Lake Neuchâtel delivered near-perfect conditions on Wednesday as the Star Sailors League SSL Gold Cup reached its halfway point, with the Tahiti Black Pearls and Seychelles Vann Swet team locked together on 14 points apiece heading into the final day.
Race 2 was largely processional after a scrappy start that hurt both Morocco and the Seychelles. Tahiti executed cleanly and led throughout, though the Atlas Lions and Vann Swet showed enough pace upwind to suggest their starts cost them dearly. Mozambique recovered ground after an early OCS and a spinnaker problem in practice, but those errors left them at the foot of the standings.
The third race was considerably more dramatic. All four teams fought hard at the start line, with Tahiti threading between Morocco and Seychelles to get away cleanly. What followed was a compelling boatspeed battle between Tahiti and the Seychelles up the left side of the course, captured by drone footage directly above the two yachts and watched by thousands of viewers live.
Mozambique were disqualified after failing to execute a spinnaker hoist penalty quickly enough, a result that exposed the gap between their raw potential and their decision-making under pressure. The Black Pearls held their slender lead over Vann Swet to the finish, their sailors breaking into what has become a trademark proa-paddle celebration on the water.
Race 4 produced the best start of the series. The Seychelles were forced into dirty air by Mozambique early on the beat and looked to be in trouble, but a big right shift propelled them from last to first. Tahiti were awarded a penalty for deploying the bowsprit too early during their spinnaker hoist and completed a 360, losing significant ground. They recovered to second but rounded the leeward gate a full minute behind the Seychelles.
Skipper Allan Julie then managed a disciplined loose cover on Teva Plichart and the Tahitian crew, holding a 250-metre lead as conditions freshened and hiking intensified. Seychelles extended downwind and went on to take the win. Mozambique finished third, a timely reward after a difficult day for the Gala-Gala team.
With Tahiti and Seychelles inseparable on points, both SSL Gold Cup Rio 2026 qualification places remain completely open. Racing gets under way at 09:30 CET.
