Dmitry Samokhin is the number 1 in Thun, as he records 5 wins & 1 second place!
The 2017 Swiss National Championship concluded yesterday (Sat 12th) with two more races, providing the 26 boat fleet with a full 7 race series…
Overall winners, with a near perfect score, was the excellent team from RUS 76 “RocknRolla” helmed by Dmitry Samokhin, crewed by Andrey Kirilyuk & Aleksey Bushuev. With 5 race wins and a 2nd place there was no need for this amazing team to sail the final race so they returned to the Thunersee-Yacht Club to enjoy the ambiance and spectacular views of this majestic lake.
Shortly after the start of race 6 the fleet split 50/50 to the right & left of the Lake.
The first race of the day started with the morning wind from Interlaken. After a general recall out came the Black Flag and off we went… Making gains to the left were TUR 1212 and SUI 297, whilst showing strong on the right was SUI 309. At the top mark it was indeed our current World Champion, Andy Beadsworth, helming TUR 1212 who rounded ahead of SUI 309 and SUI 297. However, Andy and his team fell foul of the Black Flag so were eventually disqualified. Meanwhile RUS 76 had a great battle with SUI 297 and GBR 375, helmed by Ivan Bradbury, who made a significant gain on the second beat.
SUI 297 Norbert Stadler (far right) was in great shape on the first downwind leg of race 6.
The course was shortened at the top mark of the second beat as the breeze began to die and it was RUS 76 who just squeezed across the line ahead of GBR 375, with SUI 297 3rd. So Dmitry and his team had clinched the Championship with a race to spare and headed back for a Beer or two 🙂
Meanwhile the fleet were kept afloat and waiting patiently for the breeze to fill in from the North West which is the normal thermal wind. Many competitors elected to swim in the clear water of this beautiful lake and even with a depth of up to 640 metres the water temperature was still around 19 degrees so it offered a very refreshing interlude…
An excellent start of the final race by SUI 317 & RUS 27 as the fleet get away first time.
In the final race SUI 297 and GER 1018 were to two teams fighting for the runners up spot after recording very consistent results over the last 4 days. However, GER 1018 was UFD at the start whilst SUI 297 had another excellent race to finish 2nd and so a worthy runner up overall. Very well done to Norbert Stadler and his local team of Ralph Muntener & Christoph Burger. The final race winner was RUS 27 Anatoly Loginov who will be one of the favourites for next week, along with TUR 1212 “Provezza” who finished 3rd & eventually 5th overall after the disappointment of the Black Flag in race 6.
A happy Christof Wieland (3rd Overall) “Fired” his Champagne to spray Dmitry & Norbert 🙂
So there we have it, the Swiss Nationals completed and Dmitry is the winner. Many congratulations to the top 3 teams RUS 76, SUI 297 & GER 1018 and to the Principle Race Officer Bruno Barthlome’ who’s experience & knowledge of this lake is second to none. Also a big thank you to Lotti Schmid for all of her hard work in organising both events. The stage is now set for a great European Championships and the Thunersee Yacht Club will most certainly deliver….
Higher, Faster, Longer…. Stavros. (GBR 789)
All photo’s were kindly supplied by Peter Kupferschmied..