ISO 10th Anniversary Eurocup at Lake Garda

The ISO 10th Anniversary Eurocup at Lake Garda © Fabrizio Prandini

The ISO 10th Anniversary Eurocup at Lake Garda © Fabrizio Prandini

An International contingent of 20 ISOs travelled to Lake Garda for the 10th Anniversary Eurocup.

The event was immaculately hosted by the Fraglia Vela Malcesine who succeeded in completing the full programme of 10 races over 5 days between 4th and 8th August despite fickle winds and exceptionally high temperatures.

Racing on day one was difficult in a shifty force 2 to 3 breeze which resulted in first race being abandoned after the fleet sailed into a huge hole and parked.

After a lengthy delay the wind filled in for a restart with 1192 sailed by Mike and Andrew Perry rounding the windward mark first. Showing good speed they consolidated their position during the remainder of the race and were followed home by Enigma Vehicle Systems, Ian and Katie Keam-George and 2003 National Champion Pete Lindley & Adam Savage in Team RWO.

Race 2 in similar conditions saw Neil Pryde, sailed by Jonny Wells and Bugsy, leading the fleet for the first lap, only to be overhauled by fellow Essex YC club mates Ian & Katie Keam-George, who held on to win the final race of the day. Neil Pryde held second with Team Rooster sailed by Mike & Dean Lillywhite from Emsworth Slipper coming home third.

Day two saw temperatures of around 45C with a light and variable southerly breeze which caused racing to be postponed until 14:30. A pin end start was yet again favoured due to more pressure and favourable shifts close inshore. The leaders at the first mark were JP Delapierre, Team Perry and Team RWO who battled it out for the entire race. Team Perry fought through to the lead only to be overhauled by Team RWO on the run. Enigma Vehicle Systems had been buried in the pack but managed to fight back to third place at the finish.

A fourth race was started but abandoned after a massive wind shift which left the fleet reaching between the windward and leeward marks. No further racing was held and the fleet retired ashore for some beer and pasta which were to become a daily feature of the après-sail.

Racing on day three was attempted but after 4 starts, and abandonments, the fleet retired ashore for a party hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine. The enjoyment of this event was tempered with the thought that racing was scheduled to start at 08:00 the following day in an attempt to get 4 races completed.

Thursday was a make or break day for all those in the leading group. After a night of storms the fleet went afloat in a fresh Northerly and cooler temperatures guaranteed to blow away the effects of the previous evening.

Race 4 started in winds gusting up to 25 knots when both upwind and downwind legs were proving a challenge. Most of the fleet managing to misjudge the leeward mark layline and to drop kites early. Delapierre & Vernieres established an unassailable lead and finished well ahead of the fleet. Racing behind was both close and frantic with Enigma Vehicle Systems eventually closing out second place and Neil Pryde coming in third.

Delapierre & Vernieres again set off into a big lead in race 5, after an incident with Team RWO on the first beat, followed by Team Rooster and Enigma Vehicle Systems. The wind, still gusting 25 knots, made conditions difficult with many taking an early bath. On the last run Enigma Vehicle Systems capsized during a gybe allowing Team Perry to blast past into third place.

The port & starboard incident resulted in a protest with Delapierre was being disqualified thereby elevating Team Rooster to first, Team Perry to second and Enigma Vehicle Systems to third.

After time ashore to recover, races 6 was held in a gentle force 2-3 Ora. Team RWO showing excellent lighter wind speed convincingly took race 6. Racing was close throughout the fleet with Enigma Vehicle Systems taking second from Team Rooster in third.

Conditions were similar for race 7 with the pin end still paying off. Enigma Vehicle Systems rounded the windward mark first and took a commanding lead from Delapierre & Vernieres who couldn’t match their downwind speed in the lighter breeze. Team Rooster sailed a consistent race to finish third, thus consolidating their position in the overall standings.

The final day, with three races scheduled, started early again with prospects of big winds. A shifty force 3 made the race tactically challenging with Neil Pryde leading at the windward mark closely followed Delapierre/ Vernieres, Team Rooster and Enigma Vehicle Systems. Both Neil Pryde and Enigma Vehicle Systems sailed to the wrong leeward mark and never challenged for major places again. Team Rooster fought hard to get into the lead, which they held to the end, followed by Delapierre & Vernieres with Steve Bell Declan O’Keeffe in third.

Race 9 was held in a failing breeze which had become even more shifty. Team RWO using their light weight to good effect stormed up to the windward mark only to see fleet heavyweights, Richard Salter and Tim Berriman, sneak round in ahead. Team RWO took the lead on the next run and were unchallenged to the finish. Team Perry moved in to second followed by Neil Pryde.

With final positions still undecided tensions were high for the final race held in a steady force 3. Team Perry led at the top mark followed by Enigma Vehicle Systems, Team RWO and Team Rooster. Enigma Vehicle Systems overhauled Team Perry on the second beat and built a lead which guaranteed their series win. Team Perry finished in second place, thus securing third overall and Team Rooster pulled through RWO to secure third in the race and second in the series.

And so another excellent, adrenalin filled, week of ISO racing came to an end when it clearly paid to have a father/son or father/daughter team. There was much close competition throughout the fleet with the pro-am series being especially popular.

Overall Results: