 GMUNDEN - The Austrian boat “White Pearl”, helmed by Michael Farthofer, won the second leg of the Alpen Cup on the Traunsee Lake that took place last week end from the 13th to the 16th of May). The Sigrist brothers of the “Swiss Sail Art” Team came second followed by the German “Farr-Bar” helmed by Jens Ahlgrimm. For Michael Farthofer, it was further confirmation after his last year’s victory but he had to fight hard. He obtained the top of the podium with just one point advantage over the Sigrist brothers.
Fifteen Platu 25 crews coming from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, took part in the prestigious “Traunsee week", together with tens of crews of other classes coming from all over Europe and competing for the “Central European Cup 2010”.
For the Platu 25 class it was a perfect occasion to compete with some of the best International crews and to test the Traunsee Lake, that will host the Platu 25 World Championship next year.
During this “Traunsee Week” edition, the weather conditions were very difficult and on Thursday it wasn’t possible to race, because of changing wind. The day after, there were five starts but just three races could be finished. Tricky winds made the competition quite exciting, changing continuously the positions of the boats in the ranking list. After a very tough day, the teams could recover during a Gala dinner at the Eggenberg Castle, near Gmunden.
On Saturday, the wind conditions were again inconstant and the race committee tried to start one race, which was abandoned because the wind turned completely. On Sunday two races could be completed with more constant winds from South-West with 13-15 knots.
Until the end, there was an exciting competition between “White Pearl” and “Swiss Sail Art” for the first place, and between “Farrbar” and “SUI 235” helmed by Mathias Bernejo (he finished 4th, just one point behind Farrbar). No such luck for the Austrian “La Burra” helmed by Thomas Laherstorfer. He won the first leg of the Alpen Cup in Attersee just one week ago but he wasn’t able to repeat his great performance here in Traunsee. He had to be content with a 6th place.
The Union Yacht Club Traunsee was a friendly and excellent host, confirming its suitability to host next year’s Platu 25 World Championship, which it is are looking forward to.
The Platu 25 International fleet, will move to Brunnen, on the Urnersee Lake in Switzerland for the next racing, with the third leg of the Alpen Cup, from the 27th to the 29th of August.
But before that there will be the “Kiel Woche” from the 24th to the 27th of June, and then the most anticipated event of 2010, the World Championship in Alicante, from the 18th to the 24th of July.
Ranking list (after 5 races and with one discard):
1.“White Pearl” Michael Farthofer (1;5;1;5;1); 2. Swiss Sail Art, Martin and Markus Sigrist (2;3;2;4;2); 3. “Farrbar” Jeans Ahlgrimm (4;2;5;2;11); 4. “SUI 235” Mathias Bernejo (6;1;4;6;3); 5. “GER 112” Dorn Felix (3;8;7;1;4); 6. “La Burra” Thomas Laherstorfer (DSQ; 6;6;3;8); 7. “Damaris” Guenther Prummer (5;10;13;11;6); 8. “AUT 321” Andreas Groschadl (10; DSQ; 8; 8; 7); 9. “AUT 337” Harald Kronberger (11; 11; 15; 7; 5); “GER 363” Peter Wiederman (7; 9; 3; DNS; DNS); “Pirillina” Claudio e Mauro Fasoli (8; 4; 10; DNS; DNS); “GER 398” Elke Brueck-Seiler (12; 7; 14; 10; 9); “AUT 274” Norbert Voith (9; 14; 11; 9; 12); 14. “GER 390” Tilman Miehle (13; 12; 9; DNS; DNS); 15. “Lo Sguscio” Domenico Bertolini (13; 12; 9; DNS; DNS).
English edited by Kev Scott (Thailand NCA)
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