Racing on Lake Neuchâtel got off to a disrupted start at the Star Sailors League European Qualifier in Grandson, Switzerland, with the weather allowing just one race before thunderstorms rolled in from the Jura mountains and shut down the day.
After a weekend of registrations, weigh-ins and on-water training, the schedule called for two races per group across the opening two days. Group D was first on the water: the Austrian Eagles, Estonian Icebreakers and Slovenia Krpani 1860. With only two knots on the lake, the Race Committee had to delay the first start. After 20 minutes conditions improved just enough, and the powerful SSL47 yachts, with their 22-metre rigs, can get powered up in even the lightest of breezes.
All three teams were collectively seven seconds late crossing the line, with the Austrian Eagles claiming the early advantage. Connecting patches of breeze and minimising manoeuvres was going to be key.
The Estonian Icebreakers sailed a composed race upwind, working to the front and controlling their opposition on the right-hand side, but they lost the lead when the Austrians broke cover with a tight tack at the windward mark. Slovenia Krpani 1860 was a long way back in third.
Downwind, Austria and Estonia played a cat-and-mouse game in the light air to the leeward gate, choosing different buoys to round. Estonia took the left-hand buoy, which required an extra gybe and slowed them significantly.
Austria led around the top mark on the final upwind leg and gybed early on the run, but it proved costly. Estonia drove to the layline and nailed it, crossing the finish line just ahead of Austria, who had to complete an extra gybe to cross second. Slovenia finished four minutes back.
Group E fared far worse. After an hour's delay with the wind completely absent, the Race Committee switched groups and ferried the Belgian Sea Devils, Lithuanian Ambers, Norwegian Norsteam and Serbian Eagles out to their yachts. The heavens opened soon after they were aboard, soaking them to the skin. With thunder rumbling down from the north around the Jura mountain range, the Race Officer raised AP over A and cancelled racing for the day.
Pietro Fantoni put it plainly from the committee boat: "Sailing is a water sport. If you don't want to be wet, chess is your sport!"
Conditions are looking better for Tuesday, with a south-westerly of 10-12 knots forecast, some rain notwithstanding, which should bring the schedule back on track.
