Aspire (POL 17, Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ, Przemysław GACEK, Edward WRIGHT) leads the 2023 5.5 Metre Swiss Open after three races were sailed from Cercle de la voile de Grandson, on Lac de Neuchâtel, Switzerland, on Thursday. A north-easterly thermal wind filled in just before the start time at 14.00 to build to 8-9 knots through the hot afternoon. 

Caracole (SUI 214, Bernard HAISSLY, Daniel STAMPFLI, Nicolas BERTHOUD) sits in second after winning the final race, while New Moon III (BAH 25, Mark HOLOWESKO, Christoph BURGER, Peter VLASOV) is third.

In the first race, Topaz (SUI 217, Andre BERNHEIM, Urs WERNER, Mark BUCHECKER) went right and rounded first. Though they held the lead downwind, the left paid on the second beat and Aspire, which rounded about sixth, pulled through with good boat speed to take the win from Caracole and Ku-Ring-Gai III (AUS 66, John BACON, Terry WETTON, James MAYJOR)

Aspire then led all the way in the next race after most of the fleet favoured the left on the first upwind, to again win from Caracole and New Moon III.

The right worked on the final race with Caracole rounding first and extending to win the final race of the way from Aspire and Ku-Ring-Gai III.

Gacek said, “I think that was an amazing day. There was not much wind in the morning but then the breeze came and we were sailing in up to nine knots, and changing conditions. We had three good starts and Mateusz did a great job there. We liked the conditions a lot. We were training a month ago with other boats in similar conditions so we could practice everything we did last time.

On the wind conditions, Berthoud said, “I am not from here, so I take it as it comes, but you have to stay awake. I know Grandson a bit and the Bise wind is really shifty, and you have to have your eyes open, and to choose which side you go. We went one time left then right and then one time right then left, but it was turning right all day, so we just protected the right.”

The Swiss Open concludes Friday before the Joran Cup is raced over Saturday and Sunday.

Full gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fivepointfivemetre/albums/72177720310551292

Results after 3 races: https://www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/112169f1-9888-4b48-8cb3-38a1c2d5e9a0#!/results?classId=2bd6aa53-0d05-4178-896d-75f3b19eee1c