Black Star Sailing Team take early lead at Brunnen 44Cup Worlds

In a Disneyland setting, the lake surrounded on all sides by towering mountains (some even still snow-capped), today’s racing also provided a Disney-worthy story line with local host Christian Zuerrer and his Black Star Sailing Team winning today’s last race to lead the event after the opening day – the first occasion the Swiss team has won a day in two years campaigning in the RC44 class. 

“Obviously I’m feeling good,” said a beaming Zuerrer, as the 44Cup team owners, crews and guests began tucking into the Swiss speciality of raclette in the 44Cup World Championship Brunnen’s hospitality tent overlooking Lake Uri this afternoon. “We have had two days of good sailing. I am happy to prove that we have come to the right spot on this fresh water lake in Switzerland. The thermal breeze came in on time so we could hold three races… 

“With these conditions it is more of an ‘open’ championship – it is not a train track where you are locked in and it’s done. That makes it more interesting for the public…” Of their successful day, Zuerrer added: “We know what to do. It is not easy in this class to win a race and to be leading at the end of the day so we are quite happy…”

While the first two races of the day were held in more predictable conditions, in the third the wind had dropped slightly and was more variable across the course with the right more noticeably paying. The Swiss team keyed into this more strongly than others, reaping the rewards. 

“Everything fell into place,” said Black Star Sailing Team’s Kiwi tactician Cameron Dunn of race three. “We got a nice start at the committee boat and were second at the top mark. We gybed early and had a super nice first run.” The Swiss hung on up the second beat and applied the same tactics on the second run. At the finish they held the biggest lead of the day.

“You had to throw the rules you had in your head out of the window,” continued Dunn. “To say we were 100% confident it was going to work – no. But we backed ourselves and went for it and that’s the way we are going to sail this whole regatta. We are never going to die wondering…” And this was despite having the overdrive gear on their pedestal winch not working.

Behind Black Star Sailing Team, a breath-taking five way photo finish rounded off the day. 

Sadly some big hitters lost out in the final race, including Igor Lah’s Team Ceeref Vaider, winner of today’s first race. In that the Slovenian team had launched themselves out of the start, claimed the left side, tacked back beneath the sheer cliff face, to round the top mark first, leading from there on.  After a fourth in race two, Lah and his crew we lying second overall, but too heavily committing to the left in the final race resulted in their coming home last. 

“We should have gybed away when Black Star did and consolidate,” admitted tactician Adrian Stead. “In the first two races the runs were tricky because the wind was filling in from behind. You were aware that two or four boats were going to scream up to you. You hoped you could just still lead at the finish.” 

Team Ceeref Vaider won the first race by a whisker from Vladimir Prosikhin’s Team Nika, which went on to win the second and then come off poorly, like them, in the final race. “We are really pleased with how we are sailing, but the last race was pretty frustrating,” said Team Nika tactician Nic Asher with a sigh. “We had a little issue to start with and managed to catch up really nicely on the second beat and rounded the last mark in fourth but then we went the wrong way on the last run and ended up going backwards.” In race two they had pulled into the lead on the first run. 

Aside from Black Star Sailing Team, another star of the show today was Calero Sailing Team, once again campaigning the ‘black boat’, the 44Cup’s spare boat, reserved for teams wishing to try their hand at the 44Cup before committing to a full campaign. Despite not having the best boat, Daniel Calero’s team effectively won the first beat in today’s second race and, proving this wasn’t a fluke, repeated this in race three. Sadly the Canary Islands team was unable to consolidate on this but it was nonetheless encouraging. “In the second race we lost three positions which was not good but we were there,” commented Daniel Calero. “Then in the last one, we did pretty well and maintained our position until we got a penalty from Artemis. We are confident of the speed of the boat and the crew.” 

Racing continues tomorrow with kick-off time once again scheduled for 1200.