2022 Wagner Cup for Dragon class at Fraglia Vela Riva - Overall
by Elena Giolai 9 Oct 2022 05:42 AEDT
6-8 October 2022
A very tight finish for the 18th edition of the Wagner Cup-9th Bertamini Trophy, an event reserved for the splendid Dragoni class: a revolution in the general classification and therefore the final podium, after the last three of the seven races held from Thursday to Saturday, thanks to the organisation of Fraglia Vela Riva in collaboration with Federazione Italiana Vela and Consorzio Garda Trentino Vela.
Almost summery temperatures on Garda Trentino and medium-light winds characterised the event, which on Saturday ended with the three races held early in the morning in a northerly wind of 12-14 knots. It was a very exciting final because the first four finished within two points, with equal scores between the first and second crews (27 points), and between the third and fourth crews (29 points).
In the end, the winner was the one who had not only a Dragoon World Championship title on board, won just this year in Germany, but also the Star Class title: Englishman Klaus Diederichs, with his crew made up of Italian Diego Negri (two-time Star world champion) and Jamei Lea, changed gear in the last three races, moving up from eighth overall to first overall by posting a 1-4-1, which enabled a wonderful comeback.
The Portuguese Zanchel Michael, crewed by Joao Rosa and Diogo Pereira, also made a leap forward in the standings to second place, moving up three places. Instead, the 2022 European champion, the Swiss Wolf Waschkuhn (with Nankin-Vidinha on board, tied on points with the Hungarians Kisszolayemi-Karck-Denes, first in the sixth and penultimate race, fell to third place.
The allure of the Dragon class thus manifested itself in these early days of October: the class that was Olympic from London 1948 to Munich 1972, bringing Cosentino-Ciciliano-De Stefano bronze in 1960 at the Olympic Games in Naples, remains a boat with elegant water lines that still captivates many racing admirers.
More regattas on Garda Trentino: next weekend almost 400 young Optimist sailors are expected for the Torboli Trophy, again organised by Fraglia Vela Riva.
View the full results here...