Action4Europe – the Austrian premiere…

...and then straight away in perhaps the most difficult sailing area in the country, Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia (correctly pronounced: "Geandn"), known from the 90s RTL TV series "Ein Schloss am Wörthersee" (A Castle on Lake Wörthersee), famous for its shifting, light winds and the many motorboats. Added to that was the difficult journey from the north due to the many motorway construction sites; on the other hand, Italy is very close, but unfortunately that wasn't enough to attract more than one Italian – but the Austrian 2.4-meter fleet was also weakened and reduced to five boats. So, 5 boats found their way to the Velden Yacht Club (one of them a day late) and were given a fitting welcome with a toast. The base camp was the repair shop of the traditional Schmalzl boatyard, where high-priced (!) motorboats are normally serviced (the shipyard's website states: "a true treasure trove for lovers of fine watercraft" – and 16s are, after all, fine watercraft!). Incidentally, a historic wooden 2.4mR was moored in the water in front of the shipyard, ready to swell in peace.

After a welcome with the traditional Prosecco toast and a short wait for wind, we set off. It was the first regatta of the season for the YCV Inklusiv, and a skulker had apparently taken up residence over the winter: first the safety boat failed, and then the anchor winch of the starting boat failed, which didn't make the race committee's job any easier. We completed the first two races in a light southerly breeze. Then the wind shifted to the westerly and freshened, and after a long wait for the course to be changed (the skulker was to blame!), we were able to complete one more race – thus, a valid main regatta already at the end of the first day, dominated by Antonio Squizzato.

In the evening, there was free beer and a snack; I even managed to take a dip in the hotel pool. On Saturday, there were three more races in a westerly wind; the location of the starting line provided the opportunity to practice starboard starts at the pin end. Julian Nachberger managed to break the Italian dominance and become the only Austrian to win a race at the first A4E regatta in Austria, for which he also received a special prize.

One race ended with a 90° turn at the windward mark and a lull on the leeward mark. Some sailors loudly yearned for the race to be called off, which finally happened. In the evening, breaded chicken shanks (some also call them "chicken legs") fresh from the mountain pastures were served with potato and coleslaw (that'll give you a windy day the next day!) at lovingly set tables in the spruced-up shipyard hall. The core group stayed until shortly before midnight.

The race committee had scheduled the start later for Whitsun Sunday, which would come back to haunt them, as the best wind, this time from the east, was early in the morning. As we set off from the buoy field, the wind began to weaken and died down completely after the first lap. We drifted through the calm at 1,2 knots toward the shortened course. Since a weather warning had been issued for the afternoon, with thunderstorms and winds over 30 knots (none of which actually materialized...), the start was canceled earlier.

After a brisk crane lift and packing, the first A4E event in Austria concluded with a worthy awards ceremony. As fifth place (and the best Austrian), I was awarded the responsibility to write this report, although I was unfortunately late fulfilling this obligation. I apologize and thank Detlef for his patience and persistence.

The beginning of A4E in Austria has been made – may more events in Austria follow!

Georg Wietzorrek, AUT 10, winner of the Report Trophy

Results

Pictures