written by Matias Collins on April 20 of 2026 and read by 268
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Past weekend was busy one for the Soling Class, where there were racing in four different countries such as Norway, USA, Brasil and Argentina.
4 races were raced in Brasil with great winds and good media footage distributed at the Instagram, in Argentina the wind ruled by its absence but 5 races were held in a range of 5 to 8 kots of wind, the weather in Annapolis, USA had a glance of spring time for Saturday but a leftover from winter on Sunday where temperatures dropped into the zeros, with rain and squalls, with racing being cancelled, and only four races achieved on the first day. Norway, well the brave sailors there still are encapsulated in their drysuits but already feeling that the Sun angle improves which soon will look like spring.
In Annapolis for the Spring bowl USA 833 helmed by John McGrane sailing with Matt White and John Kish read well all the shifts of the Chesapeake bay taking home three bullets and a 4th place enough to put a three point different from immediate follower USA 850 helmed by Henry Thomas sailing with Max Kippenbrock and Peter Siegel who had the remaining bullet, two seconds and also a fourth to complete their score. Local legend Andrew Dize sailing on USA 798 with Jono Roberts and David Clinnin came in third overall with two seconds, a third and a fourth.
Despite no racing on Sunday, it was a memory day at the SSA, Annapolis, where Stuart Walker would have been 103 years old, for newcomers we must remember that he competitively sailed in the Soling beyond the nineties.
While in Argentina summer laziness is hardly saying goodbye the competitors took part in the famous SIL (San Isidro Labrador) championship, a multi class event with more than 700 competitors, 6 racecourses to a point that the Soling class shared its racecourse with another keelboat (Conte24) and the Finn class. The Finns had their weather mark in a shorter distance. The racing management was quite good, with only one race leading a class to wait too much for the next start otherwise, they all ended pretty much at the same time. ARG 42 helmed by Gustavo Warburg sailing with Hernan Celedoni and Raul Viola had a perfect Saturday winning all 3 races, and achieving a fourth and second place on Sunday, enough to wind the championship ahead immediate follower USA 853 helmed by Matias Collins sailing with Andres Ezcurra and Fernando Sotelino who had a bad first day with two thirds and a fourth but on Sunday a second and a bullet, enough to beat at the discard ARG 34 helmed by Diego Cappagli sailing with Alejandro Culasso Moore and Javer Padilla who had two seconds and a third at the first day and two third on Sunday.
The dispute in Brasil was tight 2023 World Champion BRA 73 helmed by Kadu Bergenthal sailing with Vilnei Goldmeier and Edgar Opptiz started well and eded better, taking home a bullet, two seconds and a final bullet to be crowned at the South Brazilian event.
BRA 78 helmed by Nelson Ilha sailing with Manfredo Floricke and Giovani Trojan despite initial 4th then achieved two consecutive bullets and a second too close to the leader who managed to control them during the race, otherwise the final standings would have been inverted. BRA 55 helmed by Enrique Ilha sailing with Eduardo Cavalli and Caetano dos Anjos completed the podium with the following finishes 3,4,3,4.
In Norway was a complete dominance from local young team NOR 141 helmed by August Austfjord sailing with Orjan Flo and Daniel Flo Fjaere managing to discard a first place over 10 races, only bullets. The second place overall was also well defined with NOR 139 still with original sails NED 50 helmed by Georgios Nikoltsis sailing with Harald Hilde and Andre Ugland obtaining 7 second places and three thirds. To complete the podium the difference was closer with NOR 112 helmed by Vidar Lungstrom sailing with Thomas Gjesteland and Andreas Auen achieving the best scoring with three seconds, three thirds and 4 fourths.
The Soling class activity will resume in two weeks from now with the Carl Auteried Gedächtnispokal at lake Attersee and continue with the World Championship in Balaton, Hungary the week after.
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