Stavros on Lake Geneva…

What a day we have had here in Morges, as 20 boats tune their skills in preparation for the 50 boat entry for the Swiss Nationals..   The Swiss President Dieter Schmid is currently showing us the way around the lake closely followed by Boris Bayer, who both finished on 4pts after two races. So they will go into tomorrow as favourites for this first title. The very experienced Race Officer, Vicent Zanlonghi expects to fit in two or three races if possible, before the wind begins to play games with this beautiful sailing area….. lets see what happens, full report tomorrow….

However, the sun was shinning today over the race course which is surrounded by the wonderful Alps Mountain Range climbing way above any of the low speckled clouds that dare to influence the ever changing wind, it is a truly testing yet wonderful place to sail…..With 40 degree shifts in race one, it was no wonder the winner came from a middle of the line start. Dieter told me that they made a great start free from trouble and immediately tacked onto port. This enabled them to get up the race course and be prepared for the inevitable right hand wind shift ….  They had a great tussle with Boris NED 373, but eventually took the line honors with a last minute gust. Well done.

In race 2 my old friend Odd Lofteroed made a great start at the pin end and soon tacked towards the right-hand shore. He had a comfortable lead a the first windward mark and continued to increase his advantage in the dying breeze. The Club Nautique Morgien then put on a super Paella meal for all the competitors which was gratefully consumed as all eye’s turned to the TV for the European Cup Final…  

Higher, Faster, Longer……………  Stavros NED 372