Italian Championship at Iseo Lake, Roman Koch s report
From 23-25June 2006, 14 boats found the way to a new area to sail Soling: the Iseo Lake, situated one hour away from Lake Garda, the very famous lake to sail.
It was a new experience for some reasons, because it was the biggest Italian fleet ever (thanks to Domenico and Michele, who did a great job the last years) and so 12 Italian and two German boats started.
For most of them, the lake was unknown, but it is really wonderful. From the view a bit like Garda Lake, but not such a tourist spot and that means: NO Germans 😉 (just kidding), not loud and full of people; a bit more quiet and a kind of romantic; nice restaurants and cheaper than Garda; a bit sleepy but very familiarSin total: a great place!!!
The club is new built with all facilities a sailor needs. The members very helpful and nice, so everybody was waiting, how the sailing will be.
At the first race, started at 1 pm, the favourites fighted it out and the Marinepool Team GER 300 Koch, Koch, Bornemann, the reigning world champ, won in a nice breeze around 3 bft. followed by last years Italian champ Schuckmann with Holl and Hanke. Best Italian boat was Tognozzi, Maramai, Carotti.
The second race was started directly after finishing and Tognozzi handled the shifty breeze the best and was leading by 8 boat lengths in front of Koch and Armellini. On the downwind Koch attacked and after some match racing he was in the lead at the bottom mark and went on for another win with Tognozzi second and Armellini third.
The race committee decided to start a third race in the late afternoon and again it was the Marinepool team who dictated the race from the start on and won far ahead from Maffezzoli and Carducci.
After the races some fruit snacks and drinks were served at the terrace of the club and a lot of discussing about this great racing day was done. At 10pm the club offered some drinks at a after dinner party and showed pictures of the day.
Next day began again with wonderful weather: bright sunshine, warm and around 11 am the breeze started to build up to 2-3 bft . Same procedure as every day: Marinepool established a nice lead through the race and the pack was fighting hard. This time Michele got Heino shortly before the finish on the run.
The fifth race got underway with a bit more wind and the picture was quite similar: the Maremma-Boys far in front, followed by Schucki and Michele, so the Marinepool-Team could follow the last race at Sunday from ashore.
Michele won the national title but has to fight hard for the second overall because Heino was following in no distance.
In night time started the championship dinner in the club; all was prepared in a very nice way, but the weather got crazy and a thunderstorm came up.
With the help of all sailors all tables and equipment was taken into the house in a few minutes and a great dinner with a lot of specialities from the region and all drinks free (a very delicious red wine: Montepulciano!!!!) ended late in night with some espressi, sweets and liquors.
Sunday morning the sun came back and fortunately the wind arrived, even a bit later. Roman went out to watch the race from the motorboat and saw a very, very close and tight race. Heino got the lead on the run, Michele got the wrong side and followed on sixth. At the last run Heino forgot all basic tactics and didn?t cover exactly and went back to third, praying that Michele will stay two boats behind. Five boats finished in between five boats lengths in a thrilling final.
At the end, Domenico won the race (CONGRATULIONS my little brother!!!), Michele finished seventh and so Heino was second overall.
A really great series finished with a nice price giving ceremony and some snacks after that. Thanks to the club for the perfect organisation, to the race committee doing a great job, to all helpers and especially to Max, the young president of the club. He is a very good 49er sailor (second in the Italian ranking list!) and knows what sailors want: a familiar surrounding, sailors and a club standing for the regattas they do and giving all participants the feeling to be welcomed there.
There are plans to establish a Soling series in August and the club is very interested to run a championship. I?m sure, everybody will love this place and enjoy excellent sailing in light conditions up to 3-4 bft. We will definitely go back there to sail at this wonderful place.
Article wrote by Roman Koch
