Snipe Alpen Grand Prix – Austria Snipe Regatta – Final

Matsee, Austria, June 4-5, 2016. Final results after 3 races

1. ITA Stefano Longhi & Eleonora Zuzic, 4

2. ITA Pietro Fantoni & Kathleen Tocke, 7

3. ITA Alessandro Rodati & Barbara Bonini, 9

4. ITA Andrea Piazza & Marta Pendesini, 12

5. ITA Silvano Zuanelli & Floriana Luisa Giraudo, 17

Report by Kathleen Tocke (and full results and photos courtesy of Joanna Nowak, Sailing Club Mattsee, Zibi Rakocy, Ezio Prataviera, Kathleen Tocke)

Amazing Austria – First Snipe Gran Prix in Mattsee

Certain things come to mind when you think of Austria – the Alps, beer gardens, cowbells, yodels, bratwurst, lederhosen, tortes …. and sailing? Yes, the sailing club in Mattsee delivered all at the Alpen Grand Prix.

Just outside of the idyllic city of Salzburg, below the Alps, is a picturesque land of many lakes, and many sailing clubs. The Segel Club Mattsee was host to Snipe sailors from Croatia, Poland, Italy, Austria, United States, and Germany.

…

Competitors had a warm Austrian welcome and fun evenings filled with sausages, beer, traditional Austrian cuisine, and even a brewery tour. The day before racing, visiting sailors toured the castle, beer gardens, churches, museums, cafes and shops in Salzburg.

Mattsee is known for its consistent thermal breeze, but due to a less than idea weather system in the region, sailors raced in very tricky lake conditions. The races were fun, the races were fair, and the Race Committee did an incredible job of always knowing exactly where to put the windward mark.

Regatta winners from Trieste, Stefano Longhi and junior crew Eleonora Zuzic sailed an excellent event, making few mistakes, going for speed versus angle, and were ever so patient with the wind. Fighting with Longhi/Zuzic were the Italian/American team of Fantoni & Tocke and the husband/wife team from Venice, Alessandro Rodati and Barbara Bonini. At any point in a race, it was difficult to tell who would win. That’s lake sailing!

The next Alpen Grand Prix is not a regatta to miss, so pack your lederhosen, practice your yodels, and plan for next year – Sailing in Austria – there’s a first for everything.

 

Final Results