Musto Skiffs at Segelclub Walchensee for the first time

Musto Skiffs at Segelclub Walchensee © Torsten Bendig

Musto Skiffs at Segelclub Walchensee © Torsten Bendig

This year the Musto Skiffs were welcomed by SCLW sailing club at Walchensee for the first time. The club, which is within an hours drive from Munich, has attracted three Musto Skiff sailors over the last two years. The sailors, as well as windsurfers and kitesurfers, appreciate the thermal breeze on sunny days.

It was busy around the start line with 18 Skiffs, including 3 boats from Switzerland and 4 boats from Austria, as well as 36 Moths. The Moths had already been racing on Friday when they were envied by a bunch of 8 skiffs which prematurely enjoyed a solid wind of 15 knots for a decent warm up. They rolled over the lake in formation, making it a frightful experience for some of the kite surfers which had been surprised by a wall of colourful spinnakers.

After this very suitable warm up the sailors were looking forward to a weekend full of races. However, the wind gods were busy elsewhere and arrived with a noticeable delay on Saturday, allowing for 2 races in light trapezing conditions. During the races the convenient style paid off, meaning that a long stretch to the left followed by one tack and a good lift allowed the leading pack to separate from the masses. The right side near the shoreline, where usually the kite surfers are found, did not make for a good alternative, despite the hard efforts by some with local knowledge.

On Sunday the sailors were greeted by a heat wave with more than 35 degrees. As a result, a pronounced warm and humid wind from the south declined from the alps and grid locked the local northerly thermal wind. After a three hour long phase of waiting with alternating periods of northerly and southerly winds the racing was cancelled.

The friendly atmosphere of the local sailing club in combination with the wonderful panorama of the alps and the clear and turquoise-looking water made this a wonderful short break from the daily grind. All sailors intend to come back next year to finally meet the thermal wind on one of his angry days.

Many thanks go to the club as well as the members who contributed with home made food for the sailors!

The result after the two races show the leading pack of four with only two points difference. Congratulations to the winners.

See you next year!

Overall Results:

1. Moritz Zieher, UYCAS, AUT 395
2. Alexander Greil, YCH, SUI 306
3. Philipp Stanglmaier, SCLW, GER 447
4. Bernd Jahn, SGU, GER 288