HOST

Union Yachtclub Traunsee     ----------

RESULTS

REGATTA REPORT

Report by Niki Urban:

Nine crews from four nations gathered at the Traunsee for the Austrian State Championship in the traditional Traunsteingams.

Eight races were planned, with five in 3 days being completed. On Friday, the first day of competition in Gmunden, due to slight Nieselns and little sun no fair-weather wind could develop. In the early evening a light breeze from the southwest came in at about five to six knots. This delicate breeze was used and our German guests Ewalt Koestner and Marcel Beltz won the first race to the astonishment of the Starboot Elite present. Shortly after the first race the conditions deteriorated and the sailors were entertained at the dock of the Yacht Club Traunsee with various hot and cold dishes. To top off this extensive meal there was also a suckling pig. With full stomachs of daeftigem food and spicy free beer, all were relaxed and chatting in the evening.

Looking ahead, the race director Stasi Weinberger announced the start of the second race at eight clock on the the next day. Exactly at eight clock on Saturday the second race staratedwith a slight southerly wind, under Traunseern known as “OFA”. Christian Nehammer and Florian Urban were fourth and fifth to decide the race itself. As might be expected, the southerly wind ended after this race and the teams went to port, there to wait for the good weather wind to prevail in the early afternoon. A durchschittlichen basic wind from ten to eleven knots and gusts up to 17 knots arrived and three races were held in the heavily rotating northeast wind. The first of the three races saw Roberto Benamati and Allesandro Cattaneo finish just ahead Nehammer and Urban. The two other races were won by the team Nehammer / Urban. These young stars of the Austrian Staarbootklasse won easily, unchallenged and also won the national title last year. None of the experienced sailors, domestic nor overseas, could curb this dynamic waterfront duo. Thus, Saturday ended after four fantastic races with the traditional Gamsgulasch and matching free beer.

Sunday was unfortunately a so-called “Hafenpartie”. The start of the day was used by the “shooting” for Gamsbewerbe. An east wind came for the sailing around noon, which does not work with the lack of width of Lake Traun - this was a weak holey Wwind from two sides, and with no prospect of improvement, the race director finished the regatta.