Conditions on Lake Maggiore in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland were so windy today that only 16 of the 23 competitors ventured out on the water for the final day of the SYZ & CO 2013 Swiss Moth Nationals. Matthias Renker from Switzerland won the event ahead of Stefano Rizzi from Italy and Philip Kasermann, also from Switzerland.
Brissago, Switzerland, 2 June 2013 – The SYZ & CO 2013 Swiss Moth Nationals concluded today after six races, four on Saturday and two this afternoon. Yesterday’s racing got underway in a light and shifty southerly that saw two false starts before the fleet managed to race four flights. Conditions favoured the lighter crews who managed to foil and strategy was the name of the game on Lake Maggiore with breeze building to 12 knots in places and dropping to nothing in others.
By mid-afternoon the fleet returned ashore, Matthias Renker from Bern in Switzerland was in the lead by one point over Ben Paton from Great Britain.
Today’s conditions were challenging in a different way. By 11 am a northerly was blowing 15 knots, gusting 20 and some of the competitors decided not to venture out preferring to watch the more experienced Moth sailors from ashore.
The race committee managed to get two races away, but almost everyone capsized at least once. After two flights the committee called it a day, preferring to limit damage. Six races were enough to establish a ranking for the SYZ & CO 2013 Swiss Moth Nationals and a new champion.
Matthias Renker who was leading by a point at the end of racing on Saturday managed to hang on to his lead today to win the event. Ben Paton who was hot on his heels couldn’t race today due to rudder damage. “I saw that the rudder was cracked this morning,” he said. “It might have held out for the rest of the racing, but I didn’t want to take the risk in these sort of conditions. I am racing in Weymouth at the end of the month and there isn’t time to order a new one.” Disappointed, he promised to be back next year: “I’ll win next time!”
Matthias Renker was also frustrated with the situation: “Last night we were on for a fight for the championship and I only heard about his rudder failure this morning once we were on the water. It was a real shame,” he said. The Swiss sailor, who designs his own foils, is happy with his boat performance and with the result. “The boat is very quick downwind, I’m very pleased with my work. The secret to a victory like this is quite simply practice, practice, practice.”
Some of the Moth sailors made the most of the big breeze to do some speed runs after racing today. Fabien Froesch hit a top speed of 29.9 knots, his best scores to date!
Event organisers, Philip Kasermann, class president and Fabien Froesch, vice president, along with the Ascona Yacht Club members were delighted with the event. “We have had all sorts of conditions and that really opened the racing up to all the competitors and evened out the playing field. We hardly dared hope to have such a successful weekend!” said Philip Kasermann.
The SYZ & CO 2013 Swiss Moth Nationals is part of the EuroCup that includes six meets between Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark and Italy. To rank, competitors must race at least three events and those that race more are ranked based on their top three results. The next EuroCup event is scheduled for the end of June in Weymouth, UK on the same waters as the recent Olympic Games.
SYZ & CO 2013 Swiss Moth Nationals results
1 – Matthias Renker SUI 6 pts
2 – Stefano Rizzi ITA 15 pts
3 – Philip Käsermann SUI 22 pts
4 – Fabio Mazzetti ITA 27 pts
5 – David Holenweg SUI 27 pts
6 – Ben Paton GBR 34 pts
7 – Martin Zäh SUI 36 pts
8 – Fabien Froesch SUI 38 pts
9 – Anthony Rezzoug FRA 38 pts
10 – Marco Lanulfi ITA 39 pts
11 – Mahé Ratte SUI 46 pts
12 – Carlo Mäge GER 54 pts
13 – Adriano Petrino SUI 54 pts
14 – Philippe Schiller SUI 65 pts
15 – Thomas Huber GER 75 pts
16 – Max Mäge GER 79 pts
17 – Harald Steiner GER 80 pts
18 – Roberto Dazio SUI 84 pts
19 – Matteo Gritti ITA 85 pts
20 – Michele Monzini ITA 87 pts
21 – Giovanni Galeotti BEL 95 pts
22 – Luca Rizzotti ITA 112 pts
23 – Davide Lupo Conti ITA 113 pts