Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
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Day 1, Kissed by La Bise:
Challenging racing conditions produced a
tactical first day of racing at the Star
Sailors League Lake Grand Slam hosted by
Cercle de la Voile de Grandson, Switzerland.
Clouds rising above the Jura Mountains
signified that the arrival of the chill
northerly wind, known as La Bise, translated
as ‘the kiss’ which funnels down the valley
between the Jura Mountains and the Swiss
Prealps. The first two races were held in a
gusty 12-16 knots of breeze but it wasn’t a
lingering kiss, the last two races were
fought out in a lighter flukier conditions,
which tested the concentration and will power
of the 68 teams from 22 different countries.
There were numerous general recalls disciplined by Black flag starts and notable offenders included Torben Grael & Guilherme De Almeida and Johannes Polgar & Markus Koy, both were adjudged to be on course side in Race 2. However the Brazilian duo scored two bullets today, and after counting a discard, are placed fourth after the first days racing.
Augie Diaz & Arnis Baltins from the USA top the leaderboard after four races having scored [8]-6-1-4. Augie & Arnie have been sailing together for about five years and consistent results in the top ten, boosted by a bullet in Race 3, has propelled the Americans to the top but only just. Gold Star, George Szabo racing with local expert, Patrick ‘The Duke’ Ducommun, is second by a single point. Reigning Star World Champions, Robert Stanjek & Frithjof Kleen, scored a 4-1 in the first two races to lead the championship but the lighter conditions did not seem to suit the German pair, scoring a 8-[30] in the final two races, to finish the day in third. There are 22 teams from Switzerland racing in the regatta, Henrik Dannesboe & Jan Bonhoeffer were top Swiss team today and had an epic duel with Torben Grael & Guilherme De Almeida in the last race. Dannesboe & Bonhoeffer nailed the start and held off the Brazilian team for three legs. However, Grael & De Almeida out foxed the Swiss pair at the very last mark to take the gun pushing the Swiss team into second.
The SSL Lake Grand Slam has a different format to other regattas with a knock-out stage. After the three days of racing, 11 teams will progress. There are few surprises after the first day, with Gold and Silver Stars peppering the top of the leader board. However, the Croatian pair, Marin Misura & Tonko Barac, recovered from a 24th in Race 1, to post 12-3-10 and take 10th place after 4 races. Croatian Ivan GaՊ
Die Open Swiss Championship 2015 wird als SSL Grand Slam Event ausgetragen. (mit Preisgelder) Es werden 100 Starboote erwartet. Der Titel Intern. Star Swiss Champion wird nach 6 Race (4 Tage) vergeben. Die besten 12 werden bei Finalrace den Grand Slam Sieger ermitteln. (analog SSL Finale Bahamas - mit Preisgelder)
Informationen folgen im Janaur 2015 auf www.swiss- star-class.ch und www.starsailors.com
SSL LAKE GRAND SLAM FIRST EDITION
Star Sailors League is happy to announce the first edition of the SSL Lake Grand Slam that will be held in Grandson on the Neuchatel Lake, CH, in September 2015.
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