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European Championship 1998

Juri Saraskin, the measurer found himself extremely busy from the first day of his arrival, organising the measuring room. Realising that he had to measure 80 boats in 3 days he asked for permission to start racing on Monday, one day behind schedule. It was very hectic around the measuring area during the last days especially with the sails. The vectran material, renowned for shrinking with the sun, had been used ‘generously’ on the sails. Unfortunately the majority of the new ones didn't measure; still too big to be legal. Hank LammensÕ sister, who happened to have her sail loft near by had a very busy week-end!

A few sailors had a vote before the racing for the favourites for the week. They were (in order): Sebastien Godefroid, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Michael Maier, Juri Tokovoi. Only Philippe Rogge correctly guessed the first two places, but nobody guessed who was going to come third.

Race one - Iain Percy wins

After a postponement, the first race started in only a 4-5 knot wind. Iain Percy, Dominik Zycki and Paul McKenzie, after a clear start at the pin end, chose to go on the right. It soon paid off and, as the wind started shifting 20 degrees in their favour, they ended up leading the beat. The breeze was increasing slightly from the ocean, shifting again to give more speed to the guys on the left. Chic Parsons lead round the top mark in front of Iain, Dominik, and Paul. Chic lost the lead after being caught for pumping after the gybe mark. Iain Percy moved up to first place with Dominik Zycki, Nenad Vialli and Paul McKenzie on his tail.

Iain and Dominik were the first ones to find some fresher breeze and increased their lead to round the top mark half a minute apart and far in front the rest of the boats. Paul moved up to third place. With everyone going right, behind the leaders on the last leg of the race and the rest of the fleet far behind there was not much risk to take by going on the opposite side. Ian Baker, placed 12th at the leeward mark took the risk. He kept going left all the way until, like previously, the wind started reinforcing from the left again It lifted him up to 3rd place, behind Iain Percy and Dominik at the finish.

Day Two

No wind - no racing

Race two - first of two wins for Xavier

The Finns sailors got their revenge on the weather and enjoyed two races today in heavy conditions. As the wind built up, the sea started to get bigger and bigger as well, helped with the tide coming in. A perfect sailing day! A perfect day, especially for Frenchman Xavier Rohart who after his first disastrous race on Monday where he finished 42nd, won both races. The start for the first race was postponed several times due to the wind shifting to the west. It was only after 3pm that the 77 boats were able to start.

At the top mark, Paul McKenzie was leading from Xavier Rohart. The reaches were once again to reveal the skills of Sebastien Godefroid who went from 7th to 2nd, Ian Ainslie from 9th to 4th and Mateusz Kusznierewicz who was the best improver jumping from 35th at the top mark to 9th at the leeward mark! Xavier was still in front at the windward mark and the placings stayed the same after the run. On the last beat to the finish, Ian Ainslie, Mateusz and Rafael Trujillo tried the left side but Xavier stayed in front and won the race followed by Sebastien and Paul. It was already 5pm when the first race ended but the conditions were too good to miss out on a second one, especially with two races to catch up with!

Race three - another win for Xavier

The wind had increased to 20 knots and the sea was starting to get big. Luca Devoti had a good start at the pin end of the line, Javier Aguado in the middle and Xavier with half of the fleet at the committee boat. For the first time the left side was paying and the three of them ended up together at the top mark along with Iain Percy and Nenad Vialli. By the bottom mark, Luca and Xavier had established a break over the rest of the fleet. On the second beat, the right side favoured Iain Percy and Dominik Zycki, who jumped to 4th and 5th place respectively. The rest of the race was a ‘cat and mouse’ game between Luca and Xavier. Luca was losing his advantage little by little until Xavier finally passed him on the second half of the beat to win his second race. This race also saw the outstanding result of junior sailor Clifton Webb who finished in 10th position.

Race four - one for Emilios

What a day! Today was a very hard day for the sailors and the Race Committee. The race was scheduled to start at 2pm. The wind was light and not well established and the race committee had to change the racing area twice to look for more wind. After postponements, general recalls and numerous black flags it was 5 pm when race 4 finally started.

The wind that had been picking up strength to reach 15 knots in mid afternoon weakened again to 10 knots with a bit more strength on the right that allowed Emilios Papathanassiou, Finn Taylor and Michael Maier to be in front at the top mark. On the reach, the wind started to act very capriciously. There was nearly nothing for the guys in front, a lot more coming from the back, pushing the last boats towards the front, then it started shifting to nearly 100 degrees. As a result, what was supposed to be a second reach ended up being a beat! Lots of screams and rumblings could be heard from lots of sailors, mostly from the ones at the back, asking the race committee to cancel the race.

But the race was not cancelled. Finn Taylor lost his second place after a 720 and Emilios and Michael were by then so far ahead that no one, even with the biggest shift, would have been able to pass them. Sebastien, the regatta leader, was in 14th place after a bad start. Paul McKenzie and Xavier Rohart were in bad shape after passing the top mark nearly last. Emilios and Michael Maier kept their positions until the end despite a 27 tack dual up the last beat. Chionas Chrisotos was first junior in an excellent 7th followed by Vladislav Aleinikov in 8th.

After 4 races, Sebastien Godefroid was still conserving his lead after coming 10th with Michael Maier jumping to second place, Karlo Kuret moving to third with a 9th, Paul McKenzie 4th and Iain Percy 5th.The first Junior was Clifton Webb 16th overall, 44 points ahead of Vladislav Aleinikov, and 53 points from Chionas Chriostos.

Race five - another win for Iain Percy

The 5th race was sailed in very light conditions. Michael Maier, Iain Percy and Javier Aguado were first at the top mark. The regatta leader, Sebastien Godefroid had a very bad start and was recorded in 44th position at the windward mark. The course being shorter than usual, the beats did not give the opportunity to take big risk on the extremities. Michael Maier conserved his lead on Iain Percy. During the run, the boats had to play with the tidal current, to win any places. This was to the advantage of Mateusz who passed from 11th to 7th, and played against Ian Ainslie who lost 8 places.

By the end of the run, the leaders were very far in front and Michael Maier had a fair advance on Iain Percy. On the last beat Michael Maier made his way up to the finish on the left of the course, leaving Iain Percy uncovered. Iain took this opportunity to play the pressure further right with Dominik Zycki and Sebastien Godefroid. With more wind on the right, Iain Percy won the race from Michael Maier; Dominik Zycki jumped to 4th and Sebastien recovered from a very bad start to finish the race in 12th place.

Race six - Jamie Lea leads ‘British Armada’

Two races were scheduled on the final day, but despite an early start, the race committee only managed to fit one in. It was a long and tense battle all the way with none of the favourites leading after the first mark. The only podium contenders at the top mark were Xavier in 7th place and Fredrik Lššf 15th despite crushing his boat just after the start. Sebastien passed the buoy in 21st position, closely followed by Paul McKenzie. The rest of the race was a display of skills by the favourites to try to come back towards the leading boats. The battle ended up with the British ‘Armada’ of Jamie Lea, Rob McMillan, Richard Stenhouse and Tim Carver crossing the line in front of the pack. The foursome had been leading the race since the start! The ‘podium contenders’ all made a come back, just enough for some like Sebastien, who finished 10th, not enough for others like Michael Maier who was 17th.

With the cancellation of race 7 after a 2 hours wait, everyone on the water had had time to do some quick calculations!

Sebastien Godefroid, with a total of 33 points and 12th as worst race, is the 1998 European Champion. Only 2 points behind, Michael Maier is taking Silver as Bronze goes to Iain Percy. The European title is the confirmation of a year of great results from Sebastien Godefroid 6 years after his European Junior title.

These results will certainly give a lot of incentive to the new generation. Clifton Webb won the Junior championship with Russian Vlasdislav Aleinikov second and David Burrows third. 17 juniors entered the championship with youngest Paulo Leandro from Portugal at the age of 17.

Lots of new equipment appeared and confirmed speed during this championship. Lots of new sails in Vectran, kevlar, mylar, monofilm... from all over the world, and the new hull of Devoti Sailing won every race.