GYC firmly establishes the Saanenland in the sailing world

  20.08.2021 Sports & Leisure

The Gstaad Yacht Club is firmly established in the Swiss sailing scene and keeps thriving on an international level. Its athletes carry the club’s burgee and the the region into all the corners of the World!

Whether it be at the Olympic Games in Japan or some of the most demanding regattas in the world, the GYC athletes and sailors are at the top of their game.

The young generation of sailors has been active and brought home victories from international waters. The 4th place overall in the U21 European Championship & Open European Trophy went to Anja von Allmen and Martin Verhulst. In the Boy’s Laser Standard competition Martin’s brother Gauthier Verhulst finished 3rd, getting a place on the podium and a well-deserved bronze medal. Our local sailor Emilie Tschanz is also steadily progressing and improving her skills. She is currently competing at the 2021 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships in Arco (IT) together with Martin and Anja.

In the 49er category, local GYC sailor Joshua Richner and his partner Nilo Schaerer are proving that they are getting better in every regatta they compete. The latest result was the U21 Vice World Championship title in Gdynia (PL). Joshua is becoming an important representative of the Saanenland.

Olympic aspiration and results
Among our senior sailors, RS:X windsurfer and GYC Racing Team member Mateo Sanz Lanz fulfilled one of his dreams by representing Switzerland at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

After two weeks of training in steady onshore breezes, the sailors were dealt a very different and more difficult hand at the opening day of the sailing competition. The RS:X Windsurfers began their competition on the Enoshima course in a light and unfortunate east north easterly breeze from the shore. Mateo had a great start. As a light air specialist, he had favourable conditions. With two race wins on the first day, Mateo made a big exclamation mark and proudly won the yellow bib. On Tuesday, Mateo finished second overall – changing the yellow for the blue bib. “It was a difficult day, with shifts and gusts. But I can be happy I stayed in the top 3 with stronger wind than forecasted. I am really happy with my racing today,” he said just after the race.

Thursday and Friday were days of good breeze in Enoshima. Some sailors scored double wins in their races, while others had to fight to hold their position. Mateo held his board strong and finished in the top ten. “I qualified for the medal race, it was the first goal of my Olympics. I will now fight for a diploma. We had six races in really strong winds, which aren’t my conditions, so I am very happy with my performance.”

At the medal race, Mateo could once more effect a top performance, and achieved another goal he had set himself: finishing on the podium in the medal race. He did so ranking 3rd, ending his Olympic Games with a diploma in 8th place overall.

Have you missed the athletes’ races and would like to catch up? All links and information are available on the YouTube channel, on the new website, and the brand-new mobile app of the Gstaad Yacht Club.

GSTAAD YACHT CLUB

 


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