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On the second day of qualifications for the last Olympic starting places, another full program was sailed in inconsistent winds between 12 and 15 knots. ----- Elena Lengwiler SUI extended her lead in the women's kite foil with 3 race wins. ----- Connor Bainbridge GBR is the clear leader in the men's Formula Kite. Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI moved up to 10th place (6th nation). ----- Khairulnizam Mohd Affendi MAS has taken the lead in ILCA 7. Gauthier Verhulst SUI was one of the best of the day and is now 6th and therefore in the running for an Olympic starting place. ----- The two Swiss Nacra17 teams in 9th and 10th place are close behind a nation's berth. ----- In the 49er, Yannick Lefèbre/Jan Theuninnck BEL and Max Stingele/Linoy Scheel GER are tied for the lead. ----- All rankings and the Facebook page.

While some classes sailed their first races at midday in moderate, inconsistent winds, a fresh mistral brought up to 25 knots in the late afternoon. ----- This was the case for the 470s, where a trio led by Camille Lecointre/Jérémy Mion FRA are tied on points after two races. Yves Mermod/Maja Siegenthaler SUI had to accept a capsize in the second race and are 15th. ----- In the 49ers, Jack Ferguson/Max Paul AUS lead ahead of Bart Lambriex/Floris Van de Werken NED. Joshua Richner/Nilo Schärer SUI are 17th, Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta follow in 19th place. ----- An Australian lead also in the 49erFX by Laura Harding/Annie Wilmot AUS. ----- In the ILCA 7, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA won the only race of the day. ----- Just one race each for the iQ-Foil windsurfers: Zhen Yang CHN leads the women's race, while Grae Morris AUS, Nicolas Goyard FRA and Tom Reuveny ISR are now tied for the lead in the men's race. ----- The ILCA 6, the Kite-Foilers and the Nacra 17 did not compete. ----- All rankings and the Facebook page.

With a lead of just 58 minutes, Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA crossed the finish line yesterday after 14 days and 20 hours as winners of the Transat Niji. After days of fighting, Alberto Riva ITA/Jean Marre FRA/Benjamin Schwartz FRA had to admit defeat. Meanwhile, 7 of the 10 teams remaining in the race have reached the finish. The race tracker and the reports.

The "last chances regatta" for the last remaining Olympic starting places began yesterday in Hyères with the first races in all 10 Olympic classes. ----- In the Formula Kite (5 starting places each), Elena Lengwiler SUI was a favorite in the women's race and took a clear lead with places 1/1/1/2. ----- In the men's event, the top 4 are separated by just 2 points, with Maksymilan Zarkowski POL in the lead. Bruce Kessler SUI is the best of the three Swiss in 11th place. ----- After two races, Campbell Patton BER and Oskar Madonich UKR are tied for the lead in ILCA 7. Gauthier Verhulst SUI is down in 15th place for the time being (10th nation). ----- In the Nacra 17, Natascha Saouma/Matthias Bruun DEN won two of the 3 races. Axel Grandjean/Noëmi Fehlmann SUI are 9th (8th nation). ----- Ingrid Puusta EST leads the women's iQ-Foil, and Manon Berger SUI follows in 14th place. ----- All rankings and the report.

The participants who have already qualified for the Olympics are sailing the Semaine Olympique, with the Formula Kites and iQ Foil windsurfers being the first to compete yesterday. ----- Max Maeder SGP once again dominated the Formula Kite with 3 race wins in 5 races, followed by Toni Vodisek SLO in 2nd place, 3 points behind. ----- Lauriane Nolot FRA also had three race wins in the Kite Foil Women. Ellie Aldridge GBR follows in 2nd place, tied on points. ----- In the iQ Foil Windsurfing Men, Grae Morris AUS and Tom Reuveny ISR share the lead, with Nicolas Goyard FRA one point behind. Elia Colombo SUI also got off to a good start in 9th place out of the 35 participants. ----- Zheng Yan CHN took the lead in the women's race, followed one point behind by Mariana Aguilar MEX. ----- All rankings and the daily report.

There was plenty of wind on the final day of the third round of the Euro Masters, and two races were sailed. ----- Monica Azon ESP remained on top of the ILCA 6, with Freek De Miranda NED and Cesar Sierhuis NED taking the places of honor. Lorenz Müller SUI was a good 17th of the 76 participants - the ranking ILCA 6. ----- Lorenzo Cerretelli ITA won the ILCA 7, with José-Luis Doreste ESP - 1988 Olympic Finn Champion - moving up to second place with two race wins. Markus Ochs SUI finished 23rd, and Beat Heinz SUI followed in 29th place of the 51 participants - the Ranking ILCA 7. ----- The final report with all rankings.

This morning, Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA will reach the finish line as winners of the Transat Niji. At the time of going to press at 7 am, they were still 30 miles behind and were making good progress in the trade winds. Following 10 miles behind are Alberto Riva ITA/Jean Marre FRA/Benjamin Schwartz FRA. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

The first round of the European Melges 24 Tour ended yesterday in Trieste with another 3 races. Ante Cesic CRO and his team won with superiority ahead of Akos Csolto HUN. Jörg Hotz SUI finished 17th of the 26 teams from 9 nations. ----- The ranking list and the daily report.

The Hyères World Cup is the last big test of strength for most classes before the Olympic Games in July. Only the nations already qualified for the Olympics are taking part, including Switzerland in 4 classes (470, 49er, ILCA 6, iQ-Windsurf). All entry lists. Moderate winds are forecast for today, then it should freshen up in the course of the week - the forecasts. First starts today at 12h, the races can be followed via Live-Ticker. The event website.

Together with the Olympic World Cup, but sailing in separate fleets, the nations that have not yet qualified will be fighting for the last Olympic starting places in Hyères. Switzerland will be competing in 4 disciplines: As the rising star of the season, kiteboarder Elena Lengwiler SUI is also named in the official preview as the favourite for one of the 7 starting places. Bruce Kessler SUI, Karl Mäder SUI and Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI have usually come close in the past major series. This also applies to Gauthier Verhulst SUI in the ILCA 7, along with his brother Martin Verhulst SUI. The two Swiss Nacra 17s Andrea Aschieri/Anja Camusso SUI and Axel Grandjean/Noëmi Fehlmann SUI also still have a good chance of securing one of the 4 Olympic starting places. All entry lists and the preview.

The Euromasters continued yesterday with two races held in moderate seabreeze. ----- Monica Azon ESP maintained her lead in the ILCA 6, with Freek De Miranda NED following 10 points behind. Lorenz Müller SUI improved to 15th place out of 78 participants. ----- Lorenzo Cerretelli ITA took the lead in the ILCA 7, with Brett Beyer AUS one point behind in second place. The best Swiss is now Markus Ochs SUI in 27th place out of 51 participants. ----- The event website and the Facebook page with a large gallery.

Contrary to the (usually somewhat inaccurate) forecasts of the race tracker, the best trade wind conditions have materialised for the northern group, the sprint towards the finish - with 360 miles still to go - has begun. Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA are leading with a 25-mile lead over Alberto Riva ITA/Jean Marre FRA/Benjamin Schwartz FRA. The race tracker and the reports.

The 5.5m Alpine Cup came to an end yesterday on Lake Garda with two races held in inconsistent northerly winds. With a 2nd place in the first race, Peter Morton GBR/Ruairidh Scott GBR/Andrew Palfrey AUS made everything clear and did not have to compete in the final race. Mark Holowesko BAH (with Christoph Burger SUI) moved up to 2nd place as the day's best (1/2). The Marazzi family remained the best Swiss team in 9th place out of 21 teams. The ranking list and the final report.

Two races were completed yesterday in partly fresh Bora winds of up to 20 knots. Ante Cesic CRO and his team were the best of the day and extended their lead to 10 points. Jörg Hotz SUI was able to improve to 15th place of the 26 teams. The ranking list, the daily report and the Facebook page with video and pictures.

Yesterday, Alinghi Red Bull tested its definitive cupper (Boat One) under sail for the first time. The video and the report.

The leading duo were still able to avoid turning into the flat transition zone to the south and thus keep their speed high. Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA were able to extend their lead to 9.5 miles. The two breakaways in the south were able to make up 100 miles. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Conditions were good at the start of the Euro Masters of the ILCAs off the Costa Brava, with three races each being completed. ----- Monica Azon ESP dominated the action in the ILCA 6 with places 1/1/3. Wilmar Groenendijk NED is already 11 points behind in 2nd place. The best Swiss is Lorenz Müller SUI in 17th place, followed by Jean-Luc Dreyer SUI in 24th of the 78 participants from 13 nations (including the USA and ARG) - the ILCA 6 ranking. ----- Brett Beyer AUS took the lead in ILCA 7, followed one point behind by Lorenzo Ceretelli ITA. José-Luis Doreste ESP and Antoni Roig ESP share 3rd place on equal points. Beat Heinz SUI is 25th of the 50 participants - the ILCA 7 results. ----- The event website.

Fresh Ora made 3 races possible on Lake Garda yesterday. Peter Morten GBR and his team were able to extend their lead to 5 points. The first pursuer is now his wife Louise Morten GBR! Kristian Nergaard NOR is 3rd, and only 0.5 points behind is Mark Holowesko BAH (with Christoph Burger SUI). Best Swiss is still Flavio Marazzi SUI in 9th place, directly behind are Jürg Menzi SUI and Bernard Haissly SUI. ----- The ranking list and the daily report.

In Trieste, 26 teams from 9 nations tackled the Melges 24 season. In constant winds around 12 knots, 4 races were completed. With 3 race wins Ante Cesic CRO and his team are clearly in the lead. Geoff Carveth GBR follows 4 points behind in 2nd place. Jörg Hotz SUI, the only Swiss at the start, is 17th. ----- The report with links to the ranking list and the pictures.

The fleet sailing in the north with north-westerly winds reached fresh winds again yesterday, with 800 miles to finish. These are likely to be much tougher to cross, as there is now the threat of a big lull until the finish. The two runaways in the south sail at good speeds in the trade winds, carrying them to the finish. Their gap yesterday remained stable at 1,000 miles. However, the race to catch up should begin today. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Grey weather and cool temperatures characterized the first day of the 5.5m Alpine Cup on Lake Garda. Three races were sailed in a moderate southerly wind. Peter Morton GBR and his team took the lead with 1/1/3. Bent Wilhelmsen NOR follows in 2nd place, 4 points behind, while Mark Holowesko BAH (with Christoph Burger SUI) is in 4th place thanks to a race win in the last race. The best Swiss is Flavio Marazzi SUI in 9th place with his daughters Eline and Julie. ----- The ranking list and the daily report.

The first Big Air World Cup of the year was held on the French Mediterranean coast. Kiteboarding's most spectacular discipline benefited from fresh winds, with the Tramontana blowing at around 30 knots on the final day. The Dutch provided the surprises: In the women's event, Pippa Van Iersel NED made an impressive comeback with a victory after a 2-year injury break. In the men's event, 18-year-old Jamie Overbeck NED achieved his first World Cup victory. ----- The results and the report.

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After the fast ride through the North Atlantic, the fleet must cross the flat transition zone to the trade winds. This is bigger than expected, and the leading duo, sailing just 1.5 miles apart, has already slowed down. Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA are now leading. The breakaway duo in the south are making good progress in the trade winds, but are unlikely to make up the 1,000-mile gap. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

The match racing season begins today in Long Beach with the Ficker Cup, which is part of the World Tour. The top three also qualify for the Congressional Cup, which takes place at the same venue in a week, and features all the cracks, including Eric Monnin SUI. The preview.

In Barcelona, the America's Cup activities have reached a new level of intensity, the teams have received their definitive cuppers. Team New Zealand was the first to complete a test drive - here is a longer video. Alinghi-Red-Bull and Luna Rossa were content with towing tests on the first water day - the report.

After the high-speed ride of the past few days - the leaders Alberto Riva ITA/Jean Marre FRA/Benjamin Schwartz FRA set a new 24-hour record for the class with 433 miles (report) - the leaders reached the flat intermediate zone on the way to the trade winds yesterday. The first chasers Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA closed to within 7 miles. The race tracker and the reports.

On Sunday, three more races were sailed in light winds in the Adriatic. After two race wins for Urs Infanger SUI, the final race was decided in favor of Antonio Squizzati ITA, who has Paralympic experience. Urs Infanger SUI follows two points behind. The best-ranked woman was Karin Hofmann GER in 6th place out of 32 participants from 5 nations. ----- The report with ranking.

The Western Hemisphere Championship was--decided in 8 races at the weekend in Miami. Tomas Hornos/Mauricio Buenos USA took first and second place on the final day, knocking Piet Eckert SUI/Federico Melo POR off the top spot. Augie Diaz USA/Bruno Prada BRA followed in 3rd place. 33 teams from 8 nations were at the start. ------ The ranking list and the report.

Best conditions for the fleet in the middle of the Atlantic, and with high speeds (17 knots), the leading duo is chasing towards the Caribbeans. ----- This morning, Alberto Riva ITA/Jean Marre FRA/Benjamin Schwartz FRA are now leading with a 21-mile advantage over Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA. ----- The race tracker and the reports.