Switzerland

Close racing on Swiss lakes

Ou going Swi cla Pre iden J c Frei repor on ac ivi ie in he u y Swi flee during 2019. Pho o are all from he 2019 Swi Champion hip a he Socié é Nau ique de Genève.

After two years in office as president of the Swiss 5.5 Metre fleet I can present you André Bernheim as my successor. André is well known in the 5.5 scene. His boat Skylla IV, SUI 182, can also be found at international regattas.

The Swiss Nautic exhibition now only takes place every two years. In 2019 there was a show and we were able to show our 5.5 Metre there to the interested consumers. The next Swiss Nautic will take place on February 10-14, 2021.

Once again, the season 2019 was opened on the occasion of the Easter regatta in Thun, with only nine boats including two foreigners, one Australian and one German at the start line. The traditional ‘Easter Egg’ was again organized by Häsu this year. Many thanks to the donor.

In Torbole, Italy, there were 11 boats: 1 GBR, 1 AUS, 3 BAH, and 6 SUI. After six races Peter Morton was the winner

with three race victories and two second places, followed by the three Bahamians.

The next regattas were held in Morges, on June 30-31 with the Memorial J.Fani and on July 1-2. the Coup de La Harpe was sailed. There were 10 boats on Thursday and Friday and only nine boats on Saturday and Sunday. As we all know, 10 Swiss boats is the minimum we need to be counted towards Swiss Sailing allowing us to sail a championship.

The highlight of this season 2019 was the Swiss Championship at the SNG Geneva. With 15 boats at the start, of which 12 were Swiss, the limit set by Swiss Sailing for a

Top: Day 1 of the 2019 Swiss Open on Lake Geneva • Left: Caracole • Above: Marie-Françoise XIX • Top right: Launching against the Geneva skyline

valid Swiss Championship was just reached. In wonderful, very hot weather and very light wind conditions, six races could be sailed. With four first places, the local hero Bernard Haissly with Daniel Stampfli and Nicolas Berthoud became Swiss champions for 2019. Congratulations. Jürg Menzi and Hans-Peter Schmid took second and third place.

The end of this season was the three day autumn regatta in Thun with 12 boats at the start. With 10 Swiss boats, the qualification required by Swiss Sailing was only achieved twice this season. To hold a Swiss championship, five regattas with at least 10 Swiss boats are currently required. Unfortunately, this requirement was not met for the second time after an exceptional permit for 2019. So in 2020 we cannot host a Swiss championship, but only a class championship.

At the class representatives’ meeting in mid-October, Swiss Sailing presented a proposal for a new concept for the classes wishing to conduct a Swiss Championship. It is their proposal that at least 15 Swiss boats should be at the start for keel boats. The introduction of this concept was rejected by the class representatives. Swiss Sailing has been asked to come up with a new concept that will be voted on this year.

The new 5.5 Metre Swiss Fleet website was launched in August and was accepted as very successful by many members. Many thanks to Jürg Menzi who sponsored the page.

Swiss Open 2019: 1 Caracole (SUI 214 Bernard Haissly, Nicolas Berthoud, Daniel Stampfli) 8; 2 Marie-Françoise XIX (SUI 228 Jürg Menzi, Rasmus Knude, Bo Selko) 10; 3 Pungin (SUI 213 Hans-Peter Schmid, Gilbert Dürr, Walter Dürr) 13; 4 Dune (SUI 218 Philippe Kolly, Philippe Dupont, Annette

Martin) 22; 5 Nina (SUI 215 Falk Einecke, Ronald Röseler, Nils Schröder) 23; 6 Shaolin (SUI 226 Cyrus Golchan, Andreas Kindlimann, Hans Von Werdt) 27; 7 Beta Crucis (AUS 63 Martin Cross, Ed Peel, Richard Powell) 28; 8 Feng Shui (NED 26 Arend Jan Pasman, Ron Azier, Jan-Peter Kurvers) 37; 9 Forza Del Destino (SUI 211 George Prapopoulos, Simon Pfändler, Philip Prapopoulos) 45; 10 Black&White(SUI 219 Daniel Schenker, Mark Dangel, Pierre Buhofzer) 48; 11 Topas III (SUI 217 Jack Frei, Bruno Durrer, Roland Ledergerber) 51; 12 Bellagioia II(SUI 175 Frédéric De Rutte Frédéric Saudan, Matthieu Mac Gillycuddy) 53; 13 Skylla IV (SUI 182 Andre Bernheim, Mark Buchecker, Urs Werner) 53; 14 Mischa (SUI 154 Reinhard Suhner, Jesper Schiewe, Werner Neuer) 55; 15 Belphegor (SUI 78 Fabrice Marguerat, Astrid Huxley, Tim Biglerm Maho Cherel) 75