Dart 18 German, Swiss and Austrian Nationals at Lake Garda

Dart 18 German, Swiss and Austrian Nationals at Lake Garda © Circolo Vela Torbole

Dart 18 German, Swiss and Austrian Nationals at Lake Garda © Circolo Vela Torbole

Martino Salvo, President International Dart Association, Roland Bergmann & Ludwig Herrie, Winners Alpine Cup & 2013 German national champions © Claudia Becker

With the prospect of some exciting racing, a number of late arrivals saw the fleet jump to 46 entries for the Dart 18 Alpine Cup at Lake Garda, and they were not to be disappointed with three days of quality racing as the Ora wind delivered from the south.

Hosted by Cicolo Vela Torbole, on the northern shore of the famous sailing lake the event took place over 19th - 21st september. The regatta was also a combined event for the German, Swiss and Austrian National championships with a few Dutch, couple of French and one British entrant adding to the mix.

Some strong gusts greeted the fleet as they headed out for the first of the three races in the scheduled series of nine. The opening race saw the fleet split in two, half going left the rest opting for the more favoured right hand side of the lake, in this instance those who went right led by a small margin, Florian & Adrian Bleisch maintained a lead to the finish line.

The second race saw the black flag deployed after the fleet had pushed the start, good manners resumed with nobody risking an early shower for the second start. Again the fleet split, this time the right had fleet having a greater advantage, the French pair Thierry and Christine Wibaux took the gun.

The third and final race of the day again favoured those who went right on the first leg, by now the wind was starting to diminish, the swiss girls Hefti & Sommer led at the windward mark which they retained through the downwind leg leading the Brits on twoanchorsracing.com around the bottom mark. The pair went right whist the following dozen led by Wibaux went left. The wind machine was now staring to slow dramatically fading first on the right hand side. The leaders on that side tried to get across to the left but by now it was too late. At the windward mark the Race Officer shortened the course and Wibaux picked up his second win of the day.

No sooner had the fleet stepped ashore where they were greeted by the sounds of Gianfranco Tonelli, President of Circolo Vela Torbole announcing that the pasta party was to commence in five minutes, a much needed refuelling of the crews who consumed copious amounts of pasta.

Whilst a little late the wind machine was flicked on allowing the 46 Dart 18's on to the water for day two of the Alpine Cup and various national titles. Racing was once again a game of cat and mouse, many went left but at the windward mark those who went right including Wibaux profited with the defending German champion Ludwig Herrie taking the gun.

Overstepping the windward mark by 500metres twoanchors found themselves scrapping at the back of the fleet and an incident which included a coming together saw the front of the port hull destroyed and rapidly sinking. To much surprise the protest went against twoanchors who were subsequently disqualified and with a hull requiring major surgery their event was over.

Meanwhile back on the race course Wibaux was now looking strong as he took race 5 with his closet rivals dropping points. Race six german skipper Wolfgang Godderis addressed the gap slightly taking the final gun of the day. Wibaux finished 6th and Herrie 17th.

The evenings champagne tasting supplied by one of the event sponsors, Trentadoc, a locally grown product, went down well with everyone before sitting down to yet more freshly cooked food, Circolo vela Torbole surpassing many quality restaurants with the menu.

Third and final day of racing in a medium ora wind the game continued, this time those who went left were the ones to profit. Despite having an extra tack 100m short of the windward mark the small group led the chasing pack who had chosen to go right to the finish line. Austrians Kletzander and Zagler piping his fellow countryman to the line. Herrie took third ahead of Godderis who was keeping the pressure on the champion. Wibaux finished 8th.

The Godderis pressure continued in to race 8 as he followed Herrie over the line again, behind race ones winner Bleisch. Wibaux again finished 8th, they now needed to finish the final race at least 7th to win the event, and that would still be dependent upon favourable results for his challengers.

Well the wind gods decided who they would favour and the frenchman was not on the list, Wibaux found himself in the pack and could only watch from behind as Godderis and Herrie who again went left fought for the lead. Repeating the days racing it was Herrie who led over the line to take his second win of the event. Wibaux finished 12th, which became his discard.

So after discards the top four were separated by just six points. Ludwig Herrie and Roland Bergmann retained the German national title and by winning the event overall took the Alpine Cup.

"Last year on Steinhudermeer we won the German championships but not the Alpine Cup so I changed much, I lost 12 kg of weight and I have Roland, a very sporty character, together we changed much on the boats trim" "I am very happy to still be German champion and win the event overall, it has been a great occasion" One point behind, the Wibaux's finished second on equal points with the German pair, Godderis and Lell.

Robert Kletzander and Anton Zagler 4th the highest ranked Austrian became the 2013 national champions & finishing 6th Michiel Fehr and Michael Gloor became the Swiss national champions.

"We had nice weather, good wind, competitive but friendly racing, we look forward to having the Dart fleet visit us again" said Gianfranco Tonelli handing out the many prizes and drawing the event to a close.

More photos here, here & here.

Overall Results: