Austria

xx

Growing numbers in Austria

The intensive efforts to re-establish the 5.5 Metre racing class in Austria, and in my case especially on Lake Traunsee, are slowly paying off. In September 2019, for the first time after some years, a 5.5 metre regatta could be held in the Altmünster sailing club. seven participants took part in the ‘salzkammergut Prize’, and visiting boats from Germany and switzerland were also very welcome.

Actually, there are about 20 boats based in Austria; these are mainly Classic or Evolution boats.

After the cancellation of the Enoshima Prize, the UYCT may again organise the Enoshima Trophy and the Salzkammergut Prize (below right) in June 2021. We look forward to welcome participants from all parts of the world.

As on all Salzkammergut lakes, there is a lot of sailing on the Traunsee. During a period of good weather, the much vaunted phenomenon of the ‘upper wind’ (in German: Oberwind) and ‘low wind’ (in German: Niederwind) occurs. In the evening, when the landside is cooling down and the alps are still heated up, a southerly wind starts at around 10 p.m. and lasts until the next morning, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. (‘upper wind’). This wind is named ‘upper wind’ because the ‘upper wind’ blows from the alps to the lake.

This is followed by a three-hour calm before the wind from the northeast blows back, so to speak, and lasts until 5 or 6 p.m. (‘low wind’). About from midday the sun warms the landscape more than the mountains, which is why the low wind blows from the land to the mountains. This wind is named ‘lower wind’ because the wind blows from the low landscape to the lake Traunsee.

DirK harms rePorts on the growing fleet in AustriA And the PlAns for the yeAr.

The UYCT is located in Gmunden. The town of Gmunden was a trading centre for salt and can therefore look back on a long history. Gmunden is now also known for its ceramics.

AustriA

5.5 Metre racing in Austria has a long history, starting with 5.5 OE 1 Lucky Chance, the Hood designed dream of a young boatbuilder, who has in 2010 been reunited with his boat, for his 80th birthday. The boat now is sailing as GER 71 in Germany. 


Austria has seen Olympic participation in 1960 with an A&R built boat (AUT 4) and is today active with Classic boats like AUT 9 being a keen Rolex Cup participant, in Evolution with AUT 16 being a frequent International regatta participant and in the Modern category with AUT 21 winning the Swiss 5.5 Metre Championship in 2010, on the Lake of Constance.

Quite a number of 5.5 Metres are located in Austria, some of them being used just for pleasure cruising, but several are returning to racing. The latest additions to the racing fleet are AUT 22, AUT 24 and AUT 25 on Traunsee and AUT 26 on Attersee, four Evolution boats and AUT 17, a Modern.