Esse Cup in Thalwil – seven heats, thrilling races and a fantastic atmosphere
08. July 2026
For the fifth time, the Thalwil Sailing Club (SVT) hosted the Esse Cup on Lake Zurich – and once again it became clear why this event has established itself as a fixture in the Esse class regatta calendar.
Fourteen Esse yachts gathered from 3 to 5 July for a weekend of thrilling races, challenging conditions and a friendly atmosphere. The weekend kicked off on Friday evening with two races in a light Bise breeze during the Sunset Race, before Saturday really put the participants through their paces. The day began with two fine races, before the wind kept dying down and constantly changing direction. Several attempts to start had to be postponed or abandoned. But patience paid off: towards evening, a steady northerly wind finally set in, allowing for three further fair and high-calibre races. A total of seven races were sailed – a resounding success given the challenging wind conditions.
Every metre was fiercely contested on the water. The close races and the high standard of the fleet once again highlighted the special qualities of the Esse class: fast boats, demanding tactics and sailing excitement right up to the finish line.
In sporting terms, Jan Bachmann and his crew came out on top in both the overall standings and the One-Design classification for the Esse 850. The remaining podium places were taken by Florian Schuchter and Stefan Schuchter in the overall standings, and Stefan Schuchter and Marco Vogelsang in the One-Design classification. Warm congratulations to all the teams on their strong performances!
Equally pleasing was the strong turnout from the class. Fourteen Esse yachts on the starting line are a fine testament to the vibrant Swiss Esse community and ensured close, tactically challenging races right up to the final race. You can relive the special atmosphere of the weekend on the water in our photo gallery.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the Thalwil Sailing Club, the race committee and the numerous volunteers whose tremendous efforts made this superbly organised event possible. The convivial get-together after the races – with a beer on the jetty, a delicious dinner and the prize-giving ceremony – once again made the Esse Cup a highlight of the season.
We’re already looking forward to the next regattas and to seeing the Esse fleet back together on the starting line again very soon!
