Text: Quentin Mayerat
Photo: Bea Sandoz
The Whitsun weekend is synonymous with “regattas” all over Switzerland and the continent. If you too were on the water, you may have missed a few interesting facts: a splendid world championship for Swiss kitesurfing, a Mini in May off to a flying start from the port of La Trinité-sur-Mer, Oliver Heer finally coming to the end of a very complicated northern transatlantic race. On the Swiss lakes, two regattas were well attended: The real 100 milles de Pentecôte d’Estavayer and the new Double de Pentecôte launched by the Société Nautique de Genève.
It was a half-surprise to see Elena Lengwiler snatch 6th place in the Formula Kite World Championship. A newcomer to the circuit, she literally flew over the final qualifying regattas for the Olympic Games at the end of April. She is now competing alongside the best athletes of her generation. How high can her progression curve climb between now and Marseille? She now ranks among the credible outsiders.
Ministries to follow
The Mini class is as popular as ever. Many Swiss sailors continue to shine in this class, as did the three skippers entered in the Mini in May. 100 solo sailors battle it out over a 500-mile course starting from La Trinité-sur-Mer. Felix Oberle, starting his second campaign, got off to a great start and led the chasing pack for a long time. Mathis Bourgnon’s LiliWip was also in the Proto top 10 before retiring last night, while Alicia Pfyffer von Altishofen – a newcomer to the circuit – is in the top third of the production boats.
At the end of hell
In the IMOCA class, Oliver Heer confessed to a nightmare during his CIC Transat. His heap start deprived him of many electronic systems essential to navigation. He finally made it to the finish line after more than 18 days at sea, and is now preparing to set off again in less than ten days for the New York Vendée-Les Sables d’Olonne. This is the final qualifying race for the Vendée Globe.
Swiss regattas
On the largest 100% Swiss lake, Lake Neuchâtel, the real 100 milles de Pentecôte was back. 51 crews took part in this legendary race, which recently returned to its original format. Christoph Wirth won the race on his Modulo 93, while César Sandoz came out on top in the ungauged class, the most represented category in the regatta.
Finally, Société Nautique de Genève took advantage of the long weekend to launch its new concept: La Double de Pentecôte. This two-handed regatta included an attractive course from Geneva to Vidy for boats from TCFX to TCF2, and a return mark at the Saint-Prex radio lighthouse for TCF3 and 4 boats. In the scratch race, Nicolas Groux & Kilian Wagen on the Psaros 33 MSC took the win after breaking away from Philippe de Weck’s Katana. In the TCF1 & 2 category, Marc Fassbind and Guillaume Mares won aboard an Esse 330, while Arthur Vallery and Axel Muller won the TCF3 & 4 classification.
