Artemis extends on second day at 5.5 Metre Alpen Cup

Artemis (NOR 57, Kristian Nergaard, Trond Solli- Saether, Anders Pedersen) extended their lead on Day 2 of the 5.5 Metre Alpen Cup at Riva after three more incredibly tight races on Friday. Aspire POL 17, Przemek Gacek, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Kilian Weiss) is two points back with Marie-Françoise XXII (SUI 233, Jurg Menzi, Jurgen Eiermann, Kim Chabani) up to third. The race wins went to Aspire, Shaolin (SUI 226, Flavio Marazzi, Andreas Kindlimann, Hans von Werdt) and Artemis.

After a physically tough opening day on Thursday, Friday proved just as challenging though with slightly less wind and many more wind shifts. While the right generally paid, there were wind bands and holes all over the top of the course for the unwary.

In Race 4, with the wind at 10-12 knots at the start, Aspire was first to tack for the right and was never headed leading all the way to win from Marie-Françoise XXII and Artemis. A big shift and increase in wind out of the start of the second race tempted some to the left, but Shaolin came out from the middle and headed left to lead round for the win from John B (BAH 24, Kristoffer Spone, Mathias Dahlman, Lars Horn Johannessen) while again Artemis crossed third.

In the final race of the day Artemis started late at the boat and tacked away to the right and led pretty much all the way, pressed hard by the chasing pack. At the top it was so close that four or five boats rounded overlapped. Artemis let the other boats makes mistakes and sailed a clean race to win from Marie-Françoise XXII and Otto (NOR 68, Bent Christian Wilhelmsen, Lasse Berthelsen, Herve Cunningham).

MELX III (GRE 5, Stavros Papagiannopoulos, Christoph Burger, Panagiotis Kambouridis) is in seventh.

Stavros Papagiannopoulos, who is also organising the 2026 World Championship, for the first time ever in Greece, said, “Being in Garda is very enjoyable. Today we had another typical Garda day, a bit lighter than usual, but had good fun.

“We are here with new crew members, with Christoph Burger and Panagiotis Kambouridis. I'm privileged to be racing with them. And I'm looking forward to tomorrow and of course to welcoming everyone in Athens in November for the Worlds and the Gold Cup.”

Marie-Françoise XXII is up to third and six points adrift of Aspire in second. Jürgen Eiermann said, “Three races, it was tricky. The wind started at 170 degrees and went to 200 like this. So, tricky but absolutely fine races.

“We were always close together and you must start very well, go to the right side and get the new wind from the right side of the course.

“So, I would say it was funny sailing, a little bit wind shifty, but it is what it is and the best one won and always is clear.”

The event concludes on Saturday with two more races are scheduled.

Results after 6 races:
1 Artemis (NOR 57 Kristian Nergaard, Trond Solli- Saether, Anders Pedersen) 10
2 Aspire (POL 17,Przemek Gacek, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Kilian Weiss) 12
3 Marie-Françoise XXII (SUI 233, Jurg Menzi, Jurgen Eiermann, Kim Chabani) 18
4 Shaolin (SUI 226, Flavio Marazzi, Andreas Kindlimann, Hans von Werdt) 19
5 Otto (NOR 68, Bent Christian Wilhelmsen, Lasse Berthelsen, Herve Cunningham) 22