The 2024 5.5 Metre Wall Calendar is now available.
Order here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/robert-deaves/2024-55-metre-calendar/paperback/product-e7eyddv.html
The 2024 5.5 Metre Wall Calendar is now available.
Order here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/robert-deaves/2024-55-metre-calendar/paperback/product-e7eyddv.html
"5-Nations-Cup" - and the winners are...
Initiated by a group of Modern sailors in 2011 in order to concentrate the Internationally active boats at selected events, the 5-Nations-Cup is sailed for at the annually nominated 5 top-regatta-events, not being a World- or European Championship. The participants go for low points; incase of point parity, the older boat wins. The prices are perpetual cups, best used for a good Port, aboard.
The first edition of the 5-Nations-Cup was held in 2012 and has since seen the perpetual Cups travelling around the world, to please the winning crews.
The winners in 2023 are:
Classic: Johannes Bandtlow with 5.5 GER 8 Lady Luv
Evolution: Johannes Schmederer, 5.5 GER 107 Striezi
Modern: W.E. "Wölfi" Richter with 5.5 GER 125 Ali-Baba
The donor of the cups is for each year naming the countries and race events. For 2024 the chosen events of 5 countries will be: Alpen Cup (ITA), German Open (GER), Swiss Open (SUI), Salzkammergutpreis (AUT) and the French Open (FRA).
Full results here: https://5.5class.org/images/results_pdf/2023/55_Five_Nations_Cup_2023.pdf
After the 5.5er Classic boats had already shown their strong side during the German Open of the 5.5mR, seven more started at the Enoshima Trophy afterwards.
A small but fine field with two boats that took part in the 1964 Olympic Games in this eponymous Enoshima. Four boats from Italy and three from Germany, with very identical speeds, promised tight races. Unfortunately, Erwin Burth had to withdraw from the start with his Rush because of damage.
In addition, the weather conditions were so average, a drop in temperature of 15 degrees and constant rain challenged the participants. The old Olympic triangular course was sailed with a triangle, then a downwind to the leeward mark and from there to the finish.
In the first two races on Monday, exciting and close races developed with a wind of around 10 knots, in which there were many position changes and the boats crossed the finish line every second. The first run went to Fabrizio Cavazza's Volpina, in the second run Guiseppe Matildi won with the Kukururu.
After everyone had strengthened themselves at a very nice Bavarian buffet in the evening, it was back on the track on Tuesday in heavy rain. At 15kn it was extremely tight again and the crews had a lot of fun despite the bad weather. Stefano Cesari with his Volpina 3 was unlucky that the boom broke at the gooseneck fitting and the crew had to be towed into port. Christian Hemmerich, who drove the legendary Subbnboana, won the first race, while Guido Tommasi won the fourth race with the Manuela V.
Before the final day, ITA 36 and ITA 33 were tied at the top. At dinner, the wonderful wine from the Cesari family was served and the food was fine. On Wednesday the rain was gone, but unfortunately so was the wind. Race director Fritz Hauger, in consultation with the teams, decided to end the regatta at 12 noon without further races.
Because of the better individual placement, Guido Tommasi won with Edoardo Gamba and Marco Annesi from the Yacht Club Riviera del Conero with Manuela V ahead of the Volpina by Fabrizzio Cavazza with Andrea Zaoli and Serguei Chevtsov from the Yacht Club Moniga. Third place went to Guiseppe Matildi with Alesandro and Gianluca Maioli from the Adriaco Yacht Club.
The Subbnboana with Christian Hemmerich, Christian Öhler and Hubert Schädl stayed in 5th place.
Results here.
Here are all Enoshima participants with best wishes for Enoshima initiator Biwi Reich, who unfortunately couldn't come. (Photo DTYC)
Melx III (GRE 5, Stavros PAPAGIANNOPOULOS, Yannis MITAKIS, Pavlos KAGIALIS) has won the 2023 5.5 Metre German Open at Tutzing on Starnberger See, hosted by the Deutscher Touring Yacht-Club. Ali Baba (GER 125, Wolf-Eberhard RICHTER, Beata KALLKOWSKI, Bernd SELIG) took second and became German Champions, while No Stress (SUI 201, Jörg SONNTAG, Olaf SCHULZ, Jacob REK) was third.
Sunday was a bleak day on the lake in contrast to the previous two days, with low cloud, incessant rain and low temperatures. After a brief postponement the fleet of 15 boats was sent out for a 12.00 start. Only one race was sailed to complete the series and it was down to Melx III and Ali Baba to take the overall win.
The wind started at 7-8 knots and dropped to 2-3 knots at the first windward mark, but then filled in again with the course shortened at the second windward mark, luckily closer to the club as the rain had returned.
Ali Baba looked to have the better of the start and covered Melx III all around the course to cross the line first. Melx III crossed second with No Stress crossing third, but then it transpired that Ali Baba was UFD at the start, along with Lady Luv (GER 8 Manfred PÖSCHL Johannes BANDTLOW Peter WACHS), who both crossed early near the pin.
This gave the overall win back to the Greek team.
Highlights from Day 3 of the 2023 5.5 Metre German Open
Yannis Mitakis is one a number of former Finn sailors who are now sailing in the 5.5 Metre fleet.
“After the Finn Olympics in Tokyo it was my last race so then I joined the 5.5 family and it is really interesting to sail these nice boats.
“It was a nice three days racing here in Germany. It was a tight race and finally we won and we are really happy with that. We are racing as a team for the second time and now we are looking forward to the world championship in Sardinia and we hope to see everyone there.”
Racing continues in Tutzing for the Enoshima Trophy for boats still conforming to the rules in place at the time the 5.5 Metre was an Olympic class.
The World Championship runs from 24-29 September in Porto Cervo, with 34 entries so far.
Final results after 7 races:
1 Melx III (GRE 5, Stavros PAPAGIANNOPOULOS, Yannis MITAKIS, Pavlos KAGIALIS) 8
2 Ali Baba (GER 125, Wolf-Eberhard RICHTER, Beata KALLKOWSKI, Bernd SELIG) 11
4 No Stress (SUI 201, Jörg SONNTAG, Olaf SCHULZ, Jacob REK) 20
3 Manuela V, (ITA 36, Guido TOMMASI, Marco ANESSI, Edoardo GAMBA) 33
5 Striezi (GER 107, Johannes SCHMEDERER, Florian LAUTENSCHLÄGER, Gunter ERNST) 45
Prizewinners:
International German Champion:
Melx III GRE 5 Stavros PAPAGIANNOPOULOS Yannis MITAKIS Pavlos KAGIALIS
German Champion:
Ali Baba GER 125 Wolf-Eberhard RICHTER Beata KALLKOWSKI Bernd SELIG
Paula preis (best evo):
Striezi GER 107 Johannes SCHMEDERER Florian LAUTENSCHLÄGER Gunter ERNST
Ohlson Prize & Long Keel cup (Best Classic & best long Keel classic):
Manuela V ITA 36 Guido TOMMASI Marco ANESSI Edoardo GAMBA
Concourse d‘elegance:
Volpina ITA 33 Fabrizio CAVAZZA Andrea ZAOLI Serguei CHEVTSOV
Oldest classic:
Lady Luv GER 8 Manfred PÖSCHL Johannes BANDTLOW Peter WACHS
Pungin prize (10th Place):
Rush VII GER 64 Luis TARABOCHIA Michael TARABOCHIA Erwin BURTH
Gallery here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fivepointfivemetre/albums/72177720310763936
Final results after 7 races: https://www.manage2sail.com/de-DE/event/GO5p23#!/results?classId=9c05ee60-7e73-4885-a9eb-ca1268bcd5b2
Jennifer Harker writes: Day 5 saw the 5.5M flag that flies at Midland Bay Sailing Club during the North American Regatta snapping in the breeze, promising better winds at last.
To celebrate 10 boats in the 10th year of the North American 5.5M Regatta boats and crews lined up for a pre-race photo (Credit: Eugene Kokbas)
The final day of racing brought some unique moments including Firestorm’s foredeck crew Tal Hutcheson demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship by going swimming to clear weeds from the three evolution rudders before the start of race one; Eugene Kokbas going up Nantoria’s mast in the middle of the bay to fix a halyard issue between races; and the fleet lining up the boats for a fantastic photo op before the day’s racing – which may have contributed to the weed issues, but makes for a fabulous photo.
Jill CAN 11 had a fantastic day with two firsts and a second. Skipper Bryan Gooderham said, “It really was a better day. Some of the lighter air has been so frustrating. I don’t feel master of my own destiny. The boat likes better air. Today we had adequate starts, not stellar but we could hold the lane and go more or less where we wanted to go. We had good crew work today with some difficult moments coming into marks with traffic. Mikey is a huge help to me, she is my eyes, we’ve sailed on so many boats together over decades, I trust her, and it makes for a pretty good team.”
Pride USA 31 ended the regatta on a good note as well sailing into a strong fourth in the final race of the day. Skipper Joe Strelow said, “Today was definitely the best. Pride really needs that kind of wind. Today was a ton of fun.”
Matt Thurley on Summer School CAN 31 also had a strong start to the day with a second place finish. “We did quite well in some, quite poorly in others. One small mistake knocks you from second to seventh. The North American fleet is getting much strong and the aggression was there. With my lovely boat I don’t want to bump her, but when you’re not aggressive you lose positions, especially at the mark. There is more and more competition each year which is fantastic.” As a new co-owner of Summer School with American Joe Lambert, Thurley said there will be some work to do over the winter. “Boats always need something,” he said good-naturedly.
The evolutions had a blast duking it out around the buoys. Firestorm’s skipper William Turner said, “It was a great day. We had Firestorm’s favourite conditions today with the breezes up. The first race we mixed it up with Dan in a tacking duel. The third race we rounded the mark and stayed in front of John because you can’t cover both. In the middle of all that we sailed through a hole and it was Mavi for the win.”
In the end Firestorm would finish the regatta in top spot for the evolutions followed by Jalapena and O’Kelly while the classics were led by Mavi in first, then Purple Haze and Nantoria with a tie, and Jill, Summer, Summer School and Pride rounding out the standings.
Full regatta results can be found here https://www.sailwave.com/results/MBSC-2023%205-5%20North%20American%20Summer%20Regatta.htm
The North American 5.5M group appreciates the host community and likes to give back. Last year they raised money for the local hospital and this past spring for the Midland Bay Sailing Club’s sailing school.
Throughout the week of racing sailors bought tickets for a draw to win a charcuterie board made by volunteer Jim Hanmore with the 5.5 logo. In total $1040 was raised to support Atlantic Challenge Canada. ACC trains youth to sail and row and the Midland-based group will head to Maine, USA next summer for the International Contest of Seamanship with youth from over a dozen countries. Truly our 5.5M racers are the best.
At the end of the day Tal Hutcheson reflected on the whole regatta. “I think of the owners here and the history we have preserved, saving these boats from the scrapbook of history. Thank you for keeping the dream alive.”
Day 5 finally delivered strong breezes for tight racing.
In the middle of the bay Eugene Kokbas went up Nantoria’s mast between Race 2 and 3 to fix a halyard issue and make it to the start and turn in a fine third place performance.
Giving back to the community: Jason Williams (left) from Jill CAN 11 won the fundraising raffle for the charcuterie board created by volunteer Jim Hanmore. The fleet raised $1040 for Atlantic Challenge Canada, a local youth sailing and rowing organization that will head to Maine, USA next year for an International Contest of Seamanship.
2023 Scandinavian Gold Cup and World Championship
Yacht Club Costa Smerelda, Sardinia, 20-30 September 2023
www.yccs.com