October 16, 2018
A 2019 calendar featuring some of the best images from 2018 has been published.
Price is £13.99 plus tax and shipping.
October 16, 2018
A 2019 calendar featuring some of the best images from 2018 has been published.
Price is £13.99 plus tax and shipping.
October 13, 2018
Saturday was almost a carbon copy of Friday at the Herbstpreis on Lake Thun in Switzerland, with the capricious wind only allowing one more very light wind race before disappearing back into the Alps. In taking the race win, Marie-Françoise XIX, SUI 228 (Jürg Menzi, Dino Fumasoli, Christof Wilke) also takes the overall led with just one day left.
The fleet gathered at Thunersee YC at 08.00 hoping for wind. The extremely light wind developed into a flat calm and the sailors spent the morning, chatting, drinking coffee and getting over the night before, which despite the very early start had, for some stalwarts, nearly overlapped with the start of racing.
Highlights from Day 2
Finally just after midday a light easterly developed and the fleet was released for a 14.00 start in 4-5 knots. Marie-Françoise XIX made the best of the first upwind to round ahead of Caracole, SUI 214 (Bernard Haissly, Daniel Stampfli, Nicolas Berthoud) and Shaolin, SUI 226 (Andreas Kindlimann, Martin Huber, Jürgen Eiermann).
Marie-Françoise XIX extended and led at every mark to take the win withCaracole holding off New Moon, BAH 21 (Christoph Burger, Renato Marazzi, Peter Vlasov) to take second.
Then the wind dropped, the died and the lake became a mirror.
Front man on Marie-Françoise XIX, Christof Wilke, explained their day. “It was another hard day waiting for wind and finally we got one race. We had a very good start and could control the fleet a little bit. It was quite a soft and light wind race like yesterday.”
On their strategy, “We talked before the start and we had the impression the pressure was quite good in the middle, so we started at the committee vessel because there was a shift shortly before the start and we tried to play the middle.”
On the downwind, “It was the same situation, looking for pressure and the best angle and we finally, also through the middle, we found the best way and the shortest way.”
Best known as being the main builder on 5.5 Meters over the past few years, he has been sailing the boats for 25 years. “It started by accident. I sailed a boat with my friend in Cannes for the first time and we felt it was a really nice boat and I was really keen to build one of them. So we built one for myself and started to sail with it, pretty successfully and then we got some more orders, and now we have built something like 32 boats and the owners are pretty happy.”
“The boats are really nice to sail, especially in windy condition; exactly what we didn’t have here today. They are also very easy for singlehanded sailing with a self-tacking jib and a very well balanced boat, especially upwind. To me it is one of the best keelboats to sail on lakes and also offshore.”
Mariachristina Rapisardi is one of two lady helms here this weekend. She is sailing 5Billy5. Despite only sailing 5.5 Metres for four years, she is enamored with the class.
On today’s racing, “It’s fantastic, not so much wind, but still fantastic. Yesterday was better for us, but today could be worse because had had some confusion during a maneuver but very nice. We like Thun a lot.”
“I only started racing and sailing a 5.5 four years ago, I am not a racer. I bought a Classic boat and did a regatta and I won. So I decided to carry on. I bought a Modern as well so now I have a Classic and a Modern. I was not a racer, never sailed a 5.5 before and I started winning, and now I want to go up and learn more every day.”
The attraction is: “The people are fantastic and the boat is fantastic and very fast and very elegant.”
She is passionate about growing the class and getting people sailing. “In Italy we are trying to push the class and probably next year we will hope to have a new Evolution being sailed.” There are a number of Classic hulls being sailed in Italy, but, “The Classic is not so much fun as sailing a Modern. There is much more adrenaline, the boats are faster, more boats and a lot of people together.”
After Saturday’s early gathering at the club benefitted no one but the coffee shop, the race committee decided to try the same tactic on Sunday, hoping the early morning wind will allow them to get some races in, so wind permitting, racing will resume and conclude on Sunday from 0800.
Results after Day 2
1 Marie-Françoise XIX, SUI 228 (Jürg Menzi, Dino Fumasoli, Christof Wilke) 3
2 Avalon, SUI 210 (Beat Aebischer, Aaron Teuscher, Christof Gerber) 6
3 New Moon, BAH 21 (Christoph Burger, Renato Marazzi, Peter Vlasov) 6
October 13, 2018
Saturday was almost a carbon copy of Friday at the Herbstpreis on Lake Thun in Switzerland, with the capricious wind only allowing one more very light wind race before disappearing back into the Alps. In taking the race win, Marie-Françoise XIX, SUI 228 (Jürg Menzi, Dino Fumasoli, Christof Wilke) also takes the overall led with just one day left.
The fleet gathered at Thunersee YC at 08.00 hoping for wind. The extremely light wind developed into a flat calm and the sailors spent the morning, chatting, drinking coffee and getting over the night before, which despite the very early start had, for some stalwarts, nearly overlapped with the start of racing.
Highlights from Day 2
Finally just after midday a light easterly developed and the fleet was released for a 14.00 start in 4-5 knots. Marie-Françoise XIX made the best of the first upwind to round ahead of Caracole, SUI 214 (Bernard Haissly, Daniel Stampfli, Nicolas Berthoud) and Shaolin, SUI 226 (Andreas Kindlimann, Martin Huber, Jürgen Eiermann).
Marie-Françoise XIX extended and led at every mark to take the win withCaracole holding off New Moon, BAH 21 (Christoph Burger, Renato Marazzi, Peter Vlasov) to take second.
Then the wind dropped, the died and the lake became a mirror.
Front man on Marie-Françoise XIX, Christof Wilke, explained their day. “It was another hard day waiting for wind and finally we got one race. We had a very good start and could control the fleet a little bit. It was quite a soft and light wind race like yesterday.”
On their strategy, “We talked before the start and we had the impression the pressure was quite good in the middle, so we started at the committee vessel because there was a shift shortly before the start and we tried to play the middle.”
On the downwind, “It was the same situation, looking for pressure and the best angle and we finally, also through the middle, we found the best way and the shortest way.”
Best known as being the main builder on 5.5 Meters over the past few years, he has been sailing the boats for 25 years. “It started by accident. I sailed a boat with my friend in Cannes for the first time and we felt it was a really nice boat and I was really keen to build one of them. So we built one for myself and started to sail with it, pretty successfully and then we got some more orders, and now we have built something like 32 boats and the owners are pretty happy.”
“The boats are really nice to sail, especially in windy condition; exactly what we didn’t have here today. They are also very easy for singlehanded sailing with a self-tacking jib and a very well balanced boat, especially upwind. To me it is one of the best keelboats to sail on lakes and also offshore.”
Mariachristina Rapisardi is one of two lady helms here this weekend. She is sailing 5Billy5. Despite only sailing 5.5 Metres for four years, she is enamored with the class.
On today’s racing, “It’s fantastic, not so much wind, but still fantastic. Yesterday was better for us, but today could be worse because had had some confusion during a maneuver but very nice. We like Thun a lot.”
“I only started racing and sailing a 5.5 four years ago, I am not a racer. I bought a Classic boat and did a regatta and I won. So I decided to carry on. I bought a Modern as well so now I have a Classic and a Modern. I was not a racer, never sailed a 5.5 before and I started winning, and now I want to go up and learn more every day.”
The attraction is: “The people are fantastic and the boat is fantastic and very fast and very elegant.”
She is passionate about growing the class and getting people sailing. “In Italy we are trying to push the class and probably next year we will hope to have a new Evolution being sailed.” There are a number of Classic hulls being sailed in Italy, but, “The Classic is not so much fun as sailing a Modern. There is much more adrenaline, the boats are faster, more boats and a lot of people together.”
After Saturday’s early gathering at the club benefitted no one but the coffee shop, the race committee decided to try the same tactic on Sunday, hoping the early morning wind will allow them to get some races in, so wind permitting, racing will resume and conclude on Sunday from 0800.
Results after Day 2
1 Marie-Françoise XIX, SUI 228 (Jürg Menzi, Dino Fumasoli, Christof Wilke) 3
2 Avalon, SUI 210 (Beat Aebischer, Aaron Teuscher, Christof Gerber) 6
3 New Moon, BAH 21 (Christoph Burger, Renato Marazzi, Peter Vlasov) 6
October 12, 2018
A high quality 5.5 Metre fleet has gathered on the Thunersee in Switzerland for the Herbstpreis, the final international regatta of the year. Though they were rewarded with exceptionally nice weather, the wind abandoned the lake later in the day, after only one very light wind race was sailed. Avalon, SUI 210 (Beat Aebischer, Aaron Teuscher, Christof Gerber) took the win after leading at every mark.
Highlights from Day 1
The nice morning and early afternoon breeze began to fade as soon as the fleet set sail and during the single race sailed, it was never more that 3-4 knots. There was a huge split left and right as boats looked for pressure closer to the shore. Avalon rounded first from Marie-Françoise XIX, SUI 228 (Jürg Menzi, Dino Fumasoli, Christof Wilke), who had made up a lot of ground on the right after a poor start, and Otto, SUI 209 (Bent Christian Wilhelmsen, Lasse Bertelsen, Espen Espen).
By the leeward mark, New Moon, BAH 21 (Christoph Burger, Renato Marazzi, Peter Vlasov) were up to third and then moved to second on the final upwind. The final downwind was crucial, with Avalon covering Marie-Françoise XIXwhile New Moon split from the leaders towards the northern shoreline. It didn’t pay off though with Marie-Françoise XIX moving back to second at the final downwind to follow Avalon up to the finish. New Moon crossed third as the wind fizzled out in the autumn sunshine and the boat inched across the finish line.
The race committee waited in hope that the wind would return, but with the sun beginning to set behind the mountains, daylight was also not on their side. The fleet returned home with just one race on the board.
One of the boats bringing up the rear of the fleet was Shaolin, SUI 226 (Andreas Kindlimann, Martin Huber, Jürgen Eiermann). Shaolin belonged to Rolf Kellenberger, a well-liked Thun 5.5 sailor who died earlier in the year. He was a great sportsman who looked after Shaolin like no other did. He always kept the boat in impeccable condition and was very proud, of it. His crew is keeping his spirit alive by continuing to sail the boat, this week with a new helmsman, Jürgen Eiermann.
Kindlimann said, “Today’s sailing wasn’t that easy at all. In the morning there was a very nice breeze but unfortunately when we started the races, it pretty much died away So we only had one race today in very shifty and light conditions but still it was good fun with the big fleet and good compettion, and we had perfect whether here on Lake Thun.”
“This time Jürgen is helming the boat with us for the first time. It’s always a good laugh to sail the boat with him and he obviously knows a lot about steering boats fast around the track. He is a very calm and positive guy so I think there is a future for Shaolin and Jürgen.”
“We made a few mistakes on the water, We didn’t keep to the strategy we planned to do, we saw some other boats going up the left side and we thought it was a good idea to change to the other side as well. But all in all we didn’t end up last so a good day.”
Eiermann added, “Today was very hard. First of all to be a helmsman of a 5.5 was very special. Then we were too late on the start and we had to go on the left side and we were nearly last all the time. But we had fun in the boat and we were cool enough and on the last reach we took three boats.”
“The people here all sail very well and all I can say is check out the class and go and sail the 5.5 class.”
With Saturday’s forecast showing more wind earlier in the day than later, the fleet has been given notice to assemble at 08.00 ready for an early start. Racing continues until Sunday.
Results after Day 1
1 Avalon, SUI 210 (Beat Aebischer, Aaron Teuscher, Christof Gerber) 1
2 Marie-Françoise XIX, SUI 228 (Jürg Menzi, Dino Fumasoli, Christof Wilke) 2
3 New Moon, BAH 21 (Christoph Burger, Renato Marazzi, Peter Vlasov) 3
October 10, 2018
Countdown: 15 months to the January 2020 International 5.5m Gold Cup and Worlds hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Newport, Pittwater, Australia. Newsletter 1
G'Day fellow 5.5m sailors,
The Australian 5.5m Association and the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club are delighted that Pittwater has been selected as the venue for the 5.5m Gold Cup and Worlds in January 2020.
We are pleased to announce that following the requests at the Cowes AGM, we are able to bring the dates forward and the event is now scheduled from the 3rd to 15th of January 2020 (please check Notice of Race, when published, for exact final dates), to be held on the iconic Palm Beach Circle. Competitors and families will now be able to enjoy Christmas and New Year in Sydney, and then participate in the Gold Cup and Worlds without a break.
Sydney is the place to be; the New Year’s Eve fireworks are spectacular and not to be missed. Visit a zoo meeting our Kangaroos, Koalas and other native animals. Enjoy a cold beer at the club after training/racing and we will even throw a prawn or two on the barbeque for you!
The Australian Association, RPAYC Flag Officers and members are really looking forward to hosting you and your families and making this an event to remember.
To ensure we remain truly the 'International' 5.5m Class, we recognise it is important that our World Championship is accessible to attract as many in the class as possible; there will never be a better opportunity for good value and convenient shipping of your 5.5 metres, to compete at an iconic international location.
Scandinavian Gold Cup 2018
We have secured a very competitive shipping price from Europe or USA of $US 7,500 (note as we are still over 15 months away from the event this price might vary by a small amount). The price for one way shipping will be half the above price at $US 3,750. Which may mean there will be some Australians looking to purchase some European or US boats.
The event dates mean that you should not miss any of the Northern Hemisphere 2019 and 2020 seasons. All the details of the convenient RoRo trailer shipping, documentation required, flights and accommodation are available in the following links:
Bid from RPAYC including shipping information: http://www.5.5class.org/single-post/2018/06/04/Bid-from-Royal-Prince-Alfred-Yacht-Club-Pittwater-Australia-to-host-2020-Worlds
A presentation can be seen here. (PDF, 2 mb)
RPAYC https://www.rpayc.com.au
We will send you regular updates in the months leading to the event.
In the meantime:
1- Please make the commitment to participate now and block in the dates in your diaries!
2- Please start to look at accommodation options. January in Australia is like August in Europe and America. You are advised to book early!
3- Please start to look at flight options. Flights have never been cheaper. But once again with it being a busy holiday period it is ideal to book early to get the early offers.
More information and timelines for shipping will follow shortly.
Above all please commit now and lock in the dates!
Best regards,
Australian 5.5m Association and RPAYC
Any questions contact Martin at martin.g.cross@gmail.com
World Championship 2018