A high quality 5.5 Metre fleet has gathered on the Thunersee in Switzerland for the Herbstpreis, the final international regatta of the year
Though they were rewarded with exceptionally nice weather, the wind abandoned the lake later in the day, after only one very light wind race was sailed.
Avalon, SUI 210 of Beat Aebischer, Aaron Teuscher and Christof Gerber took the win after leading at every mark.
The nice morning and early afternoon breeze began to fade as soon as the fleet set sail and during the single race sailed, it was never more that 3-4 knots.
There was a huge split left and right as boats looked for pressure closer to the shore.
Avalon rounded first from Marie-Françoise XIX, SUI 228 (Jürg Menzi, Dino Fumasoli, Christof Wilke), who had made up a lot of ground on the right after a poor start, and Otto, SUI 209 (Bent Christian Wilhelmsen, Lasse Bertelsen, Espen Espen).
By the leeward mark, New Moon, BAH 21 (Christoph Burger, Renato Marazzi, Peter Vlasov) were up to third and then moved to second on the final upwind.
The final downwind was crucial, with Avalon covering Marie-Françoise XIX while New Moon split from the leaders towards the northern shoreline.
It didn’t pay off though with Marie-Françoise XIX moving back to second at the final downwind to follow Avalon up to the finish.
New Moon crossed third as the wind fizzled out in the autumn sunshine and the boat inched across the finish line.
5.5 Metre Herbstpreis after 1 Race
1st SUI 210 Beat AEBISCHER – – 1 pts
2nd SUI 228 Jürg MENZI – – 2 pts
3rd BAH 21 Christoph BURGER – – 3 pts
4th GER 79 Max MÜLLER – – 4 pts
5th SUI 209 Bent Christian WILHELMSEN – – 5 pts
6th ITA 79 Mariacristina RAPISARDI – – 6 pts
7th SUI 201 Tobias ISLER – – 7 pts
8th SUI 214 Bernard HAISSLY – – 8 pts
9th SUI 215 Heinz SAURER – – 9 pts
10th SUI 226 Andreas KINDLIMANN – – 10 pts
11th AUS 61 Martin CROSS – – 11 pts
12th SUI 213 Hans-Peter SCHMID – – 12 pts
13th NED 31 Victorine BREDERO – – 13 pts
