The long-awaited start of the racing season has finally arrived. Tomorrow, 19 teams from Switzerland, Italy and Germany will line up on Lake Lugano for the first race of the Esse 850 IC Cup 2015. Everything is set at the Circolo Velico Lago di Lugano and many teams are already on site to get prepared for this exciting regatta.

The top 6 teams of last year's Esse 850 IC Cup total ranking will all compete at Lugano. Furthermore, there are a number of other frontrunners that could be in to win the trophy of the Alpen Cup. The SUI 158 with Paul-Ambroise Sevestre, for example, who won last year's Esse 850 anniversary race on Lake Zürich. Or the SUI 121 with Bendetto Pedrazzini who proved to be in great shape last year at the Swiss Championships. And then, last but not least, all the locals. However, every candidate for the victory at the Alpen Cup 2015 has to get past the number one favourite of the Esse 850 International Class, the SUI 072 with Alain Marchand.

Weather predictions are not exactly grand, with lots of rainfall and probably not quite as much wind. A tendetially light southern breeze on Friday and Saturday might turn to an even lighter northerly on Sunday. Let's hope that the Alps will generate some thermals for the Esse 850-Fleet at the Alpen Cup 2015!