As usual, the president of the Esse 850 International Class, Stephan Züger, closes the year with a letter and greetings to the class. Please take note of his words here.

Donato Perucchi is doing a great job for us – the esse850 IC thanks You!

Dear esse850-sailors

More than eleven years have passed since Josef Schuchter has launched his first esse850 to test it for the first time on the water! The boat worked right away! A great and joyous fact! The foundation stone for a hardly comparable success story was laid. Today, more than 160 units are sailing on all waters around the world - and we are part of this! Brilliant!
... also the ninth year of the “Esse850 International Class (IC)” association is over! As the president of our still young sailor family, I am pleased to look back on a beautiful sailing year, to draw conclusions and to look ahead to the eventful 2016.
First of all I just want to thank You! Above all I want to thank Donato Perucchi! Our Chief-Race-Officer has done a perfect job. Due to his contacts and his persistence we will be enjoying an attractive sailing-program in 2016.

Secondly, in the name of the entire family, I want to thank Max Juchli. With his great efforts Max has enabled the last years Swiss Championships on the Lake of Constance. As a pivot point he operated previously to as well as during the event with a huge commitment!

Big thanks also need to be addressed to all of You for Your enthusiasm and ambitions with the esse850 on the water – and to my friends of the managing-committee, who are committed all year long and do a lot of work behind the scenes! I am already today looking forward to meeting You all again next year!

The past year has provided fascinating sport. We met and there cultivated our class spirit and so raced in Lugano, Vidy, Lake of Garda, Chiemsee and in Romanshorn for the Swiss Championships.

My heartfelt congratulations go to the seventh Swiss Champion of our class. For the first time Paul Ambrose Sevestre, together with Philippe Gaillard, Ivan Staub and Arnaud Butty, won the title “Swiss Champion”. Furthermore the annual ranking was won by the new Swiss Champions. Congrats!
The 9th Annual General Meeting took place just ahead of the Swiss Championships in Romanshorn. Besides the agenda, which was smoothly handled, there was plenty of time left to get together to enjoy an aperitif riche and cultivate our friendships.
The most important tool to inform our members around the world is the internet. Jan Paulich has taken over the tasks of Francis and has created a completely new built website www.esse850.org! Jan, cordially thanks to You for Your effort and the active maintenance!

All the important information about our elegant boat, the sailing activities, the building codes and all for the association relevant information are accessible on our new site. Many beautiful pictures illustrate the various events and present the incomparable dynamics of our beloved sailing sport. This year illustrated reports of all events were newly added.

Over the past year the attractive regatta program involved far more than 50 boats. The annual ranking can be looked up on our website. The number of participants in this year races remained constant. Not only the number of participating boats but also the quality of the sailors has been very remarkable. I consider it as a big compliment for our class to see internationally successful (professional) sailors participating in our races.

Also the upcoming year is going to deliver thrilling sailing sport. With the very attractive “international esse850 – Cup 2016”, which will take place at six locations, we would like to motivate You to participate at the following races:

-        Mediteranean Cup (1st  – 3rd  of april) – Lerici (ITA)

-        Coupe romande (27th – 29th of may) – Geneva (SUI)

-        Alpen Cup (3rd – 5th of june) – Brunnen (SUI)

-        WORLD OPEN (14th -17th of july) – Malcesine (SUI)

-        Bächau Cup (20th -21st of august) – Bäch (SUI)

-        7th  International Swiss Championship (15th- 18th of september) – Ascona (SUI)

The 10th General Assembly of the "Esse850 International Class" will be held on Wednesday, the 17th of September 2016 in Ascona.
On the website www.esseboats.com Josef has set up a small shop where Esse850 accessories and sailing gear can be ordered and purchased.
In the name of Josef Schuchter and the Board of  Directors, I am pleased to offer to You as an active member of the "Esse850 International Class" the following "gift": Next year again, at some races of the class, a professional will attend the races on a boat, capturing the best moments on video and pictures, and make them instantly available to You.
We would be delighted if you could and would actively participate at the proposed races next year, taking part in the regattas and so be contributing to our class being alive!
Please do not forget to deposit the membership fee before the first race.

The membership fee can also be paid without a deposit slip by a common bank transfer:

Recipient: Esse 850 International Class

Account at  LGT Bank (Schweiz) AG, Zürich: 2217849.025

IBAN: CH45 0833 5002 2178 4902 5

SWIFT Code: BLFLCHBB

All that remains now is to wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I will be pleased to meet You at one of the events in 2016.
With my best wishes
“Mast and Schotbruch”
Stephan Züger
President "Esse850 International Class"
Esse850 - "The Gentlemen Sportboat"!
December 2015