garda, the first event of the 'EUROSAF Championship Sailing Cup', a series of non-Worldcup Olympic Classes regattas in Europe. With 122 participants from 33 nations, the Laser Standard fleet has an excellent attendance with the World nbr 1 Tom Burton AUS, the Olympic Bronze medalist Pavlos Kontides CYP or Philipp Buhl GER as favorites. In the 470s, the winners of the Italian 470 men Championship of last week, Yannick Brauchli/Romuald Hausser SUI, as well as the development teams Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SUI, Julian Flessati/Tobias Rüdlinger SUI (starting with boat loaned from the Thunersee YC as their boat was destroyed in a collision with a coach-boat at Cap d'Agde) and Fabrice und Guillaume Rigot SUI will meet a strong international competition with the past World Champions Fantela/Marencic CRO, the German Olympians Gerz/Follmann GER and four French teams. Swiss boats are also starting in the Nacra 17 with Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI and the Lasers Radial with Fiona Testuz SUI, Manon Kivell-Luther SUI and Nigina Römer SUI meeting the Worldcup leaders Tatjana Droszdowskaja BLR and Isabelle Bertold CAN as well as the Olympia-forth Annalise Murphy IRL. All entry lists and the event-website.

Good 10 to 15 kn conditions prevailed on Lake Bienne over the past weekend for the Tribordaise of the Bordée de Tribord ranked with the SRS formula and a 'kangoroo start'. Wnners were Petermann/ Ehle on their od 24.5, folllowed by Jean-Louis Frei with his Flying Forty and the team Burkhalter with their Asso 99. Der Bericht (fr) und die Ranglisten.

After a break due to an injury, the Swiss Olympians Yannick Brauchli/Romuald Hausser SUI completed on Lake Garda their first 470 regatta of this year. The Italian 470 Championship of the past weekend was meant to be a first test and tune-up for the 'Olympic Garda' event beginning next Wednesday ... and ended with a victory after six races. Sofian Bouvet/Jeremie Mion FRA finished 2nd, Capurro/Puppo ITA 3rd. The Olympic Champions Jo Aleh/Polly Powrie NZL are on rank 5. 29 participants. The ranking list, the pictures and the video.

After a break due to an injury, the Swiss Olympians Yannick Brauchli/Romuald Hausser SUI completed on Lake Garda their first 470 regatta this year. The Italian 470 Championship of the past weekend was meant to be a first test and tune-up for the 'Olympic Garda' event beginning next Wednesday ... and ended with a victory after six races. Sofian Bouvet/Jeremie Mion FRA finished 2nd, Capurro/Puppo ITA 3rd. The Olympic Champions Jo Aleh/Polly Powrie NZL are on rank 5. Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SUI moved up on the 13th place of the 29 participants with good race results on Sunday. The ranking list, the pictures and the video.

The German Starboat Championship on Lake Moehn ended yesterday with a surprise. In a puffy West wind, the veteran Alex Hagen/Marko Hasche GER won the first race of the day and added a second place in the last regatta, replacing the leading Johannes Polgar/Markus Koy GER on top, just one point ahead. Johannes Babendererde/Manuel Voigt GER complete the podium. 29 teams from 3 nations, among them Tennigkeit/Heike Schöller SUI as 29th. The final rankings

The best sailing conditions of the Extreme Sailing Series Act 3 prevailed yesterday and 9 races could be sailed in a breeze around 12 kn with the last heat awarding double points. 'Alinghi' with Morgan Larson USA finished first in this last race, but Leigh McMillan GBR on 'The Wave - Muscat' succeeded to defend the overall lead with a 2 points' advantage winning the Qingdao regatta. 'SAP Extreme Sailing Team' had an excellent last day and advanced on rank 3. Jerôme Clerc SUI and his 'Realteam' finished the competition on rank 7. 'Alinghi' stays on top of the annual rankings. The ranking lists, the report and the videos.

Five races were sailed at the Sportboat Cup of the Horgen YC on Lake Zurich. On top of the overall rankings were the two Platu 25 of Walter Marlon GER ahead of Matthias Bermejo SUI (Here the report of ths 'Superbüsi'-team). Beat Frank SUI on his Longtze was 3rd. Stöckli on the first two places of the Onyx with Patrick Stöckli SCMd followed by Peter Stöckli SCMd, the latter winning the Club-Cup rankings. In the Platu 25, Matthias Bermejo was the winner.

Good conditions prevailed on Lake Hallwil over the past weekend with a 2-4 bft breeze, and both classes completed 6 races. Winners in the 470 were René Ott/Stephan Amman SCKr ahead of Alexa Bezel/Christian Sprecher SVT and Julian Oes/Lukas Ziltener YCK. First in the Finns was Boris Kulpe YCSe followed by Beat Heinz SCU and Joseph Rochet FRA. The results and the report of the Finn class.

Just one race was sailed on the last day of the French Starboat Championship, that had no influence of the podium of the event. Martin and Yves Tenconi FRA were the winners ahead of Camille and Michelle Dreyfuss FRA. Mercier/Bernault FRA finished on rank 3. Urs Infanger/Oleg Chtechtine SUI follow on rank 4 after an impressive last heat. Vincent and Sébastien Guidoux SUI progressed as well and are ranked 5th among the 26 teams. Unfortunately, the final ranking list has not yet been posted on the Event-Website.

Up to 4 bft prevailed on Lake Sempach on Saturday, but Sunday remained without wind. Four races were sailed by class. In the Tempest, the winners are as mostly Cornelia and Ruedi Christen TYC, while in the Fireballs, Claude Mermod/Ruedi Moser RCO were on top ahead of Kurt Venhoda/Sonja Zaugg SCOW and Christina Härdi/Cedric Landerer DSC. The report and the report of the Fireballs.

The semi finals were cancelled yesterday due to lack of wind, and the rankings after the two Round Robins were decisive to select the 4 finalists. Eric Monnin YCI was the 2-1 winner against Roger Stocker in the Final, while Alain Stettler RCO defeated Joni Steinlein GER 2-1 in the Petite Final. The results.

The Moth European Championship ended yesterday on Sicily ITA with two moderate wind races that just permitted foiling. A class of his own in these conditions was Chris Rashley GBR, winning the Champion's title for the third time in a row. The only serious opponent was Michael Lennon GBR taking Silver 3 points behind. Another Englishman, Jason Belben GBR, won Bronze. The best non-Brit was Pablo Arandia ESP on the 6th place. Matthias Renker SUI, winning one heat yesterday, finished 7th, Chris Rast SUI follows on rank 10 of the 30 participants. The ranking list, the official report (in Ital.), the video and the report (Engl.) by Chris Rast SUI/USA.

The fog over Qingdao disappeard late in the afternoon and only four short races could be sailed in a barely 5 kn wind. Leigh McMillan GBR with 'The Wave - Muscat' won two heats and took the overall lead, replacing 'Alinghi' with Morgan Larson USA on top hurt by a collision with the second Swiss X-40 'Realteam' of Jerôme Clerc SUI. Before the last double-points races today, 'Alinghi' has a backlog on 'The Wave' of 12 points, 'Realteam' dropped on rank 8. The report and the results.

As a tune-up to the 'Olympic Garda' Regatta beginning next Wednesday, the 470 Class is running the Italian Championship off Riva ITA. Three races were already sailed in a well-established 'Ora' breeze by the 29 boats' fleet from 6 nations yesterday. James Turner/Carl Evans NZL are on top ahead of Matteo Capurro/Matteo Puppo ITA and Barrreiros/Curbelo ESP. The Olympic Champions Jo Aleh/Polly Powrie follow on rank 4. With the day ranks 13/2/2, Yannick Brauchli/Romuald Hausser SUI had a good comeback after the injury-caused absence from the circuit. They occupy the 5th interim place. Counting a premature start, Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SUI are on rank 21 for the moment. The results.

The Yngling Springtime Championship 2013 on Lake Garda ended yesterday with the fivefold victory of the Dutch Team. Jan Deen NED and his team defended the first place tied with Lieuwe Gietema NED as 2nd. Marten Jaamin NED finished 3rd. The best non-Dutch on rank 6 is Rudi Mayr AUT. Rico Gregorini/Pascal Alder/Lisa Thönen SUI are on the 12th place among the 30 participants as best of the 8 Swiss teams. The final rankings.

As expected, Eric Monnin YCI and his team have been dominating the Volvo Match Race Cup off Romanshorn. After two Round Robins, he leads the overall rankings undefeated with a 12-0 score. Roger Stocker ZYC follows with 9-3 wins. With 7-5 each, Alain Stettler RCO and Joni Steinlein GER are also qualified for today's semi finals. Monnin encounters Steinlein, Stettler meets Stocker. The results.

3 - 4 races were sailed yesterday at the Coupe Farewell on Lake Neuchâtel in good wind conditions. Leading in the M2-Cats is Yvan Bourgnon on 'Valruz Création', the duel between the two Psaros 33 in the TCFX-classification went in favour of Philipp Durr and first in the TCF2-classification is Patrick Ducommun on his Farr 30. On top of the largest fleet with 15 participants, the TCF3-classification, is Jean-François De Cerjat with his Surprise. All results.

Since yesterday evening at 19 hrs CET, the participants of the two-person 125 miles race have been underway on Lake Geneva. No interims' results are available at this moment on the event-website.

After a windless Friday, the first races of the French Starboat Championship were sailed yesterday on Lake Annecy. Five heats were completed and Martin and Yves Tenconi FRA are the clear leaders with four race wins, followed by Camille and Michel Dreyfuss FRA and Mercier/Bernault FRA on the ranks 2 and 3. The best Swiss are Marc Trincart/Laurent Hayoz SUI on rank 9 of the 26 participants. The results (PDF).

No luck with weather and wind on Sicily for the 30 participants of the Moth Europeans. After the excessive breeze at the beginning of the Championship, keeping the Moths ashore, the wind had disappeared yesterday and no races were possible. The defending Champion Chris Rashley GBR, ranks 1/1/2 is on top after the only 3 heats completed so far in this regatta dominated by the British. The best Swiss is Matthias Renker SUI on position 7. The www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151370602121701&set=a.433143116700.223241.690751700&type=1&theater]results[/URL].

Three more races were sailed yesterday afternoon in 15 kn 'Ora' breeze, and again, the Dutch teams ruled the show. Before the last races today, Jan Deen NED and his team are on top 4 points ahead of Lieuwe Gietema NED and 13 points in front of Jamin Marteen NED. The best non-Dutchman is Wolfgang Riha AUT on position 6. The Swiss lost some ranks in the fresher wind and are now on the 12th (Rico Gregorini) and 14th place (Thomas Beck). The rankings and the report of the day.

Round two of the 2013 Volvo Match Race Cup began off Romanshorn yesterday with the first Round Robin duels. The best Swiss matchracer Eric Monnin YCI and his team clearly is on top of the leaderboard with a flawless 3-0 score, followed by Alain Stettler RCO (3-1) and Joni Steinlein GER (2-1). The results (PDF) and the official preview.

Over the past weekend, the H-Boats sailed their most important regatta on Lake Constance, the H-Boat Cup, a race counting for the German and Swiss Annual Ranking List. A remarkable fleet of 33 teams paid the tribute to this important event. After 4 races, sailed mostly in light winds, the team of Hannes Heinz GER was on top ahead of Adi Gerlach SUI and Thilo Beuster GER. The results and the report.

The slackening wind allowed only one race to be sailed yesterday by the 32 participants. In the breeze around 8 kn, the Brits were even more impressive as on the previous day. The Moths have larger foils letting them lift easier, and the weight of the pilots was important as well to start flying in these light airs. The defending Champion Chris Rashley GBR finished 2nd and kept his interims lead, but the winner of the day Michael Lennon GBR is only two points behind. Ben Patton GBR ist 3rd. The best non-Brit is now Morgan Good BEL on rank 6, while Matthias Renker SUI follows on rank 7. Chris Rast SUI and David Holenweg SUI remained on the ranks 9 and 10. The rankings and the report.

The Springtime Championship on Lake Garda continued yesterday with a North wind race in the morning and two light-wind 'Ora' heats. Dominating are the Dutch occupying the first five positions in the overall rankings. The new leader are Robert-Jan Kentgens NED and his team, 4 points ahead of Tom Otte NED. Last year's winner Jamin Maarten NED follows on 3rd. Rico Gregorini/Pascal Alder/Lisa Thoenen SUI follows on rank 8 of the 30 teams from 6 nations. The results and the report.

Finally the Scirocco calmed sufficiently down to begin racing yesterday at the Moth Europeans off Marsala ITA, but the shifty and unconstant 12 - 14 kn breeze made it very difficult for the competitors. The defending champion Chris Rashley GBR mastered these conditions the best and booked two race wins. The British dominance continues with Michael Lennon GBR, Ben Paton GBR and Tom Offer GBR on the positions 2 to 4. The first non-English is Matthias Renker SUI on rank 5. Chris Rast SUI and David Holenweg SUI on the ranks 7 and 8 emphasize the good Swiss performance among the 35 participants on day one. The report with top ranks.

The Springtime Championship of the Ynglings on Lake Garda began yesterday with a first race. Tom Otte NED and his team were the winners followed by Patrick Haag/Peter Newel/Thomas Grueble SUI and Klaus Diem AUT and his team. Rico Gregorini SUI, second-best Swiss follow on rank 7. Thomas Beck SUI is 8th. 30 teams from 6 nations. The results.

7 teams participated in the Season Opening Regatta of the CV Vevey-La Tour on Lake Geneva on last Sunday. Winner in calculated time was the Modulo 93 of David Bugnon. The results.

Pouring rain on Saturday, but at least a perfect 3 bft breeze, and no wind on Sunday allowed to sail three races at the traditional Cat-Weekend on Lake Thoune. Winning all heats was Sascha Wallmer SCMd in the A-Cats ahead of Sebastian Moser GER and Sandro Caviezel YCAs. 14 A-Cats participated. The report of the Class.
Darts and Tornados did also compete, but no results have been posted on the website of the organising YC Spiez.

The updated ISAF World Ranking Lists after last week's Hyères Worldcup have just been published. With the new ranking formula and only a few races considered in the new classes 49erFX and Nacra 17, a number of position changes happened. Thanks to the Hyères victories, Alexandra Malones/Molly Meech NZL, 49erFX, and Byrony Shaw GBR, RS:X women windsurfers took the lead. New on top of the Nacra-17-catamarans are Billy Besson/Marie Riou FRA. Federico and Arturo Alonso ESP climbed on rank 1 of the 49ers. The best-ranked Swiss is still Manon Kivell-Luther SUI as 9th in the Lasers Radial, With their 3rd place in Hyères, Matias Buhler/Nathalie Brugger SUI jumped in the Nacras-17 from rank 22 to rank 10. The dominating sailing nation remains Australia with three number one rankings. All ranking lists and the ISAF report.

Two light wind races were sailed over the last weekend at the SN Geneva Laser Points' Championship Regatta. Winner in the Lasers Standard (12 boats) was Michel Rotach ahead of Markus Ochs CVVT with the same number of points. Nils Theuninck CNP booked two race wins in the Lasers Radial (34 boats) with Max Haenssler BT and Alexandre Haenni AVP completing the podium. Andrea Nordquist SNG as 5th was the best woman, closely followed by Maud Jayet CNP. First in the Lasers 4.7 was David Biedermann YCB ahead of Tom Casanova CVVT and Lennard Ludwig. All results.

10 teams participated in the Ruban Bleu Regatta of the CV Lausanne over on the past Sunday. Winner was 'Idefix' ahead of 'Anibis' and 'Nénuphar'. There are unfortunately no details on skipper, type of boat or the meteo situation available. The results.

Two races were sailed on day 2 of the 5o5 Worlds on Barbados, and the German teams continue with their domination. Class Lehmann/Leon Oehme GER are the new leaders 2 points ahead of Stefan Boehm/Gerald Roos GER thanks to a race win and the discard result in effect. On the ranks 3 and 4 follow the best of the day (ranks 2/3) Holt/Smith USA and the defending champion Hunger/Jess GER. 69 teams from 9 nations participate, for once no Swiss. The ranking list, the videos and the event-website.

The Moth European Championship 2013 began yesterday off Marsala, Sicily/ITA with the Practice Race, but only a few Moth piliots were on the water to avoid stress on the fragile boat in the prevailing 20-25 kn breeze one day before the official Championship races. 35 participants are on the entry list, among them also the Swiss co-favorites Chris Rast SUI, Philipp Käsermann SUI or Fabien Froesch SUI. Chris Rast SUI/USA attained during the training in a 27 kn wind a new inofficial Moth World Speed record of 32,2 kn ! The report and the first Communiqué of the Swiss Team. A fresh Scirocco wind of 20-30 kn has been announced for today.

No wind on Lake Thoune yesterday so that the rankings after the three Saturday races become final with Nicolas Rolaz SNR winning ahead of Florian Fahrni SCM and Romain Defferard CNV. Joshua Richner SCM on rank 17 was the best of the younger Group B, the best girl Martina Müller SVT follows on rank 19. The results.

Moderate winds on Saturday and light winds on Sunday allowed to complete 8 races over the past weekend. 17 470 teams participated in the Lake Geneva act of their Annual Points' Championship, the Swiss Cup. Winning 4 race, the oveall victory went to Philipp Erni/Stefan Zurfluh SCC ahead of Fabrice und Gullaume Rigot SNC 2nd and Stéphanie Hasler SNR/Christian Sprecher SCE 3rd. The rankings.

No wind on Lake Zurich on Sunday and the rankings after the four heats of Saturday became final. Hans Stöckli/Urs Spahr SCMd are the winners in the Starboats, Colin Nussbaum/Karin Aebi/Cédric Engeler SCH are first in the 15m2 SNS and Patrick Stöckli and his team sailing for the SC Männedorf are on top of the Club-Cup Regatta on the Onyx.

Matias Buhler/Nathalie Brugger SUI were among the very best in the Nacras 17 thanks to perfect starts and a good speed bringing them on rank 3 overall, the first and so far only highlight for the Swiss Olympic sailing this year. The intense trainings since the Palma Worldcup and apparently also the new coach Sebastien Godefroid BEL brought a steep performance increase of the Swiss team. The other Swiss had finished their regatta program yesterday, as we reported already the day before. The event-website.

Three Final Races in Gold- and Silverfleets ended the 420 CIMA off Cannes yesterday. Winning two heats, Jennifer Poret/Lucie Scheiwiller FRA clearly defended their first place and finished as overall winners with an advantage of 20 points. Migraine/Thibault Cour FRA and Camille Rossi/Aude Compan FRA (2nd women's team) completed the podium. Maxime Bachelin/Philippe Pittet SUI followed on rank 25, and as 16th boys' team, they just reached the selection limit (first 30%) of the 52 male participants. Kilian Wagen/Grégoire Siegwart SUI finished the event with a race win, but they had also a premature starton their score sheet and terminated the regatta on rank 35, just behind Camillo Casco/Nico Bumann SUI (rank 33). The newcomers in the class Lea Rüegg/Diana Otth SUI on rank 36 are only 13th of the 30 girls' teams and have to hope for mercy by the Youth Worlds selection board of Swiss Saiing. The www.facebook.com/download/497797573620440/finale_cima_2013_s.htm]final rankings[/URL].

The third round of the 2013 Optimist Annual Points' Championship began yesterday with three races sailed on Lake Thoune. Finishing 2/1/2, Nicolas Rolaz SNR is the interims leader ahead of the tied Nick Zeltner RCO and Romain Defferard CNV. Martina Müller on rank 22 is the best girl. 94 Optimists participate. The results (PDF).

Four races were sailed on the first day of the Zürcher Yacht Club Spring Cup. Hans Stöckli/Urs Spahr SCMd are the leaders in the Starboats after four heats, Patrick Stöckli SCMd and his team are on top of the Onyx, and Colion Nussbaum/Karin Aebi/Céderic Engeler SCH lead in the 15m2 SNS after the first day. The event-website.

Matias Buhler/Nathalie Brugger SUI lost their first place in the Nacra 17 after a premature start in 9th Final Race, dropping on rank 6. But with a backlog of only 7 points on rank 3, they still have chances to advance on a podium place in today's double-point, non-discard Medal Races. For all other Swiss, the Semaine Olympique is over. Nigina Römer SUI, sailing for the first time in a Worldcup Goldfleet, did not compete yesterday and finished the Laser Radial regatta on the good 28th place. Manon Kivell-Luther SUI advanced on the 4 place of the Silverfleet (=32nd Overall), Fiona Testuz SUI is 51st. Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SUI in the 470 men had a premature start on the last day and finished their first Worldcup on the 51st rank. Cyrill Knecht SUI, also in his first Worldcup Regatta in the Lasers Standard, is 111th. Thomas Gautschi SUI in the Finns remained on rank 65.

Difficult conditions in the Bay of Cannes yesterday with circling and unconstant winds making it difficult to start a race for the 420s. Finally, one heat was completed with Jennifer Poret/Lucie Scheiwiller FRA extending their lead on Kimberly Lim/Savannah Siew SIN to 7 points. The best Swiss were Maxime Bachelin/Philippe Pittet SUI as 15th yesterday, lifting them up on rank 22nd (15th boys' team), but they have to hurry up to reach the first 30% of the fleet necessary for the selection to the ISAF Youth Sailing Worlds. Not over are the chances for a selection for Camillo Casco/Nico Bumann SUI on rank 29 and Kilian Wagen/Grégoire Siegwart SUI on rank 31. Three more races are on the program today.
Salome Rouiller/Louise Thilo SUI and Lea Rüegg/Diana Otth SUI are on rank 39 with the same number of points.
The results.

The surprising lead of Matias Bühler/Nathalie Brugger SUI în the Nacra 17-catamarans remind of 2009 when a 'certain Matias Bühler' together with Felix Steiger SUI was the sensational winner of the 470 Semaine Olympique in Hyères. The new mixed team in their second regatta together used the time between the Palma Worldcup and Hyères for intensive trainings. Both are for the first time in a small catamaran like the Nacra, but contrary to Matias Buhler's comments in the official report, there is some hidden catamaran experience in the team: He was coaching Santiago Lange/Carlos Espinola ARG in the 2008 Qingdao Olympic to a Bronze medal. And Nathalie Brugger has been - as the second-ranked Besson/Riou FRA - member of the Decision 35 Lady Cat / Spindrift Team of Dona Bertarelli.
The young Nigina Römer SUI from Bienne, for the first time in the Goldfleet of a Laser Radial top regatta, is on the 28th place overall. Manon Kivell-Luther SUI and Fiona Testuz SUI are on the ranks 35 and 52 in the Silverfleet. In Silver of the 470 men are Philippe Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SUI still fighting with speed problems and dropped meanwhile on the 51st place. Cyrill Knecht SUI remained in his first Worldcup regatta on rank 109 in the Lasers Standard. Thomas Gautschi is on rank 65 in the Finns. The report and all results.

While the breeze was still on in the Hyères, there was not enough wind in Cannes for more races of the 420 CIMA. After a long waiting, the Race Committee tried some starts in the lull, but all what resulted was a start under blackflag with an abandoned race. Severe consequences for the blackflagged teams, such as Kilian Wagen/Grégoire Siegwart SUI, who - on rank 23 after 5 races - were within the selection criteria for the ISAF Youth Sailing Worlds 2013. The best Swiss team Camillo casco/Nico Bumann SUI are on position 19. On top of the girls are Poret/Scheiwiller FRA, Lim/Siew SIN and Rossi/Compan FRA. The results.

Two races were sailed yesterday to conclude the 5o5 Pre-Worlds after just one race on Wednesday. Nothing changed on top of the rankings with Hamlin/Zinn USA winning ahead of Higgins/Marsh AUS, Bojsen-Möller/Bojsen-Möller DEN and Böhm/Roos GER on the ranks 2 to 4. 57 teams among the 77 World Championship entrants participated at least partly in the Pre-Worlds. The rankings. Tomorrow Saturday, the first two races of the World Championship are on the program, unfortunately without Swiss teams. The event-website.

The first 2013 highlight for Swiss Sailing comes from Matias Bühler/Nathalie Brugger SUI on their Nacra-17-catamaran, who best managed the splendid 15 - 20 kn breeze and swell and advanced on rank 2 overall. According to the wind forecast, the situation will stay the same, even with some more wind. Nigina Römer SUI, the second Swiss in a Goldfleet, is now on rank 27 in the Lasers Radial. Manon Kivell-Luther and Fiona Testuz SUI sailing in the Silverfleet are on the positions 31 and 49 overall. Difficulties in the fresher breeze and waves had Philipp Erni/Stefan Zurfluh SUI in the 470 men, holding position 45 in the Silverfleet. Cyrill Knecht SUI is on rank 108 in the Lasers Standard, Thomas Gautschi SUI slighly improved his ranking in the Finns on the 64th place. The event-website.

Four races were sailed yesterday at the 420 CIMA to conclude the Qualification Series for the Gold- and Silverfleets. Three girls' teams are on top of the rankings: Jennifer Poret/Lucie Scheiwiler FRA lead ahead of Kimberly Lim/Savannah Siew SIN and Camille Rossi/Aude Compan FRA. The best Swiss Camillo Casco/Nico Buman SUI follow on rank 18, Kilian Wagen/Philipp Pittet SUI on rank 23 are also qualified for the Goldfleet of the best 41 boats, as are seven more SUI teams. The event-website.

The 5o5 World Championship 2013 began yesterday as usual with the first race of a 6-heats' Pre-Worlds series. Winners of the day were Hamlin/Zinn USA, followed by Higgins/Marsh GBR and Böjsen Möller/Bojsen Möller DEN. No Swiss participate at Curaçao. The rankings and the event-website.

Two Swiss boats qualified for the Final Series (FS) in yesterday's light-wind Qualifying Series (QS) races. With the day ranks 2/4/10, Matias Bühler/Nathalie Brugger SUI were among the best in the Nacra 17 mixed catamaran and were for the first time able, to race at a top-team level. Surprise in the Lasers Radial where the young Nigina Römer SUI as 23rd qualified for the FS Goldfleet of the 28 best Radial women. Manon Luther SUI as 32nd and Fiona Testuz SUI on rank 37 sail in the Silverfleet as from today. Sailing for the first time in a Worldcup regatta, Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SUI missed the Goldfleet in the 470 men inspite of some remarkable race results. As 41st, they are 14 points behind the cut at rank 31. But the challenge will go on as some of the teams in the Silverfleet such as Bargehr/Mähr AUT, Gerz/Follmann GER or Sivitz/Farneti ITA have been among the top-teams in the fresh breeze in earlier regattas. Cyrill Knecht SUI finished the QS in the Lasers Standard on rank 106, Thomas Gautschi SUI is on rank 66 in the Finns. The event-website.

The CIMA Regatta of the 420 began yesterday in light and very shifty winds with one race. Unfortunately, neither the event-website nor the www.facebook.com/groups/508029019238552/]Event-Facebook-Site[/URL] contains any news. Maxime Bachelin/Philippe Pittet SUI realised an excellent 3rd place and also Camillo Casco/Nico Bumann SUI on rank 10 had a good first day. Not at ease in the prevailing conditions were 'our news-reporters' (thank you very much) Kilian Wagen/Grégoire Siegwart SUI on rank 20. But nothing is decided yet, as fresh winds have been announced as from today.

Nine teams participated in the Opening Regatta of the CV Vidy in a fresh North-Easterly of up to 30 kn. 'Just 4 Fun' of Alex Tavel was the overall winner ahead of 'Ener-j'. First in the B-rankings was 'Nauti-Teack' of Alain Corthésy ahead of 'Corto' and 'Miss Tick'. The results.

Five teams participated at the Opening Regatta of the CV Moratel-Cully, sailed in good conditions. 'Rackam' was first ahead of 'Kerosen' and 'Swiss 5'. The results.

The smallest Swiss delegation in Hyères of all times was partially fighting with honorable results, above all Fiona Testuz SUI on rank 22, back in the Laser Radial after a short experiment in the 470. Manon Kivell-Luther SUI follows on rank 29, Nigina Römer SUI is 39th of the 55 participants. Matias Bühler/Nathalie Brugger SUI on the new mixed catamaran Nacra 17 are 21st of the 29 teams. Cyrill Knecht SUI is on rank 103 for the moment in his first Worldcup regatta, while the experienced Thomas Gautschi SUI in the Finns had a flopped first day as 68th and last overall. The official report.

After Gwenolé Gahinet FRA winner in the Protos yesterday evening just one minute ahead of Giancarlo Pedote ITA, it was Justine Mettraux SUI who crossed the finish line at Pornichet FRA on 1.30 a.m. as first of the Series-Mini. Her advance on the second Sylvain Pontu FRA was 2 hrs 44 minutes. Simon Koster SUI however lost much distance in the approach on Pornichet and finished with a backlog of 4 hrs on rank 11. The race-viewer with the rankings, the video of the arrival of the Protos and the event-website with reports.

Yesterday was day one of the Students' Course Croisière EDHEC Regatta with two races completed. Among the participants is the HEC Lausanne team, finishing on the ranks 10 and 3 leaving them in the middle of the fleet overall. Unfortunately, the event-website does not contain more details for the moment.

No more racing at the Charlestone Race Week yesterday, as the breeze freshened to almost 40 kn. The results after six heats become therefore final. 300 teams in 16 different classes participated. Among the winners were Tim Healy USA (J/70), Brad Boston USA (Viper 640), Alec Cutler USA (Melges 24), Michael Kiss USA (mit Chris Rast SUI, Melges 20) and Kris Werner USA (J/24). All other ranking lists, the final report and the videos.

Come aboard and try out boats with electric propulsion! It is the fourth year in a row that the boatyard chantier naval Reymond invites you to test electric outboard and inboard engines during a testday on Saturday, the 27th of April 2013, from 10 a.m. to 03 p.m. in the old harbour of Morges (Port du Château). Try out and see for yourself!
Parking: Parc des Sports, Avenue Ignace Paderewski, in Morges. More...

After a cold Saturday with a gusty breeze of up to 22 kn blowing across of the Ueberlingen arm of Lake Constance allowing to sail four heats, there was no racing on Sunday due to lack of wind. Winning three of the four races, the local favorite Hubert Merkelbach/Gerrit Bartelt GER were the clear winners ahead of Hans Stöckli/Urs Spahr SUI and Lorenz Zimmermann/Nils Hollweg SUI. 22 teams from Germany and Switzerland participated. The report and the final results.

The Esse 850 Spring Cup on Lago Maggiore ended yesterday in a light breeze with another two races, the second one shortened. Alain Marchand SCStM remained on top of the rankings inspite of the rather mediocre ranks 5 and 6, five points ahead of Daniel Schroff YCK. As best of the day, Peter Kehrer advanced on rank 3 on the last day. 13 teams participated. The final rankings.

Snow fall and temperatures around 0° welcomed the 20 Fireball teams on Saturday morning rather uncomfortably, but there was at least a 3-4 bft breeze blowing on the Lower Lake Constance off Mammern, and two races were completed. The wind remained absent on Sunday and the rankings after two heats have - once again - Claude Mermod/Ruedi Moser RCO on rank 1 ahead of Kurt Venhoda/Sonja Zaugg SCOW and Mudra/Smetana CZE. The report with results.
The fleet of the 12 Finns was dominated by the Eckert-Brothers: Piet Eckert ZSC was first ahead of Jan Eckert ZSC. Beat Steffen SCH finished 3rd. The report and the results.

The good sailing conditions of Saturday were gone on Sunday morning, and only by noon, the Round Robin matches continued. Without defeat, it was Kristof Rosinski POL who finished on top ahead of Patrick Zaugg SUI/TYC and Antthi Lutta FIN. The report.

Perfect conditions with a breeze around 20 kn prevail in Greece for the Laser Europacup Regatta of Marathon and up to now, three races per day were sailed. Outstanding. Adonis Bouigouris GRE in the Lasers Standard winning 5 of the 6 races, while Haris Papadopoulos CYP is the clear runner-up. The U-19 junior Panos Efraimidis GRE has a 4 points' lead on Nikolaos Theodorakis GRE in the Lasers Radial. Vassileia Karachaliou GRE on rank 7 is the best woman. David Biedermann SUI follows on rank 13 of the 21 participants. 4 of the 6 Laser 4.7 heats went in favor of Dhmos Stasinopoulos GRE leading 7 points ahead o Gregori Mazarakis GRE. Chrysanthi Chatzidimitriou GRE on rank 9 is the best-ranked girl. Felizia Pellegrini SUI on the 17th place is the 3rd-best girl. The ranking lists and the video.

Good (but wintery) conditions with a breeze of up to 22 kn prevailed on Lake Constance and four races were sailed yesterday at the Hammond-Perkin-Trophy of the Starboats. The local matadors and favorites Hubert Merkelbach/Gerrit Bartelt GER back from the summery Bahamas took the overall lead two points ahead of Hans Stöckli/Urs Spahr SUI. Lorenz Zimmermann/Nils Hollweg SUI follow on rank 3 of the 22 teams from Germany and Switzerland. The results.

Cold temperatures and pouring rain, but also a fresh breeze of almost 30 kn prevailed on the Lago Maggiore on the first day of the Esse-Cup in Southern Switzerland. However, after the stormy first race on Friday, the three heats of yesterday were sailed in moderate 10-12 kn winds. Alain Marchand SCStM and his team is on top of the interims rankings ahead of Daniel Schroff YCK and Amedeo Vaccani ZSC. Some of the 13 teams were forced to abandon racing with damages up to a broken mast. A video and the official website unfortunately without rankings.

Yesterday, the first Round Robin races of the first Act of the ISAF Grade 3 Bodensee Match Race Series were sailed off Arbon SUI. The best-ranked participant, Kristof Rosinski POL, ISAF nbr 20, upheld his reputation and leads in the rankings together with Patrick Zaugg SUI/TYC with 5-0 wins each. Adrian Maier-Ring GER follows on 3rd with a 3-2 score. The results.

Tomorrow at Pornichet FRA, the start will be given to the 300 miles solo Mini 650 race, a preparation event to the Mini Transat scheduled for September 2013, with the elite of the class on the starting line. Among the 69 participants from 10 nations and 3 continents are Simon Koster SUI and Justine Mettraux SUI, both among the favorites in the Series Mini category. The event-website contains numerous video interviews with skippers.

The ISAF Match Racing World Ranking Lists have been updated after the Grade-1 Congressional Cup. No changes in the men (Open-rankings), where Ian Williams GBR remains nbr 1 ahead of Björn Hansen SWE and Pierre-Antoine Morvan FRA. Eric Monnin SUI stays on rank 13.
In the women, a number of female matchracers campaigning for Olympia 2012 and no longer active are slowly dropping out of the rankings. Back again on the top position is Claire Leroy FRA. Anna Tunnicliffe USA, no longer active since August 2012, follows on rank 2, Ekaterina Skudina RUS is 3. Profiting from this decrease is Alexa Bezel SUI now on rank 13, her best-ever ranking. The official ISAF report.

Come aboard and try out boats with electric propulsion! It is the fourth year in a row that the boatyard chantier naval Reymond invites you to test electric outboard and inboard engines during a testday on Saturday, the 27th of April 2013, from 10 a.m. to 03 p.m. in the old harbour of Morges (Port du Château). Try out and see for yourself!
Parking: Parc des Sports, Avenue Ignace Paderewski, in Morges. More...

The ranking lists of the 420 and 29er Annual Points' Championship Regattas of the past weekend have now been posted. Racing took place on Saturday only, due to lack of wind on Sunday. The 420er sailed 4, the 29ers 5 races. Separated by one point only, Maxime Bachelin/Philippe Pittet CVV, Kilian Wagen/Grégoire Siegwart CNP and Matthieu Taddei/Théo Meier CNV were on the positions 1-3 in the 420s (23 teams). A close result also in the 29ers (7 teams), where Livia Naef/Daniel Vettiger YCA were the winners ahead of Sybilla Merian/Martin Hoffmann ZYC.

Meanwhile, all teams of the Demi-Clé have reached the arrival at the Pornichet. As already reported yesterday, Gwenolé Gahinet/Grégoire Mouly FRA finished first overall and first among the Protos ahead of Gian Carlo Pedote ITA/Sébastien Josse FRA and Louis Segré/Julien Pulvé FRA. The first Series Mini with Ronan Dreano/Sylvain Lebœuf FRA arrived as 8th. Clément Bouyssou/Patrick Girod FRA/SUI were 14th and 5th of the Series Minis with a backlog of 21 minutes, closely followed by Justine Méttraux SUI/Isabelle Joschke FRA/GER as 15th and 6th Series Mini. Simon Koster/Romuald Hausser SUI however lost much time after a tactical error and had to content themselves with rank 20 (11th Series Mini). The report and the ranking lists. 64 Two-Person-Teams participated.

Come aboard and try out boats with electric propulsion! It is the fourth year in a row that the boatyard chantier naval Reymond invites you to test electric outboard and inboard engines during a testday on Saturday, the 27th of April 2013, from 10 a.m. to 03 p.m. in the old harbour of Morges (Port du Château). Try out and see for yourself!
Parking: Parc des Sports, Avenue Ignace Paderewski, in Morges. More...

The Event-Website of the SN Geneva is still without ranking lists of the 420 and 29er regattas of the past weekend ! We reported yesterday on the victory of Maxime Bachelin/Philippe Pittet in the 420s. In the mean-time, a report has been publihed by the 29ers: "In an uncontant 1-2 bft breeze, five races were sailed on Saturday. On Sunday, the wind was absent. Winners overall were Naef/Vettiger ahead of Merian/Hoffmann and Stucki/Keller."

15 teams participated in the Season Opening Regatta of the SC Hallwil during the past Sunday. Two races, calculated by Yardstick, were completed in a 1-2 bft wind. Kurt Liechti/Gabriele Ernst SCH with their Fireball were the winners ahead of the Surprise of Sämi Zubler SCH and the m1 of Ruedi Gautschi/Pablo Rohr SCH. The results.

The last race of the 470 Spring Cup at Cap d'Agde FRA was sailed in a fresh 16-20 kn breeze. Lucas Calabrese/Juan De la Fuente ARG were the clear winners extending their overall lead after 11 heats even further. Wagner/Baldewein GER and Snow-Hansen/Willcox NZL completed the podium. Anne Haeger/Briana Provancha USA, best women's team, finished on the excellent 5th position overall. Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI had difficulties with the increased wind of the last day, but with their 14th place, they defended the second-best women's position. Fabrice and Guillaume Rigot SUI advanced on the 18th overall rank with a 14th place in the last race. The final rankings.

The Mini 650 Demi Clé Regatta shortened after the postponement due to the stormy Saturday began yesterday morning in lighter winds. This opening regatta of the Mini 2013 with the Mini-Transat in September as highlight is still underway, and only a few of the two-person teams crossed the finish line so far with Protos on top. Gwenolé Gahinet/Grégoire Mouly FRA are first ahead of Gian-Carlo Pedote ITA/Sébastien Josse FRA. No news from the three Swiss teams Justine Méttraux SUI/Isabelle Joschke GER/FRA, Clément Bouyssou/Patrick Girod FRA/SUI and Simon Koster/Romuald Hausser SUI this morning. The event website.

No more racing on day two of the Points' Championship act on Lake Constance yesterday, and the rankings after the 4 heats of Saturday become final. Morgan Lauber SNR is first one point ahead of Florian Fahrni SCM 2nd and Wolf Van Cauwenberghe CVVT 3rd. Simona Hegi SVT on rank 16 was the best girl. 106 Optimists from Germany, Switzerland and Austria participated. The final rankings.

No wind on Lake Geneva on Sunday, and the rankings after the four regattas of Saturaday become final. Maxime Bachelin/Philippe Pittet CVV were the winners in the 420 in front of Kilian Wagen CNP/Grégoire Siegwart CNM . The event website is still without results and information this morning. We shall comeback as soon as ranking lists - also on the 29er race - will be available.

Only one race could be sailed on Sunday on Lake Thoune by the Finns and Ynglings. With the discard result deducted, some changes on top of the rankings happened. In the Ynglings, Stefan Eggimann/Angelika Siegfried RCO replace Rico Gregorini RCO and his team on top with the same number of points. In the Finns, Christoph Burger TYC was the winner of the fourth race as well and is the clear overall winner ahead of Rolf Megert and Carlo Lazzari TYC. The report.

Very light was the breeze on Lake Zurich over the past weekend, allowing only one race at the first Act of the 2013 Onyx Club Cup season with the team of the Regatta-Pool Männedorf as winners ahead of the Zürcher YC and the Zürcher SC. The ranking list and the event website with pictures.

The Cap d'Agde 470 Spring Cup continued yesterday with two races sailed in a light wind. Unfortunately, the event website does not yet contain results. Excellent the performance of Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI, finishing 8 and 3 and advancing on the 14th place overall. Fabrice and Guillaume Rigot SUI had also their best day and move up on rank19 overall. Today, the final race of the Spring Cup will be sailed.

The Dragon European Championship 2013 at Cascais ended yesterday with a last race sailed in a 8 kn breeze. With the discard result considered, the overall ranking suffered quite some changes on top. Winner of the day was Graham Bailey GBR, moving up on rank 6 as the best amateur. Inspite of a 19th race rank, Jose Matoso/Gustavo Lima/Frederico Melo POR regained the first place, winning the first Dragon title for Portugal. The defending champion Markus Wieser GER with his Ukrainian team finished 2nd yesterday and advance on rank 2 overall as well, while Jens Christensen DEN descended on rank 3. Hugo Stenbeck SWE, sailing for Switzerland had a massive drop on rank 17. The final ranking list and the report.

Very light and unconstant winds prevailed again on the third day of the Singapore Extreme Sailing Series, but nevertheless, 7 short races were completed. Two races went in favor of 'Alinghi' with Morgan Larson USA steering, keeping the first position with a 26 points advantage on the new second-ranked Roman Hagara AUT and his 'Red Bull Sailing Team' before the last races today. Third are with the same number of points 'The Wave - Muscat' (Leigh McMillan GBR) and the surprise team of the day 'SAP Extreme Sailing' with Jes Gram-Hansen DEN. Even best of the day was Jerôme Clerc SUI and his 'Realteam' advancing on rank 5 overall with only a 10 points' backlog on the podium. The results and the daily report.

Yesterday Saturday, the start to the Mini 650 'Demi Clé' off Locmiquelic FRA was scheduled, but the fresh breeze exceeding 30 kn prompted the Race Director to postpone the start on today and shorten the course. The former two-days race for two person teams will therefore end already this evening. 65 two-person-teams are on the starting line, among them as favorites in the Series Minis also Simon Koster SUI, joined by the 470 Olympian Romuald Hausser SUI (Koster was Hausser's predecessor on the 470 of Yannick Brauchli), as well as Justine Méttraux SUI with Isabelle Joschke GER/FRA forming a strong women's team. The event website.

Four races were sailed yesterday on the opening day of the Optimist Points' Championship Regatta off Kreuzlingen. Again on top is Morgan Lauber CNP, the 'shooting star' of this season with three race wins. Florian Fahrni SCM follows on rank 2, Wolf Van Cauwenberghe CVVT is 3rd. The best girl Simona Hegi SVT is on rank 16. 106 Optimists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland participate. The ranking list (PDF).

The Annual Championship Regatta of the 420 and 29er began yesterday in a very shifty 1-2 bft breeze off Geneva. Four races were sailed. In the 420s, Maxime Bachelin/Philippe Pittet CVV took the lead ahead of Kilian Wagen/Grégoire Siegwart CNP/CNM. Unfortunately, the event website does not yet contain a ranking list.

The Westerly breeze filled in on Lake Thoune only after 15 hrs yesterday, but nevertheless three races were completed in a 1 - 2 bft wind. Christoph Burger TYC leads among the 14 Finns (PDF) ahead of Carlo Lazzari TYC and Franz Bürgi RCO. Rico Gregorini RCO and his team is first in the Ynglings (PDF) ahead of Thomas Kristiansen SCRG and Thomas Beck TYC. 16 teams participate.

Changes in the rankings happened in yesterday's races, sailed in a lighter 8-14 kn breeze. The London Olympic Bronze medalists Lucas Calabrese/Juan de la Fuente ARG extended their lead after the three races of the day. Their advantage on Wagner/Baldewein GER and Snow-Hanson/Willcox NZL before the last races today is now five points. The best team of the day and best women's team overall Anne Haeger/Briana Provancha USA (ranks 2 and 4) are now on positions 6. Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI had their best day as well (8/10/12) and are now on the 16th rank, third-best women's team, in this pretty strong Open fleet. Fabrice and Guillaume Rigot SUI lead at the upwind mark in the first race of the day and finished the heat on position 7. Overall, they are on the 19th place. The results.

The Starclass Western Hemisphere Championship 2013 on the Bahamas ended yesterday with two races sailed in a light wind. Two bullets brought Augie Diaz/Arnis Baltins USA back on top taking the Silver Star ahead of Hubert Merkelbach/Gerrit Bartelt GER and John McCausland/Phil Trinter USA. A successful last day (ranks 4/4) had Jean-Pascal Chatagny/Vincent Hagin SUI) bringing them on the 5th place. Michel Niklaus SUI/Markus Koy GER however dropped on the 9th position after a disqualification and a retirement. The final rankings.

The light 8 kn breeze in the 6th race of the Dragon European Championship yesterday displeased the leader José Matosso POR (rank 26) and his team, and Jens Christensen DEN is now on the first place with a 3 points' adavantage on the Portuguese. Ingo Ehrlicher/Werner Fritz/Thomas Auracher GER, only 6 points behind, remain in the fight for the title in the last race today as well. Hugo Stenbek SWE starting for Switzerland defended his 5th place. The report (Por.) and the ranking list.

Eleven races were sailedon the second day of the Singapore Extreme Sailing Series, the shortest one lasted only six minutes ! Morgan Larson USA steering the 'Alinghi' cat has taken the lead in the interims rankings, 12 points ahead of 'The Wave - Muscat' with Leigh McMillan GBR as 2nd and Roman Hagara AUT with the 'Red Bull Sailing Team' as 3rd. Jerôme Clerc SUI and his 'Realteam' was not at ease at all in the unconstant breeze influenced by the sky-skrapers of downtown Singapore and dropped on the 7th place among the 8 teams. The report and the ranking list. No morning races today. The competition will resume by approx. 12 hrs CET to be followed live on the Internet.

Difficult conditions yesterday at Cap d'Agde FRA with a shifty and puffy breeze of 12 to 15 kn from the shore. Jasper Wagner/Dustin Baldewein GER seemed to like this challenge winning both heats and closing up the gap to the new leader Lucas Calabrese/Juan De La Fuente ARG on one point. The backlog of the third-ranked Snow-Hanson/Willcox NZL is already 11 points. The best women's team Anne Haeger/Brian Provancha USA follow on rank 10. Fabrice und Guillaume Rigot SUI on rank 19 remain the best Swiss team three points ahead of Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI on the 20th place. The race is over for Tobias Rüdlinger/Julian Flessati SUI, as they had a collision with their coach boat destroying their 470 completely. The results.

Two more races were sailed yesterday at the Dragon European Championship in Cascais in a sun and a 12 kn breeze. Winning a race, José Matoso POR with two Olympians - Gustavo Lima POR and Fernando Melo POR - as crew took the lead after the 5 races sailed so far. The best of the day (ranks 2 and 6) Jens Christensen DEN and his team is on the 2nd place points behind. Ingo Ehrlicher/Werner Fritz/Thomas Auracher GER follow on rank 3. Hugo Stenbeck SWE sailing for Switzerland moved up on rank 5. The results and the report of the day (Port.).

Hubert Merkelbach/Gerrit Bartelt GER, rank 2/1/3, had a perfect day yesterday and took the overall lead two points ahead of Augie Diaz/Arnis Baltins USA, but also John McCausland/Phil Trinter USA still have chances for the title. Hornos/Morey USA and Niklaus SUI/Koy GER follow at equal points on the ranks 4 and 5. Chatagny/ Hagin SUI moved up on rank 7 of the 21 participants from 9 nations. The results.

The 470 Spring Cup at Cap d'Agde began yesterday with three races sailed in an initial 6 kn wind, increasing to 15 kn during the races. First leaders are Francisco Succari/Francisco Renna ARG just one point ahead of the tied Wagner/Baldewein GER and Snow-Hansen/Willcox NZL. The best women's team Anne Haeger/Briana Provancha USA follows on rank 6. Guillaume and Fabrice Rigot SUI were the only Swiss team completing the three heats without a premature start, but with speed problems, they remain on the 18th place. Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI are inspite of an early start the third-best women's team on rank 20 overall. Tobias Rüdlinger/Julian Flessati SUI, absent at the Palma Worldcup event, miss these hours on the water and are only on rank 24 of the 27 teams from 13 nations and 5 continents. The results.

Special conditions prevailed also on day two of the Dragon European Championship off Cascais with a moderate 13 kn breeze and a big swell, favoring the local teams. Two races were sailed and the new leader is now Diogo Barros POR, 10 points ahead of the tied trio Vasiliy Senatorov RUS, José Matoso POR and Alexander Ezkhov RUS. Hugo Stenbek SWE sailing for Switzerland descended on rank 16. The results and the illustrated daily report (in Por.).

Three races were sailed on the first day of the Starboat Western Hemisphere Championship on the Bahamas. No surprise that the teams dominating the Harry Knowles Series Tune-up Race are ahead in the interims rankings. Augie Diaz/Arnis Baltins USA lead with a 5 points advantage ahead of Tomas Hornos/Edward Morey USA and Hubert Merkelbach/Gerrit Bartelt GER with the same number of points. Michel Niklaus SUI/Markus Koy GER follow on rank 4, Chatagny/Hagin SUI are 13th of the 21 teams from 7 nations. The results after the first day.

The 'Segelschule Thunersee' started its 2013 season on Easter with remarkably good sailing conditions, the 79th season, and the weather forecast for the coming days looks - finally - favorable.
The program has again been extended with new courses and services. Courses at all levels, from beginners to regatta sailors, are offered. A complete line of boats is available on a rental basis to benefit from the excellent sailing conditions on Lake Thoune. In addition, the large yachts of the sailing school - the A40, the Grand Surprise and the legendary historical 8 m IJ 'Cupido' can be rented with skipper for private or business events. Visit the new Facebook-Page and enjoy the well edited new promotion video of the Sailing School. The Newsletter.

A moderate 5-12 kn breeze and rather flat water prevailed yesterday for the continuation of the Congressional Cup Round Robin 1. A class of his own was the winner of 2012 Ian Williams GBR, who concluded the Round Robin with a 10-1 score. Ed Baird USA on rank 2 follows with a 8-3 result, while Simone Ferrarese ITA, Matthieu Richard FRA and Adam Minoprio NZL are at 7-4. Eric Monnin SUI lost all five matches yesterday and is on the last place with a 2-9 record. The event website, with results and the day one video, as well as the report (PDF) with results in detail.

Light winds around 10 kn prevailed yesterday on the first day of the Dragon European Championship 2013 off Cascais POR. Jörgen Schönherr DEN and his team finished first in front of Gavia Cox-Wilkinson GBR and Jens Christensen DEN. Hugo Stenbeck SWE, sailing for Switzerland follows on rank 5, the defending champion Markus Wieser GER was 7th. 62 teams from 15 nations participate. The results and the illustrated report (Por.).

A difficult circling 10 - 22 kn breeze prevailed yesterday instead of the normal seabreeze off Long Beach, but the experienced teams handled these conditions best inspite of the long competition pause. Ian Williams GBR and Matthieu Richard FRA lead in the Round Robin 1 with a 4-1 score, followed by Ed Baird USA and Simone Ferrarese ITA 3-2 each. Five teams have a 2-3 interim result, among them Eric Monnin SUI. The report.

By tradition, the Harry Knowles Series is sailed on the Bahamas as tune-up race for the following Championship. Three races were sailed on the day before the Western Hemisphere Championship, a Silver-Star-Event, beginning today. John McCausland/Phil Trinter USA were the winners ahead of Jack Jennings/Brian Sharp USA and Michel Niklaus SUI/Markus Koy GER. Hubert Merkelbach/Gerrit Bartelt GER from Lake Constance finished 6th, Jean-Pascal Chatagny/Vincent Hagin SUI 15th of the 20 teams from 7 nations. The results.

The traditional Spring Cup in the South of France amidst the Worldcup events of Palma ESP and Hyères FRA takes place this year at Cap d'Agde half-way from Spain to Marseille FRA. Many teams start at this event as a preparation for the forthcoming Semaine Olympique at Hyères. The entry list has not yet been published on the event website, but a good participation is normally guaranteed. Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI and Tobias Rüdlinger/Julian Flessati SUI will be among the starters. They were on the water yesterday for a first training in a fresh breeze from the shore. As from today, the wind forecast predicts rather light winds.

The World Ranking Lists including the new classes and based on the new calculation format start to become representative after the Palma Worldcup Regatta. Three new number ones show up with Peter Lang/Anders Thomsen DEN in the 49ers, Ivan Pastor ESP in the RS:X men windsurfers and Tatjana Droszdowkaja BLR in the Lasers Radial. Best Swiss remains Manon Luther SUI as 8th in the Lasers Radial. Australia remains the strongest nation with three nbr 1 (470m, Laser, Finn) ahead of Brazil with two teams (49erFX, 470w). The ISAF report and all rankings.

The CV Vidy Winter Championship 2012/3 ended with the sixth race last Sunday. Eric Meyer with his 'Chantier Naval Vidy' was first in the 6th race of the ACVL A-class, and at the same time the overall winner ahead of Alfred Zbinden CNM ('Syneco') and Patrick Mégoz ('Hiva-Oa'). Winner in the class B last Sunday was Christophe Guignard CNP ('Gavroche'), while in the class B overall rankings Sarah Henry CVL ('Miss Tick') is first in front of Laurent Potterat CNM and Christoph Guignard CNP. The event website.

Patryk Zbroja POL, winner of the Round Robin 5-2, defeated Nicolas Anklin SUI in the final of the Zurich Volvo Match Race Cup 3-1. Winner of the Petite Final was Felix Oehme GER with a 2-0 score against Nelson Méttraux SUI. The results and the event website.

Best conditions prevailed on Sunday with a South wind of 10-15 kn blowing on the Gandria arm of Lake Lugano, and another two races by class were completed. Intense sailing on top of the 24 boats' 420 fleet, where the well prepared newcomers coming from the Optimist class finished on the podium. With a 1 and 4 yesterday, Camillo Casco/Nico Bumann SCC were first overall ahead of Matthieu Cadei/Theo Meier CNV and Kilian Wagen/Grégoire Siegwart CNP. The best girls' team Lea Rüegg/Diana Otth YCA follows on rank 4. A Lake Zug victory also in the 470s, where Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh SCC booked four race wins and clearly defeated the former Olympians Etter/Steiger SCSG and Erni/Sprecher RCO/SCE. Four race wins also for Lorenz Müller YCB in the Dolphins in front of Tom Studer CVN and Rico Gregorini RCO. Gastone Farolfi CVLL with his Surprise was the clear winner in the yardstick rankings. All results and the final report.

Excellent conditions prevailed on Lake Como for the second important Swiss windsurfing event over the past weekend. Course races and slaloms took place in a light breeze on Saturday, while Sunday was reserved for slaloms sailed in a challenging 20 kn Breva wind. Vincent Langer GER was the winner in the slalom competition ahead of Sebastian Kördel GER, Marco Lang AUT and Daniel Aeberli SUI, who - on rank 4 - was the best Swiss. The Olympian Richard Stauffacher SUI followed on rank 7, his sister Franziska on rank 30 was the best woman. The slalom ranking list. A German double also in the Formula rankings with Vincent Langer GER and Sebastian Kördel GER. Richard Stauffacher SUI is 3rd. Winner of the Fun-Slalom sailed on Sunday was Marco Lang AUT followed by Baptiste Beer SUI and Remo Diethelm. The report with pictures.

Dream conditions on Lake Geneva on Saturday with sun and a 15 kn North-Easterly for the fifth and last event of the Winter Championship 'Hivernales'. Alain Cloux with his 'Chlik-Chlika' was first ahead of Michal Kwiatek SUI on 'Mamma Mia'. The results. The overall winner of the Winter Championship after 4 valid regattas is 'Mamma Mia'. Here the final rankings.

Very light winds prevailed yesterday on day one of the Zurich Volvo Match Race Cup. The eight teams sailed four races each, and at the end of the day, Alexa Bezel SUI with her ChicaCER team had the interims lead with a 3-1 score. Five teams have two wins each, with Felix Oehme GER (2-1) with three heats only. The ranking list and the photos.

Good conditions with a 11-15 kn South wind prevailed on Lake Lugano yesterday for the Annual Points' Championship Regatta of the 420s, the Swisscup Circuit of the 470s, as well as the Dolphin and local yacht regattas. All classes sailed three heats so far. Philipp Erni/Stephan Zurfluh won all three races in the 470s and are the clear leader ahead of Etter/Steiger and Erni/Sprecher. Jointly leading among the 24 420s are Kilian Wagen/Grégoire Siegwart and Camillo Casco/Nico Bumann. Three race wins also for Lorenz Müller and his team in the Dolphins. The Surprise of Gastone Farolfi is first in the Handicap rankings. The ranking lists and the report.

The Swiss Team, amateurs without financial support by the Swiss Sailing Federtion, had no chances at all against the professional teams from other nations. The first test in Palma is over. The difference to the top is - as usual in new events where everybody starts from zero - in the new classes with limited fleets, i.e. the mixed catamaran Nacra 17 and the 49erFX. Matias Bühler/Nathalie Brugger SUI finished 19th in the Nacra-17, Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI are on rank 30. Nathalie Keller/Livia Naef SUI remained on the 21st position in the 49erFX skiff. Showing their potential and sailing with the best at least in moderate conditions were Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI who have a good support by their Club. Rank 12 in the last race was their best result and the overall 21st place in a quality fleet, just behind the German Olympian Kathrin Kadelbach GER, who sailed with Anne-Sophie Thilo SUI, is remarkable. Guillaume Girod SUI finished 49th in the Laser Standard Goldfleet. Manon Luther SUI is on rank 26 in the Lasers Radial 26. Best of the Swiss Finn oldies was Piet Eckert SUI, FD-Olympia 1992 diplomand, as 54th. All results.

Cold temperatures and light winds prevailed yesterday on Lake Zurich during the tune-ups to Act 1 of the 2013 Volvo Match Cup. Here the photos. Eight teams from Germany, Poland and Switzerland will sail the eliminations for the semi-finals in a Round Robin today. The preview.

Excellent conditions with an initial 10 kn breeze increasing to 16 kn prevailed yesterday on the first day of the finals at the Palma ISAF Worldcup Regatta. The new and much debated new format provoked a number of changes on top of the rankings. Today's heats will be crucial for the Medal Race selection, the top-10, resp. the top-8 in the skiff classes.
Matt Belcher/Will Ryan AUS, winners of the qualifications, continued their winning straight in the 470 men ending all three heats in their favour. Overall second at equal points are Patience/Glanfield GBR and Mantis/Kagialis GRE. Schmid/Reichstädter AUT remain on the 4th place, Leboucher/Leberre FRA and Bouvet/Mion FRA follow on the ranks 5 and 6. Clear lead also in the 470 women with Sophie Weguelin/Eilidh McIntyre GBR ahead of Fernadez/Barbachan BRA and Nincevic/Zupan CRO. On rank 4 are now 'out-of-nowhere' Haeger/Provancha USA, discarding the summary result of the qualifiers and making a major jump with the final ranks 0(1)/5/9, well positioned to make the Medal Race today. Kadelbach GER/Thilo SUI follow on rank 20, just ahead of Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI as 21st. With two race wins, Erik Heil/Thomas Ploessel GER moved up on the first place in the 49ers, in front of Evans/Powys GBR and Norregard/Thomsen DEN. A class of their own are Ida-Marie Baad/Marie Thusgaard DEN in the 49erFX, winning all three races yesterday. Martine Grael/Kahena Kunze BRA progressed on rank 2 tied with Dobson/Ainsworth GBR, Conti/Clapcich ITA and Lutz/Beucke GER. Nathalie Keller/Livia Naef SUI are now on the 22nd position. The Brits take more and more the command in Finns with the double race winner Giles Scott GBR 1st, Andrew Mills GBR 3rd and Mark Andrews GBR 4th. The only 'disturbance' is Pieter-Jan Postma NED on rank 2. Jonathan Lobert FRA is now 5th. Piet Eckert SUI, best of the four Swiss, sailing in the Silverfleet, is now 54th. Leader change also in the Nacra 17 where Mandy Mulder/Thijs Visser NED replaced Renée Groenveld/Karel Bergemann NED on top. Vaireaux/Audinet FRA are now 3rd. Matthias Bühler/Nathalie Keller SUI follow on rank 19, Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI dropped on rank 30. Ivan Pastor ESP has taken the first place in the RS:X male windsurfers ahead of Julien Bontemps FRA and Toni Wilhelm GER, major changes also in the RS:X female windsurfers with Bryony Shaw GBR on top replacing Maayan Davidovich ISR. Blanca Manchon ESP advanced on rank 3. All ranking lists, the video of the day and the report.

The Laser fleets saild the first three final races in a 15 kn breeze yesterday afternoon. Man of the day was Tonci Stipanovic CRO winning two races and moving up on the first place overall. Only one point behind are Tom Burton AUS and Philipp Buhl GER at equal points. Andy Maloney NZL and Bruno Fontes BRA follow not far back. Thrilling will the fight for the top-10 positions be today, as the ranks 9-12 - Jesper Stalheim SWE, Julio Alsogaray ARG, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA and Ashley Brunning AUS have the same number of points. Guillaume Girod SUI is 52nd. Leader change also in the Lasers Radial where Sarah Gunni DEN replaced the tied Allison Young GBR on top. Tatjana Droszdowskaja BLR follows on rank 3, Amélie Riou FRA is 4th. Manon Luther SUI is 29th, Nigina Römer SUI 48th. All ranking lists, the video of the day and the report.

14 Moth-sailors came together for a training camp at Port Camargue FRA over the Easter weekend. Directed by Jean-Marc Monnard SUI and Jean-Pierre Baudet, the sessions took place in a variety of conditions. A report with video interviews by Chris Rast SUI/USA and Matthias Renker SUI.

Last year, Kilian Wagen CNP/Grégoire Siegwart CNM from Lake Geneva started their 420 campaign after successes on the Optimist and Laser 4.7. This year, they have high ambitions with the ISAF Youth World Championship on Cyprus as highlight. The team has launched a well-designed website a few days ago. After intense trainings, the Swiss regatta season starts over the next weekend with the Lugano Points' Championship event!

Today begins the first Act of the Swiss Volvo Match Cup 2013 on Lake Zürich. 8 teams from Germany, Poland and Switzerland particpate. Favorites are Alexa Bezel SUI, Felix Oehme GER and Nelson Méttraux SUI. The best teams can qualify for the Swiss Matchracing Championship 2013 in Geneva to be organised in August by the SN Geneva. The preview.

After the windy first days, the classic Palma seabreeze filled in yesterday and the qualifications were concluded with two more races sailed in moderate conditions. The big fleets will continue in Gold- and Silverfleets, but in addition, the qualification rankings will for all classes be considered as one result in the final series beginning today.
Matt Belcher/Will Ryan AUS are the clear leaders in the 470 men ahead of Patience/Glanfield GBR nd Leboucher/Leberre FRA (here the video of the day of the team). Schmid/Reichstädter AUT dropped on rank 4. Weguelin/McIntyre GBR were not as successful in the last heats, but nevertheless, they finished the qualification on the first place in front of Oliveira/Barbachan BRA and Nincevic/Zupan CRO. Impressive the Chinese Huang/Wang CHN on the 4th position, Vadlau/Ogar AUT follow as 5th. Kadelbach GER/Thilo SUI are 17th and also Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI on rank 20 qualified for the Goldfleet with a good race day yesterday. Well-known teams are in front in the 49ers with Morrison/Rhodes GBR ahead of Evans/Powys GBR and Paz/Paz ESP. In the 49erFX, Baad-Nielsen DEN so convincing so far lost much of their advance and just saved their first place with one point on the day's best Maloney/Meech NZL. Conti/Clapcich ITA, Lutz/Beucke GER and Jurczok/Lorenz GER follow on the ranks 3-5. Nathalie Keller/Livia Näf SUI had a perfect day and moved up on rank 11. The less windy conditions caused some bloopers for the first-ranked Finn sailors, but they stayed after all in the leading pack with Giles Scott GBR ahead of Vasilji Zbogar SLO, Andrew Mills GBR and Jonathan Lobert FRA. Piet and Jan Eckert SUI are on the positions 57 and 58. The day winners in the Nacra 17 were French, but Renée Groenveld/Karel Begemann NED kept the lead now ahead of Vaireaux/Audinet FRA and Besson/Riou FRA. Matias Bühler/Nathalie Brugger SUI are 17th and Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI finished the qualifiers on rank 25, just behind Hahlbrock GER/Bottoni SUI. Leader change in the RS:X-male windsurfers with Julien Bontemps FRA replacing Toni Wilhelm GER on top. Maayan Davidovich ISR and Flavia Taretaglini ITA lead in the RS:X-female windsurfers. All ranking lists, the video of the day and the daily report.

The qualifiers ended yesterday with two races sailed in a classic Palma seabreeze of moderate 10-14 kn, causing some changes in the rankings, unimportant for the final outcome, as the the race format puts all emphasis on the finals beginning today and counts the results achieved so far as just one value.
Philipp Buhl GER stayed on top in the Lasers Standard, while Andrew Maloney NZL winning two races advanced on rank 2, Sam Meech NZL follows as 3rd. The co-leader Tom Burton AUS however dropped on position 4. Even worse the day for Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA, down from 3 to 13. Guillaume Girod SUI, 50th of the 119 participants, made the Goldfleet. First defeat for Allison Young GBR in the Lasers Radial, but with 5 bullets in 6 heats, she remains the superior leader ahead of Sarah Gunni DEN and Amélie Riou FRA. Manon Luther SUI, rank 26, qualified for the Goldfleet, Nigina Römer SUI 57th, continues in the Silverfleet as from today. All ranking lists, the video of the day and the report.

Yesterday, a moderate 12 to 15 kn South wind was blowing during the morning, allowing the new Olympic 49FX and Nacra-17 classes to start their racing. During the afternoon, the breeze was freshening on up to 25 kn, but all classes could complete their program.
Adding another race win, the surprising Austrians Schmid/Reichstädter took the lead in the 470 men ahead of the Olympic Champion Matthew Belcher AUS and his new crew Will Ryan AUS. Mantis/Kagialis GRE follow on rank 3, Leboucher/Leberre FRA advanced on rank 4. Weguelin/McIntyre GBR stayed clearly on top of the 470 women in front of Nincevic/Zupan CRO and Oliveira/Barbachan BRA. Kadelbach GER/Thilo SUI are now 13th, Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI dropped on rank 22. D'Otoli/Delpech FRA and Paz/Paz ESP share the lead in the 49ers, closely followed by Morrison Rhodes GBR as 3rd. As expected, the show is on in the 49ersFX for Ida-Marie Baad-Nielsen/Lotte Thusgaard DEN dominating the fleet with three race wins. Alexandra Maloney/Molly Meech NZL and Jena Hansen/Katja Salskov DEN follow on the ranks 2 and 3. Nathalie Keller/Livia Naef SUI had to fight with the fresh breeze and are 17th of the 31 teams. Separated by one point only are the first three Finns: Jonathan Lobert FRA leads ahead of Giles Scott GBR and Vasilij Zbogar SLO. The best Swiss Jan and Piet Eckert follow on the ranks 57 and 58. The mixed team Nacra 17 catamaran sailed three races yesterday, and according to the expectations, the Dutch teams were performing well. Mandy Mulder/Thijs Visser NED lead ahead of Thomas Zajac/Tanja Frank AUT and Renée Groenveld/Karel Bergemann NED. Billy Besson/Marie Riou FRA - both members of Dona Bertarelli's 'Lady Cat' Décision-35 team - are 5th. Sarah Newsberry/John Casey USA, winners of the Miami Worldcup Regatta, are on position 10. On a steady way up are Matias Bühler/Nathalie Brugger SUI on rank 14 for the moment. More difficulties had Silke Hahlbrock GER/Christoph Bottoni GER/SUI as 22nd and Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI as 23rd of the 34 teams. Leader in the RS:X male windsurfers is Toni Wilhelm GER, while Maayan Davidovich ISR, winning 3 of the 4 races, is on top of the RS:X female windsurfers. All ranking lists, the video of the day and the reports.

The qualification phase of the two Laser fleets continued yesterday with two more races in a moderate 12 - 18 kn breeze, increasing to up to 25 kn in the afternoon. Nothing new on top of the two Laser Standard fleet with Philipp Buhl GER and Tom Burton AUS winning three heats each and leading overall. The best of the day Matthew Wearn AUS (ranks 2/1) advanced on the 3rd place. Andy Maloney NZL and Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA follow on the positions 4 and 5. Guillaume Girod SUI occupies the 46th place of the 119 participants and is on the way to the Goldfleet. Clearly on top of the Lasers Radial is Allison Young GBR with four race wins, followed by the youngsters Anne-Marie Rindom DEN, Amélie Riou FRA, Silvia Zennaro ITA and Sarah Gunni DEN. Manon Luther SUI is now on the 24th place. Nigina Römer SUI follows on rank 52 of the 66 participants. All ranking list, the video of the day and the event website.

On Easter Monday and yesterday, four more races were sailed off Le Havre. Jonatan Vadnai HUN, Laser 4.7, realised four straight wins and finished clearly on top ahead of Gianmarco Planchestainer ITA and Nicolo Villa ITA. David Biedermann SUI and Max Haenssler SUI follow on the ranks 6 and 7 of the 127 participants. An English 1 and 2 overall resulted in the 155 boats' Laser Radial fleet with Jon Emmett GBR and John Booth GBR. Jean-Baptiste Guillou FRA finished 3rd. Nils Theuninck SUI is on position 5, Sébastien Schneiter SUI 6. The best girl Cecilia Zorzi ITA is on the 30th place. Jean-Baptiste Ducamin FRA ahead of Youssef Akrout TUR and Dominykas Kneizys LTU is the final outcome in the Lasers Standard. The best Swiss Cyrill Knecht SUI is 7th among the 30 participants. All results, the videos and the event-website.

The 3rd ISAF 2013 Worldcup Event began yesterday on the waters of the Bay of Palma in a 20-25 kn breeze with gusts of up to 30 kn in the afternoon, too much wind for the 'modern' Olympic classes Nacra 17 and 49er FX, and also the 49ers had to abandon racing after two heats as the whole fleet capsized ! The solid 'old' Olympic classes however sailed the scheduled two races. The Olympic Champion Matthew Belcher AUS with his new crew Will Ryan AUS and Schmid/Reichstädter AUT were the clear winners in both heats of their groups and stay jointly on top of the 470 men's rankings. To be noted, that the new format awards zero points for a first place and allows to discard the worst result right from race two. Also on top with two race wins are Sophie Weguelin/Eilidh McIntyre GBR in the 470 women, followed by Skrzypulec/Wojcik POL and Nincevic/Zupan CRO. URL=limasailingteam.blogspot.fr/]Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI[/URL] (see their report with a video-Interview !) are on the 16th place in their first Worldcup regatta. Even better the result of Anne-Sophie Thilo SUI, who - after the separation of the team Testuz/Thilo SUI - was sailing this race with the German Olmpian Kathrin Kadelbach GER and is on rank 10. Favorites are on the first positions of the Finns with Giles Scott GBR and the Olympia-Bronze-Medalist Jonathan Lobert FRA both winning a race each. The best of the four Swiss is Jan Eckert SUI on position 51. Leader in the RS:X-women windsurfers is Maayan Davidovich ISR, in the RS:X-men Toni Wilhelm GER is on top. All ranking lists and the report of the day.

The ISAF Olympic Worldcup Regatta on the waters of the Bay of Palma began yesterday with two windy races. The 118 Lasers Standard sail in two fleets, and Philipp Buhl GER and Tom Burton AUS are the superior leaders winning both races and sharing rank one ahead of Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA and Sam Meech NZL. Guillaume Girod SUI follwows on rank 51. Alison Young GBR was the winner of both heats in the Lasers Radial, while in the other fleet, Anne-Marie Rindom DEN and Sarah Gunni DEN booked a first place each and are on the 2nd rank overall. Mathilde de Kerangeat FRA follows on the 4th place. Manon Luther SUI, race ranks 10 and 12, is on position 23 overall. To be noted, that with the new regatta format, rank 1 is awarded with zero points, and the discard race comes into effect right from race 2. All ranking lists and the report of the day.

Good sailing conditions - breeze around 12 and tide current - prevailed on the final day of the Havre Europacup Regatta 2013 as can be seen on the official video of the day. Unfortunately, the event website does not contain updated ranking lists this morning. After four races of the Lasers 4.7, Roberto Pollara ITA was first in the blue fleet Roberto Pollara ITA ahead of Jonatan Vadnai HUN, and in the yellow fleet, Nicolo Villa ITA was on top ahead of Gianmarco Planchestainer ITA an der Spitze. Max Haenssler SUI and David Biedermann SUI are on the 4th places each. In the Lasers Radial, Mohamed Ben-Naceur FRA, Jean-Baptiste Guillou FRA and Damien Michelier FRA lead in their fleets. Sébastien Schneiter SUI is 2nd of his group, Benoit Lagneux SUI and Nils Theuninck SUI are 3rd and 4th. In the Lasers Standard, Jean-Baptiste Ducamin FRA was first on Sunday evening in front of Youssef Akrout TUR and Dominykas Kneizys LTU, Cyrill Knecht SUI followed on rank 10. The event website, where the results might be updated during the day.

Apparently, there was no racing on the final day of the 29er Eurocup at Cavalaire. Winners after six races are therefore Jasper Steffens/Tom Brauckmann GER, followed by Llena/Marquez ESP and Rual/Nael FRA on the ranks 2 and 3. 89 teams from 13 nations participated, but no Swiss. The ranking list.

The 2013 Spi Ouest at La Trinité ended yesterday with races in a 25 kn breeze and tempeatures around 0°. Inspite of the ice-cold weather, large fleets were present - 423 teams in total - in most of the 16 classes. Winner in the M34 was 'Courrier Dunkerque' with Daniel Souben FRA clearly ahead of Franck Cammas FRA ('Groupama') and Thomas Coville FRA ('Sodebo'). 'Ville de Genève' with Elodie Méttraux SUI lost a position and finished on rank 7 overall. In the Grand Surprise, L. Daoulas FRA was the dominating winner with 7 races of 9 in his favour. Valentin Bovey SUI and his students' team for the www.facebook.com/heclausannesailingteam]HEC Lausanne[/URL] did not start in the last race and dropped on rank 8 of the 49 teams. First in the Longtzes was S. Reischl GER ahead of vor Nicolas Bérenger FRA. Ruedi Corbelli SUI finished the regatta on rank 16. All ranking lists and the final report (Fr).

Much wind on day one of the 3rd ISAF Worldcup 2013 in the Bay of Palma. 20-25 kn have been forecast, not only a challenge for the athletes but also for the new Olympic classes which have to prove their suitability under these conditions. They will draw much attention as for the first time, larger fleets will be on the water, and a benchmark for the successful teams in the first regattas. In the 49erFX, Martine Grael/Kahena Kunze BRA will encounter Ida Baad-Nielsen/Marie Thusgaard DEN. Nathalie Keller/Livia Naef SUI will represent Switzerland in this new women's skiff. Favorites in the Mixed Multihull Nacra 17 - 37 teams starting - are the Miami Worldcup winners Sarah Newberry/John Casey USA meeting for the first time the strong Dutch teams. Matias Bühler/Nathalie Brugger SUI and Stéphanie Rossé/Michael Gloor SUI will sail their cat regatta premiere, as well as also Silke Hahlbrock GER with Christoph Bottoni, the former SUI Laser Olympian. All entry lists and the official preview.

The Optimist Meeting on Lake Garda ended yesterday with two more races. Alexandra Stauffer ITA, winner of the last race, climbed on top of the elder Juniores taking the overall victory with a 12 points' advantage on Max Clapp GBR. Aslan Yücehan TUR moved up on rank 3. Wolf Van Cauwenberghe SUI was less successful and dropped on the still excellent 8th rank.
Poland stayed on the first places in the Cadetti with Jakup Golebiowski POL and Pawel Abramowicz POL on the ranks 1 and 3. Marius Westerlind SWE 3rd joined the podium on the last day. Thanks to a 2nd race rank, Harley Stone SUI advanced on the 7th place. The event-website.

The three Laser fleets have 3 to 4 races on their result sheets after two days at the Le Havre Europacup Regatta. In the Lasers Standard, Jean-Baptiste Ducamin FRA with three race wins is the clear leader ahead of Youssef Akrout TUR and Dominykas Kneizys LTU. Cyrill Knecht SUI follows on rank 9 of the 30 participants. In the Lasers Radial, the leader is Mohammed Ben Naceur FRA winning two of the three heats, clearly ahead of Sébastien Schneiter SUI and Hugo Fedrigucci FRA. Marie Barrue FRA follows as best women on rank 17 of the 53 Radials. Roberto Pollara ITA is on top of the Lasers 4.7 in front of Jonatan Vadnai HUN and Guy Abarbanel ISR, Max Haenssler SUI follows on the 4th place. Clara Savoldelli FRA 5th is the best girl. The event website.

The 5o5 Europacup in the Bay of Toulon ended prematurely yesterday as the Mistral constantly blew with over 30 kn. The rankings after 3 races - two light wind heat on the opening day and a Mistral race on Easter Sunday - became therefore final. Meike Schoemaker/Holger Jess GER were first followed by Boite/Grossmann FRA and Holzapfel/Worm GER. The best Swiss Bart/Grob SUI finished 9th, Betschen/Hollinger SUI and Jacot/Jacot SUI followed on the ranks 13 and 16 among the 43 teams. The final rankings.

Mistral exceeding 30 kn prevailed on the last day of the traditional windurfing season opening with a good international fleet in the Bay of Almanarre FRA. Unfortunately, no rankings have been posted so far on the final outcome of the event. The event website.

Sunshine and moderate winds after three icy and stormy days off La Trinité, but already today, a frontal system will break in with a 25 kn breeze and a sharp temperature drop to around 0° for the last races. In the M34, 'Courrier Dunkerque' with Daniel Souben FRA remained on top, but Franck Cammas FRA, best of the day on 'Groupama' reduced the gap. 'Ville de Genève' with Elodie Méttraux SUI stayed on the 6th position. The first place in the Grand Surprise still clearly belongs to L. Dalouas FRA. The team of the HEC Lausanne with Valentin Bovey SUI follows on rank 5 of the 49 participants. No change also in the Longtzes where S.Reischel GER keeps the lead ahead of Nicolas Bérenger FRA, coming nearer after two daily race wins. Ruedi Corbelli SUI dropped on the 16th place. All other ranking lists (16 classes) and the daily report.

No luck with the weather this year for the 1127 young Optimist sailors at the Lake Garda Optimist Meeting, as the rainy cold conditions stayed on during the whole day. At least there was a 14 kn Northerly breeze all day long so that all fleets could complete two races at least. The Poland Optimists continue to dominate the Cadetti (age 9-12) with Filip Szmit POL leading with a 4 points' advantage on Jakup Golebiowski POL and Pawel Abramowicz POL after four races. Maddie Hawkins USA continues to tbe the best girl on the 8th place. Thanks to the discard result, Harley Stone SUI made an important jump on rank 13, Till Seger SUI follows on the 34th position of the 258 participants.
Rodolfo Silvestrini ITA ahead of Alberto Tezza ITA and the best girl Alexandra Stalder ITA are the top trio in the elder Juniores (age 13-15). Wolf Van Cauwenberghe SUI is the best non-Italian, 7 points behind the leader before the last races today. Florian Fahrni SUI booked a race win yesterday that made him advance on rank 25. Well positioned is also Martina Müller SUI as 31st and third-best girl. The report (It.) and the event website.

The fresh Mistral filled in by noon as announced with wind speeds of over 30 kn, and three slalom heats were completed in beautiful sunshine. Cédric Bordes FRA leads ahead of Patrick Diethelm SUI and Ludovic Jossin FRA. Franziska Stauffacher SUI on rank 35 leads in the women's rankings. The multiple Slalom World Champion Karin Jaggi SUI (instructor during the race clinics last week) did not compete. The rankings and the illustrated report of the day.

The fresh Mistral filled in by noon as announced with wind speeds of over 30 kn, and three slalom heats were completed in beautiful sunshine. Cédric Bordes FRA leads ahead of Patrick Diethelm SUI and Ludovic Jossin FRA. The Swiss Olympian Richard Stauffacher SUI follows on rank 16. His sister Franziska Stauffacher on rank 35 leads in the women's rankings. The multiple Slalom World Champion Karin Jaggi SUI (instructor during the race clinics last week) did not compete. The rankings and the illustrated report of the day.

The light wind from the opening day was replaced by a fresh Mistral and five heats have now been completed after two race days. Jasper Steffens/Tom Brauckmann GER lead closely followed by Lucas Rual/Brewal Nael FRA and Marti Llena/Adria Marquez ESP. 89 teams from 13 nations (a.o. India !) but no Swiss are racing. The results.

Moderate but very shifty winds and a strong tidal current dominated yesterday at La Trinité after the windy opening day. Daniel Souben FRA and his 'Courrier Dunkerque' mastered the situation the best extending the lead in the M34, the yachts used in the Tour de France, with the day ranks 1 and 2. Frank Cammas ('Groupama') advanced on rank 2, 'Ville de Genève' with Elodie Méttraux SUI defended the 6th place. Winning all five races in the Grand Surprise was L.Daoulas FRA. The HEC Lausanne team with Valentin Bovay SUI follows in spite of a premature start in the last race of the day on rank 5. S. Reischl GER stays on top of the Longtzes. Nicolas Berenger FRA advanced on rank 2. Ruedi Corbelli SUI moved up on rank 13. All other ranking lists - 16 classes in total participate - as well as the report of the day.

Almost 60 teams from 8 nations participate in the 5o5 Europacup Regatta in the Bay of Toulon FRA, including the top teams from Germany and Denmark, and also a Swiss delegation. Unfortunately, the very minimal event website does not contain any further information. To be noted, that a strong 25-30 kn Mistral was blowing yesterday .... that will continue today.

Temperatures around 0° and the wet weather prompted the Race Committee to abandon the Easter Regatta prematurely yesterday at noon already. The rankings after the only race from the opening day become therefore final: In the Dragons , Dieter Schmid TYC was first ahead of Norbert Stadler SGYC and Max Pfeiffer GER. 12 boats racing. Only 4 Starboats participated with Kurt and Markus Scheidegger TYC as winners ahead of Gérard Birbaum/François Germain CNP.

Unusual light winds and cold temperatures prevailed also on day two of the Lake Garda Optimist Weekend. The younger Cadetti sailed a race in the morning. In the afternoon, four of the five Juniores fleets completed their first two heats each, and one fleet ('white') had just the time for one race only so that no overall rankings are available yet. In the Cadetti, Filip Szmit POL, winning both races so far, is on top ahead of Marius Westerlind SWE and Pavel Abramowicz POL at equal points on rank 2. Maddie Hawkins USA on the 8th place is the best girl. Finishing 11th, Till Seger SUI advanced on position 32 overall as best Swiss. Dominators in the races of the Juniores were mainly Italians, but no consolidated rankings are available. The report. Racing can be followed on video podcasts and during the day in realtime livestream.

A major drop of temperature with icy Easterly winds around 25 kn made racing extremely hard for the 430 teams on the water yesterday. The M34 sailed three races, and Daniel Souben FRA with his 'Courrier de Dunkerque' defended the first position six points ahead of Thomas Coville FRA and his 'Sodebo'-Team. Thanks to a 2nd race rank, 'Ville de Genève' with Elodie Méttraux SUI moved up on position 6. All other classes sailed two races. Leader in the 40 boats' Grand Surprise fleet is L. Daoulas FRA and his team with two race wins. www.facebook.com/heclausannesailingteam]HEC Lausanne[/URL] with Valentin Bovey SUI is on the excellent 5th place. On the first position of the Longtzes is 'Wetfeet' of S. Reischl GER. Ruedi Corbelli SUI and his team follow on rank 15. All ranking lists and the daily report with a video.

Despite of the still prevailing winter days, a number of yachts met for the traditional Easter season opening on Lake Thoune. In light winds, just one race was sailed yesterday with Dieter Schmid TYC and his team ahead in the Dragons, followed by Norbert Stadler SGYC and Max Pfeiffer GER (12 teams starting), while Kurt and Markus Scheidegger TYC took the lead in the only four Starboats.

The morning North breeze brought icy temperatures for the 1137 sailors on the starting line of the day one at the Lake Garda Optimist Meeting 2013. But the wind slackened shortly after the start at 11 a.m. and remained very light during the whole day. Only the 'Pink fleet' of the younger Cadetti (age 9-12) completed a race, ending with a Polish one-two by Pawel Abramowicz POL and Patryk Kosmalski POL. Maddie Hawkins USA finished 4th as best girl. The best Swiss Rosine Baudet SUI was on rank 18 of the 128 participants in this fleet. The ranking list and the report. Racing will resume early this morning and all fleets will be in action. As from today, a Live-Streaming is available on the event website.

A fresh 25 kn breeze again yesterday on the Red Sea .... a home run for the World Champion Johnny Heineken USA winning all five heats in the men's category. Only Riccardo Leccese ITA was able to follow more or less. Florian Gruber GER remained on rank 3. Today begins the final of the top-10 in a knockoff cup system. Mike Martin SUI did not compete yesterday and finished the Championship on the 26th place.
The fight on top of the women's category is closer as Steph Bridge GBR was still able to defend the first place against Erika Heineken USA, but the advance is now only 2,2 points. Katja Roose NED replaced Elena Kalinina RUS on rank 3. Astrid Berz SUI finished the Championship, that will be concluded with the top-10 final, on rank 12.
The daily report and the video of the day.

The 'Spi Ouest', with over 500 entries one of the most important regattas at the French Atlantic Coast, began yesterday at La Trinité with a first race sailed in a light breeze. With 'Courrier Dunkerque' of Daniel Souben FRA, an experienced M34 team was on top ahead of the prominent newcomers in the class Thomas Coville FRA ('Sodebo') and Franck Cammas FRA ('Groupama') on the ranks 2 and 3. 'Ville de Genève' with Elodie Méttraux SUI on rank 8 was not yet up-to-speed. As from today, 15 other classes will be racing. Swiss teams are on the entry lists of the Longtzes with Ruedi Corbelli SUI and the Grand Surprises with the Students'-Team of HEC Lausanne and Valentin Bovey steering. The daily report and all lists of participants.

Cold weather awaits the participant at the Spring Cup Regatta in the snow-covered Slowenia. With 66 teams, the 420s are the largest fleet with Austria and Germany as most important delegations. No Swiss on the different entry lists, and also the strong Croatian Laser sailors are absent due to the date clash with the ISAF Worldcup event on Mallorca. Here all the entry lists and a short preview.

A breeze of up to 32 kn prevailed on day three of the African Kiteboading Championship, just perfect for the reigning Worldchampions Johnny and Erika Heineken USA being accustomed to such condtions from their home water San Francisco. In the men's category, racing in a Gold- and Silverfleet, Johnny Heineken USA won the four races of the day, climbing on top of the rankings ahead of Ricardo Leccese ITA and Florian Gruber GER. Mike Martin SUI improved his position on rank 22 in the Goldfleet.
Same situation in the women's category, where Erika Heineken was the winner of all four heats of the day, reducing the gap to the leading Steph Bridge GBR on 3 points. The youth driver Elena Kalinina RUS follows on rank 3. Astrid Berz SUI advanced on rank 12. The report of the day and the video of the day.

The Opening Ceremony with a parade across the little Italian town Riva kicked-off the legendary Optimist Meeting on Lake Garda. With 1315 participants from 30 nations and 4 continents, the number of entries has again risen to a new record height. For the first time, an Optimist sailor from Sri Lanka SRL is among the participants. The USA are represented by 36 (!) sailors. Switzerland with 79 boat is among the larger delegations. This summer, the Optimist World Championship will take place at the same venue. The event website.

The rather light seabreeze filled in late and with only 9-12 kn yesterday. The young light weights were in front in both heats of the day. In the men's, Florian Gruber GER age 19 was first in both runs, moving up to the leader Riccardo Leccese ITA at 1 point. The World Champion Johnny Heineken USA advanced on rank 3. Mike Martin SUI, 25th of the top 30 is qualified for the Goldfleet. In the women's, the young Russian Elena Kalinina RUS was on top in both heats and approached the overall leading Steph Bridge GBR at 3 points. The World Champion Erika Heineken USA moved up on rank 3. Astrid Berz SUI remained on rank 13. The daily report an the video of the day.

Next Monday begins the third Olympic Classes Worldcup 2013 event in Palma de Mallorca, and for the first time, a remarkable fleet of the new Mixed-Catamaran Olympic Nacra-17 Class is at the start. 36 teams, partly coming from other Olympic classes or from the F-18 and Tornado catamarans are on the entry list. Sarah Newberry/John Casey USA, the clear winners of the Miami Worldcup event will be challenged by the Dutch catamaran specialists Elke Delnooz/Mischa Hemskerk NED, or the two former matchracers Mandy Mulder NED and Renée Groenveld NED. Roland and Nahid Gäbler GER are another team with top chances. Interesting will be the duo of the two windsurfing top athletes Maksim Obremenko/Olga Maslivets UKR, both in the top-10s at the RS:X Worlds 2013 a month ago. The 470 top sailors Gabrio Zandona ITA (with Laura Marimon ITA) and Ben Saxton GBR (with Hannah Diamond GBR) will also be watched with interest. Switzerland is represented by the two past-Laser Radial champions Stéphanie Rossé SUI (with Andreas Gloor SUI as crew) and Nathalie Brugger SUI (with Matias Bühler SUI as helmsman). In addition, Christoph Bottoni SUI/GER acts for the first time as crew of the German matchracer Silke Hahlbrock GER. The official preview with a detailed report on the team Bühler/Brugger SUI.

The World elite of the Kiteboarding Course Racers is present at the African Championship 2013 on the Red Sea EGY. On the opening day yesterday, four heats were completed in good conditions. Joint leaders are in the men Riccardo Leccese ITA and the World Champion Weltmeister Johnny Heineken USA. Florian Gruber GER follows on rank 3. Mike Martin SUI is on position 24 of the 68 kiters. In the women, Steph Bridge GBR is clearly leading in front of Elena Kalinina RUS and Agnieszka Bilska POL at equal points. The World Champion Erika Heineken follows on rank 4. Astrid Berz SUI is 14th among the 15 starters. The report an the video of the day.

In addition to the traditional A-Cat Regattas on Lake Thoune and Lake Uri, Versiox is for the first time on the race calendar 2013. Another highlight will be the combined Championship of Austria, Germany and Switzerland on the Austrian end of Lake Constance. The European Championship takes place in Barcelona. Moreover, a remarkable number of A-Cat sailors have announced their intension to participate in the Lake de Joux Bol d'Or. The preview (fr) (PDF).

Rain and fog dominated on the last day of the Laser Europacup Regatta on Lake Lugano SUI, ... and the wind was absent. The rankings after five races became therefore firm with Tim Leuenberg GER on top of the Lasers 4.7 ahead of Paolo Mavricic CRO and Alexander Ebert GER. Francesca Bergamo ITA as 4th was the best girl, Felizia Pellegrini SUI as 7th was the best Swiss in the 40 boats' fleet. On the first place in the Lasers Radial was Laura Cosentino ITA in front of Maximilian Kuester ITA and Jon Emmett GBR completing the podium. Emmett was at the same time Radial Master winner followed by Roger Moser SUI. Sébastien Schneiter SUI as 4th missed the podium clearly. Chris Russel IRL ahead of Cyrill Knecht SUI and Dominykas Kneizys LTU are the top-3 in the Lasers Standard, Martin Klawon GER was first in the Masters rankings. All ranking lists.

A week ago, the first Swiss Points' Championship Regatta took place in Lugano in Southern Switzerland, and on the next Thursday, the famous traditional International Optimist Meeting will begin on Lake Garda ITA. Some Optimist teams and sailors decided therefore to leave the boats trailer in Lugano, one of them the YC Bienne Team with the boats of Wolf van Cauwenberghe, Florian Fahrni, Martina Müller, Fabien Ruf or Damian Suri, all candidates for the Swiss World or European Championships 2013. In the night from last Friday to Saturday, the trailer on the CV Lago di Lugano Club burned down completely. The cause of the fire is unknown at present. At least, most of the sailor have found an alternative Optimist to be able to start on Lake Garda, venue of the 2013 Worlds, over the coming Easter Weekend. The report (It.).

The three Laser fleets sailed only one race yesterday in a light 5 to 7 kn breeze. Leader change in the Lasers 4.7 where Tim Leuenberg GER is now on top, 7 points ahead of Paolo Mavricic CRO. On the third place follow at equal points Alexander Ebert GER and Francesca Bergamo ITA. Felizia Pellegrini SUI is as the best Swiss on rank 7 among the 40 participants. Laura Coesentino ITA moved on top of the Lasers Radial thanks to her race win, ahead of Maximilian Kuester ITA and Jon Emmett GBR on the positions 2 and 3. Emmett is at the same time the best Radial Master. Sébastien Schneiter SUI is 4th. The new first-ranked in the Lasers Standard is Chris Russel IRL two points ahead of Cyrill Knecht SUI still with chances for the final victory in todays races. Martin Klawon GER and Mauro Lentini SUI share the lead in the Standard Masters. All results.

A different wind pattern awaited the sailors on the second day of the Lugano Laser Europacup 2013, as the fresh Northerly breeze from the opening day was replaced by a light 5-8 kn thermal South wind yesterday. Again, two races were completed. Paolo Mavricic CRO is the new leader in the Lasers 4.7, three points ahead of Tim Leuenberg GER. Alexander Ebert GER is third. Francesca Bergamo ITA on rank 6 is the best girl, closely followed by Felizia Pellegrini SUI. Maximilian Kuester ITA defended the first place in the Lasers Radial with Laura Cosentino ITA on rank 2 closely behind. Sébastien Schneiter SUI kept the third position inspite of a disqualification. Roger Moser SUI and Jon Emmett GBR share the lead in the Master Lasers Radial. New on top in the Standards is Cyrill Knecht SUI, one point in front of Chris Russell IRL. The new Master Laser Standard leader is Enrico Negri ITA, one point ahead of Markus Ochs SUI and Mauro Lentini SUI. All ranking lists.

The initial 18 kn Northerly breeze decreased to 5 kn during the two races sailed at the Lugano Europacup event, at the same time the second Euro-Master Regatta. Two 6th places were sufficient for Francesca Bergamo ITA to take the lead in the Lasers 4.7, closely followed by Marin Desabota CRO and Tim Leuenberg GER. Felizia Pelegrini SUI on the 5th place is the best Swiss among the 38 participants. Maximilian Küster ITA is on top of the Lasers Radial with the ranks 1 and 2. Laura Cosentino ITA and Sébastien Schneiter SUI follow at equal points on rank 2. First in the Radial-Masters is Roger Moser SUI with the positions 1 and 2. The leader in the Lasers Standard ist Chris Russell IRL with an advantage of two points on Dominikas Kneizys LTU. Cyrill Knecht SUI follows on rank 3. Markus Ochs SUI ahead of Mauro Lentini SUI is the sequence on top of the Standard Masters. All ranking lists.

The Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has been involved in sailing for a long time, be it in the development of 'Alinghi' or the project 'Hydroptère'. Cooperating with the world-wide known Décision SA boatyard at Ecublens/Lake Geneva SUI, theories are being put into practice and multihull sailing has been booming on Lake Geneva for years. At present, the researchers and technicians are - besides working on the 10 meter 'Hydroptère.ch', a research prototype for a big offshore multihull - engaged in the 'Little America's Cup', organised since 1961 on C-Class-catamarans. Only the size (7,6 m x 4.2 m) and the sail surface (27,8 m2) are given as measurement limits. The C-Class cats were the first to use wing-sails as implemented in the America's Cup boats today. The C-Class project 'Hydros' will be racing at The C-Cat Worlds in Falmouth GBR in September with two cats, and in 2015, the Little America's Cup will be organised in Geneva. At the same time, a world-wide research contest has been launched with the objective to optimise the energetic factors in boats-building, with the ultimate goal to minimise the energy consumption of the commercial navigation. The Communiqué in French and English, as well as the presentation video.

On the past weekend, the Mussanah Race Week ended on the Arabian Gulf. 14 races were sailed in perfect sailing conditions with a 8 to 20 kn breeze. Some classes had high-quality fleets on the starting line. Present in the Lasers was the ISAF World nbr 1 Tom Burton AUS, winning the regatta ahead of Andrew Maloney NZL and Paul Goodison GBR. The Masters-World Champion Wolfgang Gerz GER finished on rank 28. Winners in the F-18 catamarans were Bontemps/Amiot FRA. Bourgnon SUI/Schoenahl FRA followed on rank 7. Over 200 athletes from 23 nations participated in this race week. All results, the videos and the final report.

No racing on the final day of the Lake Garda Laser Europacup off Malcesine ITA. Robert Scheidt BRA in the Lasers Standard and Tatjana Droszdowskaja BLR in the Lasers Radial women were the superior winners with 5 race wins each. Fionn Lyden IRL was first in the Radial men. Max Haenssler SUI achieved his first international top result winning in the Lasers 4.7. Excellent results also from other Swiss participants such as Guillaume Girod SUI as 10th among the 110 Lasers Standard, Sébastien Schneiter SUI and Nils Theuninck SUI with the ranks 11 and 12 among the 164 Lasers Radial. Maud Jayet SUI and Nigina Römer SUI finished on the ranks 28 and 31 in the Lasers Radial women. The event-website with all rankings.

No races on the last day of the Palma Training Camp Regatta, and the rankings after 5 races became final. Afrodite Kyranakou/ Anneloes Van Veen NED are the winners in the 470 women. Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI finished 5th among the 15 teams. Patience/Glanfield GBR are on top of the 470 men. The two SUI-teams Julian Flessati/Tobias Rüdlinger SUI and Fabrice and Guillaume Rigot SUI had difficulties and finished on the ranks 31 and 32. Winner in the Finns is the Olympic medalist Jonathan Lobert FRA closely followed by Pieter-Jan Postma NED. Jan Eckert SUI follows on the 10th place. First in the Lasers Standard is Jesus Roguel-Sanchez, and the best in the large 49er fleet were Botin/Turrado ESP. Ida- Marie Baad/Marie Thusgaard DEN are the superior winner in the new 49erFX women's skiff ahead of Conti/Clapcich ITA and Lutz/Beucke GER at equal points. On top of the new mixed Nacra-17-catamaran are the former Dutch matchracers Mandy Mulder with Thijs Visser NED ahead of Renée Groenveld with Karel Begeman NED. Silvia Vogl/Thomas Czajka AUT are 3rd. Stéphanie Rossé/Andreas Gloor SUI sailed only on the last day and finished 10th. All ranking lists.

30 University teams from France, Spain, England, Germany and Switzerland participated in the Students' Europa Cup on J/80s during the past week. Nine races were sailed in fresh winds, partly in blowing snow. The Swiss team EPF Lausanne 1, skipper Marco Milan, dominated the regatta with top-3 finishes only, followed by University Nantes and the AMS Bologna. Good results also for the other two EPFL teams on the ranks 13 and 14. The ranking list, the report and the website of the EPFL Sailing Teams.

The 80 Optimist sailors completed two more races yesterday in a dense snowfall - the buoys could hardly be seen - at the opening regatta of the Annual Swiss Points' Championship on Lake Lugano in Southern Switzerland. Morgan Lauber SNR and Florian Fahrni SCM were again winning the heats, and the two are clearly ahead on the positions 1 and 2 in the overall rankings. The local Philipp Tibaldo CVLL climbed on the 3rd place on the second day of the event. The best girl Martina Müller YCH in on position 25. The results.

Big breeze and cool temperatures on day three of the Lake Garda Europacup ! No reason for Robert Scheidt BRA to stop the row of race wins, and he added another two bullets in the Lasers Standard. Emil Cedergardh SWE (World nbr 9) with three first and two second ranks controlled group 2 as well, and from today, the two will meet in the goldfleet. Guillaume Girod SUI on rank 10 of the 110 participants showed a remarkable performance. In the Lasers Radial, the Irish dominated the men's fleet with Fionn Lyden IRL one points ahead of Robbie Gilmore IRL. Marci Rudawski POL follows on rank 3. Sébastien Schneiter SUI and Nils Theuninck SUI follow on the ranks 11 and 12. In the Radials women, Tatjana Drosdovskaja BLR winning both races yesterday is clearly on top overall. Michelle Broekhuizen NED and somewhat farther back Daphne Van der Vaart NED follow on the positions 2 and 3. Nigina Römer SUI had a good day finishing on the ranks 8 and 12 an moving up on rank 30. Maud Jayet SUI rank 34 is not far behind. Max Haenssler SUI added another race wins in the Lasers 4.7, keeping the first place overall ahead of Jonatan Vadnai HUN and Anil Cetin TUR. All ranking lists. The event-website does not yet contain a daily report, but Robert Scheidt BRA, the King of the Laser Class, has posted an invitation for a three-days training clinic over the next weekend.

Three more races were sailed by class in a 10-12 kn South wind on the waters of the Bay of Palma. Unfortunately, the event-website this morning was down, but the results will probably become visible during this morning. Our reliable correspondents Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI did not manage the steep chop and will probably loose the first place in the 470 women. Julian Flessati/Tobias Rüdlinger SUI as well had difficulties with the waves and could not improve their ranking. The event-website.

Four races were sailed on day one of the first event of the Optimist Annual Points' Champions 2013 on Lake Lugano in a 12-15 kn breeze, sunshine but cool 7° temperatures. Morgan Lauber SNR, winning two races, is on top of the interim rankings. Second with a 11 points' backlog are Florian Fahrni SCM, Wolf Van Cauwenberghe CVVT and Max Wallenberg SNG at equal points. Martina Müller YCH as best girl follows on rank 21. 80 participants. The ranking list. Snow has been announced for today Sunday !

Too much wind on the last day of the DN European Championship 2013 in Poland and no more racing took place. Karel Jablonski POL is therefore the superior Champion with four of the six races sailed in his favor. The World Champion Tomasz Zakrzewski POL and Peter Hamrak HUN complete the podium. The best Swiss Jean-Claude Vuithier SUI finished on the 43rd place of the 135 participants. Ueli Marti SUI, 6th in the B-fleet, is 52nd overall. The final rankings and a short report.

The Laser Europacup on Lake Garda continued yesterday with two races and a superior dominator in the Lasers Standard winning all races so far: Robert Scheidt BRA back after 4 years on the Starboat. Emil Cedergardh SWE follows on rank 2, Lorenzo Chiavarini GBR is 3rd. Guillaume Girod SUI is on the 13th place of the 109 participants. In the Lasers Radial, führen Fionn Lyden IRL and Robbie Gilmore IRL lead in the men's rankings. Sébastien Schneiter SUI, Nils Theuninck SUI and Benoît Lagneux SUI follow on the positions 8, 9 and 11 among the 161 Radial men. The past World Champion Tatjana Droszdowskaja BLR is on top of the Radial women, ahead of Michelle Broekhuizen NED and Floridia Joyce ITA at equal points on rank 2. Maud Jayet SUI is 33rd of the 86 participants. In the Lasers 4.7, the leader in the Boys' rankings is Max Haenssler SUI in front of Jonatan Vadnai HUN and Nogay Dökmeci TUR. With David Biedermann SUI on rank 9, another Swiss is in the top-10 of the 115 participants. Magdalena Kwasna POL is first in the Laser 4.7 Girls ahead of Judith Engberts NED and Carolina Albano ITA. The best Swiss Asya Luvisetto SUI is 11th among the 46 girls. All ranking lists.

After the training weeks with mostly fresh winds, a light breeze of initially 8 kn, decreasing to 4 kn was present during the first day of the Training Camp Regatta. All classes sailed two heats. Starting in one 470 fleet with the men, Linda Fahrni/Maja Siegenthaler SUI finished on top with the ranks 1 and 3, Fiona Testuz/Anne-Sophie Thilo SUI follow on rank 9 of the 15 teams. In the 470 men's rankings, Matos/Schedel POR lead ahead of Barreiros/Curbelo ESP and Patience/Glanfield GBR. Flessati/Rüdlinger SUI and Rigot/Rigot SUI are on the ranks 31 nd 32. Jesus Sanchez ESP, Joaquin Blanco ESP and Philipp Buhl GER are on the first three places of the Lasers Standard. In the largest fleet with 34 teams, the 49ers, the leaders are Paz/Paz ESP in front of Botin/Torrado ESP. Silvia Vogl/Thomas Czajka AUT were first in both Nacra-17 races ahead of Mandy Mulder/Thijs Visser NED and Renée Groenveld/Karel Begeman NED. Baad/Thusgaard DEN were once more ahead in the 49FX followed by Clark/Groves GBR and Jurczok/Lorenz GER. First in the Finns is Girgio Poggi ITA ahead of Piotr Kula POL and the Olympic Silver medalist Jonathan Lobert FRA. Jan Eckert SUI follows on rank 7, just in front of Max Salminen SWE back in the Finn after his Star Olympic Gold medal. All ranking lists and the event-website.

After the removal of the organisation to a new venue with appropriate ice, the DN European Championship continued yesterday on Lake Siemianówka in Eastern Poland with two races. Adding another race win, Karol Jablonski POL defended his lead ahead of Tomasz Zakrzewski POL and Peter Hamrak HUN. Jean-Claude Vuithier SUI did not compete and is down on rank 42. Winning two races in the B-fleet, Ueli Marti SUI moved up on rank 6 (=52 overall). Today, two more races are on the program. The ranking lists and a short report.

A fresh breeze with gusts of over 40 kn prevailed on Lake Garda on day 1 of the Laser Europacup Regatta, and considering the cold temperatures, the Race Committee decided to sail one heat only. Winners in the two fleets of the Lasers Standard were Jesper Stalheim SWE and Robert Scheidt BRA. Finishing 6th in his group, Guillaume Girod SUI is 11th overall. Rank one in the Lasers Radial men is shared by Tapper Kaarle FIN, Robbie Gilmore IRL and Finn Lynch IRL with a race win each. An excellent first race had Sébastien Schneiter SUI finishing 2nd of his group. Benoît Lagneux SUI follows on rank 13. Co-leaders in the Radial Women are Tatjana Droszdowskaja BLR and Michelle Broekhuizen NED. The Laser 4.7 winners of their fleets were Marko Radman SLO and Marco Villani ITA. Max Hänssler SUI finished 3rd and is on rank 5 overall. David Biedermann SUI follows as 19th. The report (It.) with all rankings.

For the first time, the venue for the Lake Garda Europacup ist Malcesine, where the thermal 'Ora' afternoon wind is somewhat lighter, but the morning North Wind considerably stronger in this time of the year. Over 550 participants from 29 nations participate, among them Singapore, Brazil, Bahrain, Tunesia or the Dutch Antilles. After 9 years on the Starboat, the 8-times Laser World Champion and 5-times Olympic medalist Robert Scheidt BRA, who want to participate in the 2016 Olympics in his home country, is also on the entry list. Important delegations come from France and Germany. Switzerland is represented by the very active youth squads from Lake Geneva (a.o. with Nils Theuninck, Maud Jayet, Sébastien Schneiter) and in the Lasers Standard by Guillaume Girod SUI. The event-website.

The over 150 participants of the DN European Championship dislocated yesterday to the East of Poland where on the Lake Siemianówka, the ice seems to be OK according to some test drivers. All that is needed today is a good breeze to bring the Championship to a good end. After four heats, the leader is Karol Jablonski POL ahead of Tomasz Zarkzewicz POL. Jean-Claude Vuithier SUI, the only Swiss in the A-fleet, follows on rank34 . A report of the Austrian Team and the ranking lists.

Lack of wind and warmer temperatures creating a snow slush on the ice brought the DN Championship to a halt at the East-Polish Gizycko yesterday. The organisers have already found an alternative: the Lake Siemianówka at the Ukrainian-Polish border, where racing shall continue tomorrow. Today, the 150 sleds will move to the new venue. Leader after the four races of day one is Karol Jablonski POL ahead of Tomasz Zagrzewski POL. Jean-Claude Vuithier SUI follows on rank 34. The report and the ranking list.

On the past weekend ended the World Championship of the Ice-Kiters, Ice-Windsurfers and Ice-Wings staged in perfect conditions with sun and wind in Finland. The titles went after up to 23 runs (!) mostly to East European specialists. Among the participants was also Michael Kaspar SUI finishing as 10th overall and 4th Master in the Kite-Skis. All ranking lists, the event-website and a well edited video.

The Palma Olympic Worldcup event is still over two weeks away but already now, the bay of Palma has been very busy for weeks with teams e.g. from Germany, the Netherlands or Scandinavia doing their final shape ups in the mild climate of the Mediterranean island before the first 2013 Worldcup event in Europe. Over the last weekend, the breeze filled in with over 25 kn, documented by the famous yachting photographer Jesus Renedo. Here the spectacular pictures.
From the Swiss on the entry lists of the Trofeo, Nathalie Keller/Livia Naef SUI with their 49erFX and the two Finn newcomers (veterans and FD Olympic diplomands 1992) Jan und Pit Eckert SUI have established their training base. The event-website.

Difficult conditions with relatively bumpy ice and snow prevailed yesterday on the first day of the DN Ice-Sailing European Championship in Poland. In a 10 kn breeze, the A- and B- fleet sailed four races each, the C-fleet three. Leader after day one is the multiple Ice-Sailing World Champion and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski POL with three race wins and a 2nd rank. The World Champion Tomasz Zakrzewski POL is on the 2nd place, Peter Hamrak HUN is 3rd. Jean-Claude Vuithier SUI, the only Swiss in the A-fleet, follows on the 34th position. Ueli Marti SUI is on rank 16 in the B-fleet (=62 Overall). 7 Swiss participate in Poland. An Ice-Sailing 'rookie' is David Howlett GBR - the successful coach of the British Olympia Team with Ben Ainslie GBR and Percy/Simpson GBR - who is on the 16th place of the C-fleet (=107 Overall). The ranking lists and an illustrated short report.
This year as well, the organiser had to search for appropriate ice for the Championship in a tour across Northern Europe. A report with photos takes us on this journey.

The most important events during the past four weeks were the World Championships of the Olympic RS:X Windsurfers in Buzios BRA and the Laser Midwinters in Florida USA. Winning the Worlds title, Nick Dempsey GBR reclaimed the first place in the World Rankings of the RS:X-men, replacing Richard Stauffacher SUI, who - inspite of his retirement from competitive surfing after the Olympics - had shown up as number 1 with the new ranking formula (he is now down on rank 25). Flavia Tartaglini ITA, the only woman windsurfer with six results, is the new number one in the RS:X women at equal points with Tuuli Petäjä FIN. All other numbers one remain unchanged. The best-ranked Swiss is Manon Luther SUI as 21st in the Lasers Radial. The report and all rankings.

The Ski-Yachting organised by the Swiss Gstaad YC consists of a Giant Slalom on Friday and Match Races with radio-controlled boats on the swimming pool of the Hotel Bellevue on Saturday. 21 Club-Teams from all-over the world participated. Overall winner after the skiing and matchracing was the German team 'Bayrischer YC 2' defeating the 'Starboat fleet Basle SUI', fighting for rank three were 'Nyland SWE' and the 'Bayrischer YC 1'. The report. Results have not yet been posted on the Gstaad YC website, but the gallery of the previous year illustrates the setting of this friendly encounter.

The 86th Bacardi-Cup of the Star Class ended yesterday in Miami with a final regatta sailed in moderate conditions. The best nerves were with the USA Olympians Mark Mendelblatt/Brian Fatih USA winning the heat and turning the close rankings in their favors. After a premature start on day one, they improved their performance day after day and with the first places in the last two races, they moved up on top. Leading during the whole event, the double Olympic medalist Lars Grael BRA wit Mario Lagoa BRA as crew, was dethroned on the last day. Third at equal points were last year's winners Xavier Rohart FRA with Serge Pulfer SUI as crew. Jean-Pascal Chatagny/Patrick Ducommun SUI had a good last day improving their final rankings as best of the six Swiss teams on the 31st place. The final ranking list and the video of the day.

Two races were sailed yesterday at the Star Class Bacardi Cup in a moderate 8-12 kn Northerly breeze over Biscayne Bay with Rohart/Pulfer FR/SUI and Mendelblatt/Fatih USA as winners. Lars Grael/Marco Lagoa BRA remain on top overall inspite of a 32nd place - their discard result. Today is the final day of the 2013 Bacardi Cup and 5 teams, separated by 6 points only, still have a chance for victory: Mendelblatt/Fatih USA (2 points' backlog), Rohart/Pulfer FRA (3 points), Negri ITA/Kleen GER (5 points) and Diaz/Baltins USA (6 points). The Swiss teams are now closely together on the ranks 34-37 with Daniel Wyss/Urs Joss SUI still as best Swiss. The results and the video of the day.

'Red Bull Sailing' with Roman Hagara AUT had a 15 points' lead before the last races today .... but once more, this was not enough for the first overall victory in a X-40 event. 'The Wave - Musact' with Leigh McMillan GBR was only two points behind before the last double-points race and succeeded to pass the Austrians on the final downwind leg to the finish, taking the overall win. 'Alinghi', considerably reinforced by Morgan Larson USA calling tactics, is for the first time since 2011 on a podium place. The newcomer 'Realteam' with Jerôme Clerc SUI finished on rank 8. The report, the final rankings and the videos.

The sportsboats sailed three races yesterday on Biscayne Bay in a moderate breeze. Briane Keane USA and his team continued to clearly dominate the J/70, while a change on top of the Melges 20 occurred with James Wilson taking the lead ahead of Paul Reilly USA and Russell Lucas USA. Michael Kiss USA/Chris Rast SUI are now 5th. Allan Field USA stays on top of the Melges 24, followed by Ricardo Simoneschi ITA on rank 2. First in the Vipers is Peter Taselaar USA. All results and the event-website.

Racing at the Star Class Bacardi Cup resumes today after yesterday's lay day, and there are two crucial races on the program for the two days ahead. Lars Grael/Marco Lagoa BRA are the clear leaders after 4 races ahead of Diego Negri/Frithjof Kleen GER and Augie Diaz/Arnis Baltins USA. Xavier Rohart FRA/Serge Pulfer SUI will probably join this trio for the battle on the podium spots when the discard race will be considered this evening. The best of the 6 Swiss team, Daniel Wyss/Urs Joss SUI, follow on rank 26 of the 57 teams. The results and the event-website.

The Sportboats' Miami Sailing Week began yesterday in light winds on the Biscayne Bay. Just one race by class could be finished, with a number of boats missing the time limit. Winner in the largest fleet with 46 entries, the Melges 20, was James Wilson USA and his team ahead of Tony Tabb USA and Marcus Eagan USA. Michael Kiss USA (with Chris Rast SUI) follows on rank 6. In the Melges 24, Cathrine Evans USA is first, the best J/70 skipper was Joel Ronning USA and int the Viper 640, Andrew Weiss USA was on top. All ranking lists and the event-website.

After the success of last year, the Volvo Match Race Cup will be organised this year again with the same format and the same well-known yacht clubs, supported by the title sponsor Volvo Automobile Switzerland, a unique opportunity for talented new teams to gather experience and measure with international competitors. Winter is (almost) over and a number of teams are preparing the season that will begin shortly after Easter on Lake Zurich, where the Zürcher Yacht Club will organise the first Volvo MR Cup event of 2013. Participation in the Lake Zürich and/or Lake Constance Volvo Cups is a must for teams wanting to qualify for the Swiss Match Racing Championship 2013 in Geneva in August. The preview.

Act 1 of the Extreme Sailing Series 2013 in Muscat Oman continued yesterday in an initial 20 kn breeze, dying over the day on 4 kn during the last of the 6 races. No changes on top of the rankings with the 'Red Bull Sailing Team' of Roman Hagara AUT leading ahead of 'The Wave - Muscat' with Leigh McMillan GBR and Ernesto Bertarelli SUI with his 'Alinghi', keeping rank 3 despite of an premature start. The Swiss 'Realteam' with Jerôme Clerc SUI however descended on rank 7. The report, the rankings and a one-hour video of the day.

No question that the contact with the elements of nature, especially wind and water, has an excellent recreational effect on men, and that is why holidays on the water are more and more in vogue. Sailing trips are a valid alternative to beach or club holidays. There is no need to travel to the sea, as many lakes in Switzerland offer boating holidays, such as Lake Zurich with a 87,6 km picturesque and interesting shore line of all kind, from true nature to attractive villas. Well equipped Campings, bed & breakfast appartments and hotels in different prize ranges are available. Information and testimonials from visitors are available on holidaycheck.

As from today, the Melges 20, the Melges 24, the new J/70 and the Vipers join the Miami Regatta event. With 51 teams on the entry list, the Melges 20 have once more the largest fleet behind the Starboats. Among the participants is again Michael Kiss USA with Chris Rast SUI/USA calling tactics. The event-website and the entry lists.

The breeze on day two of the Bacardi Cup was somewhat fresher as on the opening day and two races were completed with Augie Diaz/Arnis Baltins USA and again Lars Grael/Mario Lagoa BRA as race winners. These two teams lead also in the overall rankings after three races, posted on the website including a discard already, making the gaps between the teams small. Grael/Lagoa BRA are 3 points ahead of Diaz/Baltins USA. Xavier Rohart/Pierre-Alexis Ponsot FRA, best of the day with the ranks 5 and 2, moved up on the 3rd place overall. Diego Negri ITA/Frithjof Kleen GER are 3rd. The best among the six Swiss - Wyss/Joss SUI - could not repeat the outstanding 6th position of the first race, and are now down on the 24th rank. The results and the video.

The racing season of theblu26class starts – after the regatta clinic in March - in mid April with the Sportboot Cup on Lake Constance. The blu26 class regatta calendar 2013 counts ten events in Switzerland, Germany and Italy. After the last years successful launch of the class championship (CC) in Zug the next edition will be held in Bayern on Lake Tegernsee form the 21th to the 22th of September 2013. The Bluboats Cup (BBC), the yearly overall class championship, does count five regattas. Besides the legendary regattas in Brunnen and Zug the Silver Cup in Romanshorn is a novelty in the 2013's calendar. Read the full report including the calendar.

Light winds and relatively cool tempertures prevailed on the first day of the Bacardi-Cup yesterday. Lars Grael/Mario Logos BRA had a perfect start, were clearly on top after the first upwind leg and sailed a solo far from the rest of the 64 boats' fleet. With Peter O'Leary/Rodney Hagebols IRL and Augie Diaz/Arnis Baltins USA, two of the favorites followed on the ranks 2 and 3. Excellent 6th were Daniel Wyss/Urs Joss SUI, while the last year's winners Xavier Rohart/Pierre-Alexis Ponsot FRA had a bad day finishing on rank 23 only. The results.

The X-40-Cats begin the season 2013 today with the first Act on the waters of the Arabian Gulf. This year again, the team to beat will be the defending 2012 Champions from Oman with Leigh McMillan GBR ('The Wave - Muscat'), but also the second local team 'Duqm Oman' with Robert Greenalgh GBR has its chances. Interesting to follow the young Swiss 'Realteam' with Jerôme Clerc SUI as skipper and among others also the experienced Arnaud Psarofaghis SUI. 'Alinghi' with Ernesto Bertarelli SUI is aiming for a better season as 2012 with the tactician Morgan Larson USA as reinforcement. The preview and the promotion-video.

Sun and spring-like temperatures welcomed the almost 150 participants at the first event of the Mediterranean Championship of the Lasers at Hyères FRA. The only missing was .... the wind. The Lasers Standard - among them also Guillaume Girod SUI - could sail just one upwind leg, the Lasers 4.7 and the largest fleet with 80 boats, the Lasers Radial, did only some starting exercises. A remarkable Swiss delegation is present in these fleets. The wind forecast of today is not any better, but the sun will be out again to make life comfortable after the cold winter. The event-website.

Three races were sailed on the second day of the Dragon GP in Cannes FRA in a well established 16-18 kn breeze from the East. Despite some rather disappointing race ranks, the first day's leader Anatoly Loginov RUS and his team defended the first place. Sailing for Monaco, Philipp Malte/Alex Schlonski/Michael Kurtz GER advanced on rank 2 with the day ranks 2/1/13. Ben Van Cauwenberghe BEL remains on the second place. Upwards also the SUI-teams: Uli Libor SUI is now 19th, Norbert Stadler SUI 25th and Walter Zürcher 36th. The results and the short report (f).

Good sailing conditions yesterday with sun and a moderate southern breeze prevailed on the first day of the Cannes Dragon Grand Prix. Leader after three races is Anatoly Loginov RUS with his team on the day ranks 2/1/1, ahead of Vassilij Senatorov RUS and Ben Van Cauwenberghe BEL. Malte Philip/Alex Schlonski/Michael Kurtz GER starting for Monaco follows on rank 4. The teams of Uli Libor GER/SUI and Norbert Stadler SUI are on the positions 21 and 23 of the 42 Dragons from 14 nations. The ranking list.

The BERNEXPO AG exposition halls were the home port of the nautical industry in Switzerland during the past week. Happy visitors and satisfied exhibitors marked the 7th edition of SuisseNautic, the Swiss National Boat and Watersports Show, from February 16 to 24. The final report.

Perfect black-ice conditions prevailed at the Swedish DN Iceboating Championship over the past weekend. Voijko Voremaa EST was the superior winner finishing 6 of the 7 heats in his favour. The World Champion Tomas Zakrszewski POL was 2nd and the America's Cup veteran Karol Jablonskji POL 3rd at equal points. The results and the video

The DN- and Optimist Iceboating Juniors were in action over the past weekend at Nida LTU. Eddie Klements SWE was 1st in the DN's, Mickolaj Mickiewicz POL in the Ice-Optimists. 32 Ice-Optimist from 8 nations participated. The results.

Perfect black-ice conditions prevailed at the Swedish DN Iceboating Championship over the past weekend. Voijko Voremaa EST was the superior winner finishing 6 of the 7 heats in his favour. The World Champion Tomas Zakrszewski POL was 2nd and the America's Cup veteran Karol Jablonskji POL 3rd at equal points. The only Swiss Jean-Claude Vuithier SUI terminated the Championship on rank 24 of the Goldfleet. The results and the video

The DN- and Optimist Iceboating Juniors were in action over the past weekend at Nida LTU. Eddie Klements SWE was 1st in the DN's, Mickolaj Mickiewicz POL in the Ice-Optimists. Maxime Bachelin SUI and Arthur Baudet SUI finished the Worlds on the ranks 8 and 10. 32 Ice-Optimist from 8 nations participated. The results.

Today is day one of the Dragon Grand Prix in Cannes with 42 teams from 14 nations on the entry list, among them 8 German teams and the teams of Walter Zürcher SUI and Norbert Stadler SUI. The weather forecast promises light winds and sun, but still cold temperatures. As from Thursday, a fresh Easterly will fill in with rain. The event-website.

The investments in a tough trainings program in view of the Youth America's Cup trials have paid off for the Swiss 'Team Tilt'. Winning the qualification regatta, they have been selected for the Youth America's Cup of September 1 to 4, where they will encounter the youth teams of the four America's Cup syndicates. The young Geneva team will endeavour to improve their skills and performance in big multihull sailing participating in the Vulcain Trophy 2013, the annual championship of the D35 catamarans, and the Saffram-Speed-Tour 2013 of the 28-foot M2-catamaran. The report and the video.

The first round of the Laser Euro Master Series 2013 was concluded with one race yesterday on the Gulf of St-Tropez waters. The clearly leading Jean-Pierre Vogtensperger FRA is the overall winner in the Lasers Standard after four races ahead of Laurent Bernaz FRA, Giovanni Repetto ITA and Martin Klawon GER. The best Swiss Jean-Luc Dreyer SUI is on the 7th position. Winner in the Lasers Radial was Didier Weiler FRA closely followed by Hervé Wattinne FRA and Sébastien Baudier FRA. Jacques Perret SUI follows on rank 10. The final rankings.

Cold temperatures prevailed yesterday at the Côte d'Azur on the Mediterraneas Sea with even a short snow fall period. Three races were sailed so far at the Euro Master Series Regatta on the Bay of St-Tropez off Ste-Maxime. Leader in the Lasers Standard is Jean-Pierre Vogtensberger FRA, winner of all three heats, followed by Laurent Bernaz FRA, three times second. Martin Klawon GER is third. The best Swiss Jean-Luc Dreyer SUI is 6th among the 19 participants from 6 nations. On top of the Lasers Radial is Didier Weiler FRA 3 points ahead of Hervé Wattinne FRA. Jacques Perret SUI follows on the 8th place of the 24 participants from 6 nations. The ranking lists.

Good saiing conditions prevail in Florida where the Laser Midwinters are taking place since two days. Six races have been sailed so far by the Lasers Standard and 4.7, while the Radials, sailing in two fleets, completed three heats each so far. Best of the 9 starters in the Lasers 4.7 is Andy Burns USA taking 4 of the 6 races. Leader in the 59 boats' Laser Standard fleet is Clay Johnson USA clearly ahead of Juan Maegli GUA and David Wright CAN. Luke Ramsey CAN was the winner of all three races in his Laser Radail group and is on top ahead of James Pulsford USA and Liam McCartey USA. Corinne Peters CAN on rank 4 is the best ranked woman. The only European on the ranking list is Sébastien Schneiter SUI on rank for the time being as 35 of the 103 participants with the rank ocs/4/5 so far. The results.

The second round of the Youth America's Cup trials continued yesterday with more training sessions on the water. As from today until Sunday, races will be sailed. The selection of the four teams qualified for the Youth America's Cup of September 2013 will be made by the Race Director Roman Hagara AUT on next Monday. The official report. The Swiss 'Team Tilt' is happy about their performance on the AC45 and in a good mood after the trainings. Here the video of the first day on the water.

Today begins the first round of the Laser Master Euro Series in St-Maxime. With rain and cool temperatures, the Côte d'Azur is actually not very accommodating and springlike. But at least the wind forecast promises good sailing conditions with a 8-15 kn East wind. 26 Lasers Radial, 24 Lasers Standard and a lonely Laser 4.7 from 10 nations are on the entry lists, among them two Swiss in each of the Radials' and Standards' fleets.

Delayed due to quality problems with the carbon-fibre masts, the fleet at the first appearance of the new Nacra-17 catamarans for mixed teams at the Olympic World Cup in Miami was rather small. This will change at the next World Cup event in Palma, where a remarkable fleet with interesting new team compositions will be present, including some Swiss teams.
Well mastering the new multihull are Sarah Newsberry/John Casey USA, who clearly dominated the World Cup in Miami. Here a first video presentation of the team.

The breeze - too strong Tuesday to start the water trials - calmed down on 8-12 kn, just perfect to get familiar with the AC45 catamarans. Most of the young sailors were impressed with the performance of the racing-machines. The report. According to the 'Team Tilt' report, the Swiss Team had very good results during the fitness test on Monday.

Light winds prevailed yesterday for the last race of the Pálamos-Trophy, allowing to discard the worst result. Some changes in the rankings were the consequence, but David Labrouche GBR, the only sailor with all single-digit results, remained unchallenged on top. Miel Verstrate BEL advanced on rank 2 thanks of winning the last race. Maxime Pedron FRA finished 3rd of the 470 participants. On rank 4 follows the best girl Paula Igual ESP. Romain Defferard SUI, 6th in the last race, made a substantial move forward on rank 22 overall as only Swiss among the top-100. The ranking list, the report and the video.