At the halfway point of the season, two teams from the French-speaking part of Switzerland were leading the two major leagues. In Super League, nothing is decided yet. The gaps are so wide that we’ll have to wait until the second half of the season to decide.
Text: Walter Rudin
The Swiss Sailing League Association (SSLA) continues to sail in calm waters. The J70s are in excellent condition, as are the RIBs and trailers. Introduced four years ago, the robotized buoys make it possible to maximize the number of races in each event according to wind conditions. Financially speaking, the SSLA is solid, even problems such as quagga mussels don’t worry those in charge. Although the cleaning of boats before and after they are launched is manageable, it takes extra time and money, they point out.
“If we need to improve anything, it’s race management,” admits president Markus Bläsi. The training of race ocers and their teams has been neglected in recent years and needs to be stepped up. At the same time, we want to simplify processes even further.”
On the management side of the SSLA, two new members have joined the Board of Directors, taking up their duties even before they have been officially appointed by the General Meeting. Sabine Ultsch is responsible for information, communication and marketing, while Livia Naef, as SSLA head coach, is in charge of everything to do with SSLA Schooling.
Two Super League matches were played up to the end of August. Both Oberhofen and Brunnen were windy, although thermals on Lake Uri were below normal. In the overall ranking, Club Nautique de Versoix was ahead of Oberhofen, Kreuzlingen and Yacht Club Bielersee. Only three points separate these four leading teams, so anything is possible. At the bottom of the table, the situation is just as tight. The Lake Zurich teams are in a bad way, while Cham has given itself a reprieve with a 3rd place finish in Brunnen. Act 3 in Davos took place after the magazine went to press.
The CVE as master
In the Challenge League, the second act in Neuchâtel and the third in Davos provided plenty of racing action. As the number of teams is to be increased to 16 in both Super League and Challenge League, there will probably be only one relegatee per league.