On day two of the Star Class 2005 Eastern Hemisphere Championship on Lake Thoune, Switzerland, the day dawned with beautiful sunshine, contrary to the weather forecast and a consistent south-easterly wind until 13 hrs. Finally, the wind did the expected 180° turn, offering a light and difficult to read north-westerly pattern of 5-10 knts. After a general recall, a successful start under black flag rule was given at 14.35 hrs, which had Salani / Lillia (ITA) and Miller / Kleen (GER) leaving the course as blackl flag victims.

Half way up the first beat, it was evident, that the poor end starters had the better end compared to the favourites’ group which after having taken the right side of the course was easily passed by a number of teams which did not show up in the top ranks in race 1.

However, race 1 winner Stanjek / Koy (GER) and yesterday’s third, Lovrovic jun and sen (CRO) did the right tacks to start chasing the surprising leader, the organising club’s Scheidegger brothers (SUI), ranked 31 in race 1. The Swiss successfully defended their lead over almost the whole course, finally finishing 2nd in the GER – CRO sandwich. Behind these constantly leading three boats, Sevestre / Berengier (FR), O’Connell / Peel (IRL), Merkelbach – Meissner (GER), the Gereben brothers (HUN) and Dannesboe – Fayzullin (SUI) added some low numbers to their race 1 results and are now within 7 points after 2 races, 9 points behind the leading duo.

The local favorite, 2004 Vice World Champion Flavio Marazzi – Magnus Lilljedahl, clear leader immediately after the start, had to work hard to thru the fleet to finally reduce the damage finishing on 13.

Not particularly amused are Mateusz Kurznierewic / Dominick Zycki (POL) and Garcia de Soto / Elarze (ESP) who got a DNE (disqualification not excludable) for finishing the race after having been black-flagged.