5.5 Gold Cup - Nergaard's Norwegian crew wins on Lake Garda

by 5.5 Gold Cup on 8 Sep 2010 5.5 Gold Cup - Six countries were represented in this year edition of the 5.5 Gold Cup hosted by Circolo Vela Torbole on Lake Garda: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Norway, The Netherlands and Switzerland.

The rule is simple: the boat that first wins three races is the winner and after three races, a boat that has not won a single race no longer compete.

Kristian Nergaard from Royal Norwegian Yacht Club won the first race on Wednesday. The Swiss boat helmed by Bernard Haissly from Société Nautique de Genève made the best of a very close race on Thursday.

Five boats crossed the finishing line within 30 seconds. On the third day, Nergaard once again took the advantage and won a second race. With a score of 2 for Norway and 1 for Switzerland on Friday night and therefore only those two boats remaining in the competition, Saturday’s race number 4 was likely to be very interesting.

Both the Swiss and the Norwegian boats had an excellent start. Then defending champion Nergaard deployed and mastered his match racing tactics. He successfully took the lead over the Swiss boat and sailed to the victory with his crew composed of Peer Moberg and Petter Morland Pedersen winning the Scandinavian Gold Cup in 5.5 Metre for the third time consecutively.

In the Royal Kaag Classic Cup, a fleet racing series reserved to the 5.5 Classic division, three boats were competing. Italian boat 'Carabella' helmed by Alfredo Delli won the regatta and the Cup for the sixth time in a row!

http://www.sailing.org