After successful test sailing sessions with interested sailors and journalists on the Black Marlin trimaran on the Baltic Sea at Maasholm (Germany) end of April, we started training and racing with the Black Jack catamaran and team on Lake Balaton (Hungary) in the middle of May.
Both in the north and in the south of Europe we had fantastic weather with great winds and sun. Sailing at the start of the season couldn’t have been more beautiful.
However, things quickly got serious in Hungary at the first regatta. Around 200 ships of all categories started. The multhulls always have their starting line close to the Balatonfüred promenade.
As we were in pole position on the line, we got into the race well and oriented ourselves on the right side of the course. The competition (AC45 and 50/50) had to find another way and took the left side. But they found the better wind and passed us.
At the first turning point, the wind went a little crazy and started again from two sides. We had good eyesight and saw the ideal way through this meteo chaos and fought our way back to first position.
At the second buoy we were still ahead, but the others were able to catch up with a fresh wind. Shortly before the finish, the big AC45 was able to overtake us and we came second. Nevertheless, we were very pleased with the result.
At the second regatta last weekend (a long distance and loop in the middle part of the lake) we were able to get off to a very good start with our great gennacker. After a long course we were in third place 12 minutes behind the two larger ships.
They had the ideal setup for the wind (4-8kts) and the course. However, we also have to explain that these are a few meters longer and higher than us with more sailarea.
There are definitely times when we have the same boat speed with your Decision 35 catamaran. The whole competition keep improving. But these giants have some advantages in long distance races.
On the way to the second buoy we also made a tactical mistake and we have to do two extra gybes just in front of the buoy after the wind change a bit. At the end of the long upwind leg we finished fourth.
It could have been further ahead. We see this mistake as an experience and want to do better next time. More exciting races on wonderful Lake Balaton await us in June and July.
