Germans win in Solings

A report from the Dino Schesario Soling Trophy on Lake Garda

An excellent turnout of 16 entries came in, from six different nations, including nearly all hot shots from the last years and after all this light weather races through the summer, all participants were hoping to find some more wind at Lake Garda for the Dino Schiesaro Trophy a tradition in the Soling Class.

The weather started cloudy with a strong north in the morning, which never died for starting time 1pm. But in the late afternoon a very light Ora came in and after a very close start the four 'main favorites' HUN 1, AUT 73, GER 300 and GER 304 went left to the rocks, while the whole pack tacked at once to the right.

GER 300 (Koch /Koch /Bornemann) could work out a small lead at the first mark and he could increase it through the race. AUT 73 (Schneeberger/ Moser/ Panek), the actual European champion, followed and another big hole behind, SVK 1 (Mosny/ Szolomayi/ Jankovic) could hold off GER 304 (Maschkiwitz/ Oehler/ Kinlger), the vice World champion in 2003.

Next day started sunny but again, the fleet has to wait a long time for a very tricky and light Ora about 3 bft; GER 304 (Maschkiwitz/ Oehler/ Kinlger, HUN 1(Balazs/ Gyula/ Vezer) and AUT 73 (Schneeberger/ Moser/ Panek) came from the left while GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann) came from the right as ninth at the first mark. HUN 1(Balazs/ Gyula/ Vezer) caught GER 304 GER 304 (Maschwitz/ Oehler/ Seelig) and GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann) could close the gap to the Franzen-crew (AUT 73).

The third race started and the whole fleet went right, GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann) got an early lead and was never seen again. Same like in the first race, so the Franzen(AUT 73) finished second in front of SVK 1(Mosny/ Szolomayi/ Jankovic), HUN 1(Balazs/ Gyula/ Vezer) became fourth and GER 304 (Maschwitz/ Oehler/ Seelig) was to early at the start, went back and finished 11th.

Now it was very late afternoon and the Ora became really tricky for the fourth race, but AUT 73 (Schneeberger/ Moser/ Panek) got the right line and had a huge lead in front of AUT 1 (Felzmann/ Gilhofen/ Kingler) and GER 272 (Scherer /Busensins /Kuncav ).

HUN 1(Balazs/Gyula/Vezer) rounded 7th ahead of GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann), who got some places back after a quick gibe at the top mark (HUN 1(Balazs/ Gyula/ Vezer) lost a lot and finished 10th).

AUT 73 (Schneeberger/ Moser/ Panek), AUT 1 (Felzmann/ Gilhofen/ Kingler) and GER 300 (Koch/Koch/Bornemann), who closed the gap more and more, were leading the pack and after rounding the top mark, the first two decided to gibes while GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann), Masckiwitz and the rest of the fleet went to the rocks.

The leaders never covered and so it happened, what nearly always happens in such a situation: the fleet picked up a bit more wind and so GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann) could pass both boats to win in front of AUT 73 (Schneeberger/ Moser/ Panek).

GER 304 GER 304 (Maschwitz/ Oehler/ Seelig) got AUT 1 (Felzmann/ Gilhofen/ Kingler) and Scherer finished 5th. In total, GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann) has a comfortable lead, followed by AUT 73 (Schneeberger/ Moser/ Panek), GER 304 (Maschwitz/ Oehler/ Seelig) and last year’s European champion HUN 1(Balazs /Gyula /Vezer).

Friday evening was the diner party and it was a real great success. Different pasta as appetiser and a wonderful buffet with lots of different kinds of Italian specialties found their way into all sailors stomachs followed by liters of delicious vines; Also some desert was given and everybody enjoyed this really wonderful evening!

Next morning, the north died early and everybody was hoping for a REAL Ora, especially GER 300, but there came an Ora, a little bit stronger than the first days, increasing during the race and becoming very good in the last race.

After the start, the fleet split; GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann went right, controlling AUT 73 (Schneeberger/ Moser/ Panek) from the start; GER 304(Maschwitz/ Oehler/ Seelig), HUN 1(Balazs/ Gyula/ Vezer) and most of the fleet went a bit left and tacked in the middle. GER 304 (Maschkiwitz/ Oehler/ Kinlger was in front with a comfortable lead, followed by GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann), AUT 1 (Felzmann/ Gilhofen/ Kingler) and HUN 1(Balazs/ Gyula/ Vezer).

The first time to sail a triangle/sausage and the two Germans went away from the pack.
Step by step, GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann) closed the gap to GER 304 (Maschwitz/ Oehler/ Seelig) and at the top mark GER 304 was leading by about 30 meters; at the end of the run, GER 300 started a bit match racing and due to hard covering he was at GER 304 stern with 2 boats lengths.

At the last beat both fighted very hard on the right side, but GER 300 could manage the strong gusts a bit better to pass in the leeward side and won the race; GER 304 second; HUN 1 and AUT 97 Schuh/ Neuner/ Beurle following, GER 300 (Koch/ Koch/ Bornemann) won the regatta and went to drink some Cappucchino at the harbour while the fleet has to sail in the best wind of the series that after a general recall they were on the way and had to fight some really strong gusts at the top mark.

Some boats broaching under spi...lots of fun in fact on the reaches...and so HUN 1(Balazs/Gyula/Vezer) managed it the best to win the last race in front of AUT 73 (Schneeberger/Moser/Panek) and the Legend USA 842 (Walker/Loup/Levente), who showed all the young guys how to sail in strong winds! Finishing 9th overall.

GER 300 (Koch/Koch/Bornemann) was not beat yet at Lake Garda; very fast in every condition with perfect boat handling; AUT 73 (Schneeberger/Moser/Panek) made his way to finish second clear in front of HUN 1(Balazs/Gyula/Vezer) and GER 304 (Maschwitz/Oehler/Seelig), who was OCS in the last race (finishing second) and lost the third overall.

Results:

Pos	Helmsman	Middleman	Bowman	Sail no	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Tot
1	Koch, Roman	Koch, Maxl	Bornemann, Gregor	GER 300	1	4	1	1	1	dnc	8
2	Schneeberger, Markus	Moser, Volker	Panek, Christian	AUT 73	2	3	2	2	7	2	11
3	Gyenese, Balzs	Andrej, Gyula	Vezer, Karoly	HUN 1	6	1	4	10	3	1	15
4	Maschkiwitz, Thomas	Oehler, Christian	Seelig, Knut	GER 304	4	2	11	3	2	ocs	22
5	Mosny, Peter	Szolomayi, Tono	Jankovic, Marek	SVK 1	3	7	3	7	8	dnf	28
6	Felzmann, Michael	Gilhofen, Bjorn	Klingler, Bernhard	AUT 1	11	9	5	4	5	ocs	34
7	Nothaft, Christian	Wichmann, Patrick	Zeileis, Martin	AUT 121	5	14	9	8	6	6	34
8	Schuckmann, Heino	Mack, Christian	Marquardt, Markus	GER 31	9	5	7	14	10	5	36
9	Walker, Stu	Loup, Doug	Deak, Levente	USA 842	7	8	6	13	14	3	37
10	Schuh, Harald	Beurle, Stephan	Neuner, Ludwig	AUT 97	8	12	12	9	4	ocs	45
11	Zeileis, Georg	Gnan, Rudolf	Gnan, Markus	AUT 132	12	6	10	15	9	8	45
12	Scherer, Thomas	Busensins, Axel	Kuncav, Klaus	GER 272	13	13	13	5	13	7	51
13	Manenti, Massimo	Focher, Paolo	Manenti, Fabio	ITA 214	14	10	15	12	12	4	52
14	Armellini, Fabio	Armellini, Nicola	Papini, Attilia	ITA 209	15	11	8	11	15	9	54
15	Hasch, Alex	Kreutzer, Bernhard	Egger, Johannes	AUT 113	10	16	14	6	11	dnf	57
16	Voit, Harald	Zauner, Gerold	Prommer, Fred	GER 127	16	15	16	16	16	10	73