'Dash' for cash

Syz & Co Moth Europeans set sail tomorrow in Switzerland

The Syz & Co 2010 Moth European Championship set sail on Sunday with the 'Dash for Cash' slalom on the lake at St Moritz. A number of World and European champions took part in this prelude to the European championship. Hundreds of spectators came to see the spectacle of the 11ft foilers, despite the rain and bad weather.

Three Swiss sailors made it to the podium: in first place was Arnaud Psarofaghis, in second place Matthias Reinker, from Lake Thun, already the holder of ten Swiss Champion titles, and in third place Martin Raeh, from Lake Zurich. Ricardo Payro, Communication Director of the private bank Syz & Co, has offered cheques amounting respectively to CHF 500, 1000 and 1500 to the podium placers. Britain's Simon Payne, the current World Champion, finished fourth, followed by the Australian Rob Gough, former windsurf World Champion.

The Syz & Co 2010 Moth European Championship proper starts tomorrow, with four races scheduled on Lake Silvaplana, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Upper Engadin.

The sailors have already been practising for several days, in very variable wind conditions and very cold temperatures: the lake temperature is 9°C, while the air temperature is little higher.

More than 80 Moth sailors made it to St-Moritz; never before had so many prestigious sailors got together for a championship.

A number of sailors have impressive achievements: including Simon Payne, Andrew McDougall, runner up at this year's Puma World Championships in Dubai and designer of the Mach2 and the Bladerider and American Bora Gulari, 2009 World Champion.

Sadly the line-up will not now include Adam May and his solid wingsail Moth.

The line-up

Err - they'd be lowriding then...