Buzz Eurocup at Lake Maggiore, Italy

Buzz Eurocup 2012 at Lake Maggiore © Unione Velica Maccagno

The Buzz Class travelled to Lake Maggiore, Italy for their Eurocup returning after a 4 year break. We were greeted with a beautiful setting, close racing, excellent food and brilliant company. Many had arrived early to acclimatise, sightsee and do a bit of sailing to get a feel of the wind patterns on the shifty lake.

Friday, saw the last of the boats arrive ready for a briefing and refreshments in the new Unione Velica Maccagno (UVM) clubhouse. The evening brought rain and a thunder storm, bringing the promise of wind the following day.

A relaxing Saturday morning allowed boat rigging and tuning to take place under the trees of the launching area. A few boats needed quick repairs to rigging to satisfy the safety of their crews out on the water. Boats took to the water after a short delay, while the wind filled in gently from the North of the lake.

A fair line was set by the committee boat, as well as a long course taking us towards the town of Cannobio on the windward leg. The F2 winds favoured the lighter crews of Team 784 (Butler and Spano) and Team 773 (Bagni and Bagni) who led round the windward mark closely followed by Team 978 who touched the buoy as they bore away towards the wing mark. A 360 completed Team 978 (Monciardini and Carugati) capsized on the spinnaker hoist allowing Team 1000 (Bailey and Bailey) to take third position. Using the apparent wind Team 1000 managed to catch up Teams 784 and 773 and was first around the leeward mark. Team 978 (Eyre and Eyre) encountered rigging issues with their boom and allowed Team 950 to take forth position. Team 1000 held the lead on the second downwind leg, Team 748 was second with Team 773 closely behind.

The wind dropping a second race was started, this time the course was moved towards the eastern shore. Local knowledge and a light crew weight were important to break away from the pack. Team 773 and 978 went towards the western shore followed by Team 784, 1000 and 590 (Padova and Salmoiraghi). Team 950 tacked off early taking them towards the eastern shore, and unfortunately into a hole. The race committee decided that it was best to finish the race at the leeward mark on the first lap, instead of going through the line. Team 773 crossed the line first closely followed by 978 and 1000. Unfortunately the wind was quickly dying making it hard for Teams 590 and 978 to complete the course within the 15 minutes needed to get a finish.

Boats packed away all Teams headed to the UVM clubhouse for drinks, pasta and daily prizes of salami to be handed out. Typical ‘English’ BBQ was held on the campsite under umbrellas while a thunder storm was overhead!

Sunday morning bought a fresh Northerly wind down the lake, enjoyed by the kite-surfers and windsurfers. The race committee took us out early lunchtime in the dropping Northerly wind, we pottered about and were sent quickly back in as they realised the Southerly wind would come in stronger. Enough time was given for lunch, then back on the water. This time the course was set so that we were heading towards Maccagno.

Again an even line was set by the committee boat; a clean get away was made by all. Teams 773 and 978 had local knowledge of the curving wind around the eastward shore, where followed by the rest of the fleet. The downwind leg it paid off to go down the western shore, Team 1000 and 784 held a tight angle to the mark with both crews out on the wire. Team 1000 crossed the line first followed closely by Team 784 and 978. The second race of the day saw the same sides pay off in the decreasing winds. Again Team 1000 crossed the line first followed closely by Team 784 and 773.

The wind was quickly dropping; course two flag was flying on the committee boat which meant the race would be finished at the windward mark on the 2nd lap allowing the boats to get to shore in enough wind. The fleet got away cleanly at the start, Team 1000 and 784 tacked away, as both crews clipped on both experienced difficulties, Team 1000 crew decided to take a dip and had to climb in the back of the boat, while Team 784 danced towards the front of the boat. Team 1000 ended up at the back of the fleet and sailed up the middle of the course, surprisingly they ended up at the windward mark third behind Team 978 and 784.

While the ISO’s had gone towards the western shore, the Buzzes followed Team 978 soaking down the eastern shore. Team 784 decided to go close into the shore while Team 1000 stayed further out. Team 978 rounded the leeward mark followed by Teams 1000 and 784. Team 978 fell into a hole in the wind on the way to the windward mark allowing Teams 1000 and 784 to overtake before the finish. Light winds also benefited Team 590 who crossed the line in forth.

Boats packed up, the Teams headed to UVM for food, drink and salami prizes! The Buzzes headed to a local Pizzeria to have a typical Italian meal of seafood, pizza and wine!

Day three again started with a fresh Northerly breeze but the committee boat stayed ashore ready for the Southerly wind. While they waited Team 590 received tuning tips from Team 1000. Boats headed out onto the water in an ever increasing Southerly breeze. All crews were out on the trapeze on the windward legs, a clash between Team 1000 and Team 784 meant that 784 dropped down to third after their turns, allowing Team 978 to take second across the line.

The second race saw Team 1000 to take first again, with no penalty turns needed by Team 784 take second place with Team 978 third.

The last race of the competition again saw the committee boat fly the course two flag with the dropping winds. Team 978 and 950 took an early lead and pulled away from the fleet, closely followed by Teams 773 and 784. Team 978 increased their lead on the downwind leg, while Team 784 overtook Team 978 to finish in this order, closely followed by Team 773, 1000 and 590.

There was a final trip to UVM for the prize giving, pasta and wine and anticipation over the result for second place which had to go on count back as Team 978 and 784 were both on equal points. Team 978 came out on top with the first in the last race.

The Buzz Class would like to thank UVM for hosting the racing and providing refreshments after the racing, as well as Paolo for also helping to organise and making sure that the event went smoothly. Hope to sail on Lake Maggiore in the near future.

Top three

1st 1000, Bailey Stuart, Bailey Zoe
2nd 978, Monciardini Paolo, Carugati Davide
3rd 748, Butler Matthew, Spano Graziano