Europeans

2003 Europeans - Marstrand, Sweden

Details: Category: Europeans; Published: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 23:24

European Championship 2003 - Marstrand, Sweden

1	GBR 3	Ben Ainslie	3	1	5	3	8	1	1	(DNS)	22
2	POL 17	Mateusz Kusznierewicz	6	2	4	4	6	5	14	(DNS)	41
3	BEL 7	Sebastien Godefroid	1	3	10	(BFD)	7	9	19	5	54
4	GER 79	Michael Fellman	2	4	32	2	(39)	3	23	1	67
5	CRO 11	Karlo Kuret	12	11	11	15	13	(42)	5	3	70
6	POL 12	Waclaw Szukiel	23	18	2	6	2	19	2	(30)	72
7	GBR 6	Andrew Simpson	15	17	9	(37)	12	7	9	4	73
8	DEN 200	Jonas Hoegh-Christensen	RDG(9)	6	(31)	12	1	30	8	17	83
9	CRO 25	Marin Misura (Junior)	8	16	14	(50)	9	16	11	15	89
10	ESP 100	Rafael Tryllis viller	9	14	(41)	22	41	2	6	2	96
11	CZE 1	Michael Maier	10	28	21	(45)	4	10	17	6	96
12	TUR 6	Ali Enver Adakan	7	25	13	24	(BFD)	11	10	10	100
13	DEN 7	Sˆren Holm	22	5	25	(38)	22	15	4	8	101
14	GBR 577	Dave Mellor	11	8	(57)	23	29	12	13	12	108
15	CRO 14	Viali Nenad	16	30	1	(40)	30	22	7	7	113
16	NZL 27	Clifton Webb	25	12	8	(DNF)	18	4	16	31	114
17	RUS 8	Evgeni Tchernov	4	20	40	(49)	3	24	12	20	123
18	AUS 221	Anthony Nossiter	5	(BFD)	18	14	25	23	20	21	126
19	NED 78	Jaap Zielhuis	17	10	6	(56)	32	26	26	9	126
20	FRA 73	Guillaume Florent	RDG(19)	15	(33)	25	33	20	3	16	131
21	USA 16	Mo Hart	27	31	7	9	5	(60)	34	27	140
22	SLO 5	Gasper Vinec	21	9	34	(39)	23	13	21	26	147
23	CZE 9	Michal Hruby	(45)	39	12	1	14	40	15	33	154
24	SWE 7	≈derman Kristian	33	22	15	8	(44)	39	36	13	166
25	GBR 541	Chris Brittle	26	13	42	20	(49)	25	18	22	166
26	NED 6	Stefan de Vries	(36)	29	35	13	20	18	33	19	167
27	CAN 41	Chris Cook	13	27	24	11	21	45	(BFD)	36	177
28	GBR 15	Charlie Cumbley	28	32	(37)	16	28	27	25	29	185
29	ITA 71	Massimo Gherarlucci	35	34	26	33	19	17	29	(39)	193
30	AUS 222	Paul Mc Kenzie	31	24	(BFD)	5	24	47	35	28	194
31	POL 7	Rafal Szukiel	54	37	23	10	16	14	(55)	41	195
32	USA 1208	Kevin Hall	(51)	49	16	18	10	51	28	23	195
33	NED 701	Martyn Van Muyden	34	38	39	36	11	6	(46)	35	199
34	FRA 972	Bruno Ismael	30	23	38	21	(45)	21	37	32	202
35	FRA 17	Rambeau Pascal	14	19	48	(52)	40	33	30	25	209
36	SUI 7	Christoph Burger	20	7	30	(BFD)	35	35	DNF	11	218
37	GBR 2	Adam Cowling	32	35	(54)	43	31	37	43	18	239
38	IRL 10	Aaron O Grady	24	36	(52)	28	47	44	50	24	253
39	GBR 550	Matthew Howard	38	40	27	(51)	38	34	39	38	254
40	ESP 107	Agustin Juarez Marrero	41	46	17	32	(DNF)	8	57	58	259
41	USA 11	Geoffrey Ewenson	42	26	(BFD)	29	34	32	61	37	261
42	CRO 16	Emil Tomasevic	39	43	53	(62)	57	29	27	14	262
43	ITA 15	Michele Marchesini	53	55	19	(64)	17	43	32	51	270
44	GRE 12	Karntoutsos Apostolos	40	54	36	(BFD)	37	31	40	40	278
45	GBR 593	Edward Greig (Junior)	43	48	50	34	(55)	28	44	34	281
46	SWE 736	Johan Tillander	49	45	49	19	(54)	54	31	42	289
47	DEN 9	Thomas Laursen	47	51	20	(53)	27	50	48	48	291
48	BEL 17	Vannes Van Laer (junio	48	44	44	57	15	(64)	24	60	292
49	SWE 734	Anders Nilsson	37	33	65	27	(73)	36	56	43	297
50	GRE 6	Papathanasiou Emilios	29	21	3	7	(DNF)	DNS	DNS	DNS	300
51	USA 1140	Boyd Bryan	55	50	29	31	(59)	46	38	55	304
52	FIN 216	Tapio Nirkko (Junior)	44	42	45	59	53	38	(64)	46	327
53	NED 80	Sander Willems	57	41	46	(63)	36	59	42	47	328
54	TUR 7	Akif Muslubas	(DNF)	DNS	22	35	BFD	49	22	45	333
55	GRE 11	Papastefanou Pachos (Ju	60	61	51	41	46	(66)	49	57	365
56	USA 78	Andrew Kern	46	56	55	47	51	48	62	(DNS)	365
57	NZL 19	Peter Fox	50	47	(DNS)	BFD	26	41	45	DNF	369
58	EST 8	Imre Taveter	52	(BFD)	58	48	62	53	51	49	373
59	GBR 8	Tim Carver	56	68	(72)	30	56	52	59	59	380
60	GBR 13	John De Leeuw	(74)	53	70	26	70	55	63	53	390
61	NED 804	Cees Scheurwater	65	58	(71)	42	61	57	60	54	397
62	GBR 1	Sander Kooij	71	(DNF)	56	54	50	63	47	65	406
63	ITA 890	Iacopo Tacchino (Junior	59	59	63	61	60	(67)	65	44	411
64	IRL 5	Youen Jacob	62	52	(DNF)	66	43	56	BFD	56	415
65	HUN 5	Tibor Pallay	(DNF)	62	43	58	66	65	58	64	416
66	UKR 1	Yevhen Yaroshenko (Jun	(72)	64	59	46	58	71	52	67	417
67	GBR 567	Thomas Greig	61	(DNF)	60	70	42	61	BFD	52	426
68	SWE 735	Johan Wijk	73	(DNS)	64	17	65	62	67	DNF	428
69	BLR 7	Ivan Karatkevich	67	63	62	55	68	72	41	(DNS)	428
70	NED 66	Ewout Meijer	66	65	47	69	52	(70)	66	63	428
71	DEN 215	Lars Vesterholm-Nielse	(69)	66	68	65	63	68	54	62	446
72	AUS 223	Dean Mc Aullay	64	60	66	72	72	74	(DNS)	50	458
73	EST 15	Janno Hool	63	(DNS)	69	BFD	48	58	DNF	66	464
74	GER 203	Hartmut Duisborg	58	57	61	68	64	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	468
75	POL 40	Rubert Polczynski	(DNF)	DNS	67	44	DNF	69	53	DNF	473
76	SWE 3	Christian Finnsgård	70	(DNS)	73	60	69	73	68	61	474
77	SWE 726	Jonas Andersson	68	67	(DNF)	71	71	75	69	DNF	501
78	SWE 31	Bjørn Smit	(DNF)	DNS	DNS	67	67	DNS	DNS	DNS	534
79	ITA 1	Luca Devoti	(DNF)	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	560

2003 Europeans report

The 2003 Finn European Championship was sailed from 6th to 11th of June and saw defending champion Ben Ainslie retain his title in fine form, winning the week with a race to spare.

In all 77 boats competed from 28 nations. For many, the Europeans were the final preparations for the World Championship in Cadiz in September and the pre-Olympics in August. All the top runners were present in Marstrand. In fact the line-up included a total of 15 highly merited Olympic sailors

Day one

After the two races on the first day, defending champion Ben Ainslie was leading, followed by Sebastien Godefroid and Michael Fellman. Rough seas, westerly winds and a heavy swell made for good but demanding sailing conditions.

Day two

Although Viali Nenad scored nest on the day, Ben still remains at the top of the overall results. The second day’s racing was held in light winds of 8 knots. Just before the scheduled start the wind shifted, causing a postponement followed by a general recall, and finally the start was given under black flag. After the wind decreased further, the course had to be shortened for the race to conclude within the time limit. The winner of today’s race was Viali Nenad. Waclaw Szukiel came in second and Emilios Papathanasiou, finished third.

Day three

After five races Ben Ainslie was still in the lead. The winners today were Michal Hruby, in race 4 and Jonas Hoegh-Christensen in race 5. Ben Ainslie placed third in race 4 and eighth in race 5.

Day four

No races today due to strong winds.

Day five

On the penultimate day of the championships Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie scored two first places to successfully defend his European title with a day to spare. Ainslie sailed a perfect day crossing the line first in both races in winds varying from 15-16 knots on the first race and 12-14 in the second.

Ainslie commented, “ am really happy with how I sailed today and it is good to be so consistent during this event. It is obviously particularly pleasing to have won with a day to spare as all the top guys are competing. “

Day six

With Ben having already won and Mateusz secure in second, who would take third position, was still an open question at the start of the final race. Six sailors were possible candidates for the bronze, and of these Sebastien Godefroid, and Waclaw Szukiel were in the best position.

In the end, Sebastien won the battle for the bronze. With a fifth place, he secured his place on the winners’ stand. Rival Waclaw Szukiel ended up sixth in the series. Michael Fellman won the final race.

The Finn Open Junior European Championship was held along with the Finn Europeans. The top three juniors were Marin Misura, Croatia, followed by Edward Greig, Great Britain and, in third place, Vannes Van Laer, Belgium. In all, seven sailors competed in the Junior Europeans.

In varied conditions that ranged from no wind to 22 knots, Ainslie scored nothing worse than an eighth place and included three first places in his score line. There were very varied sailing conditions. From light winds, almost too light for sailing at all, to Monday’s thunderstorm which forced the race to be cancelled. Sailors and officials alike were pleased with the event, and the atmosphere was been very agreeable.

2002 Europeans - Cesme, Turkey

Details: Category: Europeans; Published: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 23:21

Finn European Championships 2002 - Cesme, Turkey

Seq	Sailno	Name	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Score
1	GBR 3	Ben AINSLIE	4	8	1	9	DSQ*	4	5	1	1	33
2	ITA 1	Luca DEVOTI	6	2	4	2	13*	9	4	10	6	43
3	CRO 11	Karlo KURET	3	9	8	1	5	15	29*	3	7	51
4	ESP 100	Rafael Trujillo VILLAR	2	6	6	6	10	3	19	29*	16	68
5	NED 785	Jaap ZIELHUIS	1	4	10	8	21	6	15	4	29*	69
6	GBR 6	Andrew SIMPSON	5	12	BFD*	7	19	1	9	12	5	70
7	FRA 17	Pascal RAMBEAU	7	11	7	11	6	2	7	34*	26	77
8	GRE 6	Emilios PAPATHANASSIOU	8	7	24	16	1	7	1	DNF*	16	80
9	GER 79	Michael FELLMANN	11	1	2	5	2	32	38*	20	23	96
10	TUR 6	A. Enver ADAKAN	22	3	16	17	22	23*	2	2	12	96
11	GBR 15	Charlie CUMBLEY	17	15	17	10	18	21	12	6	22*	116
12	SWE 7	Kristian ADERMAN	14	34*	22	23	17	19	3	15	4	117
13	DEN 7	Soren HOLM	27	14	15	12	14	18	10	9	DNF*	119
14	CRO 14	Nenad VIALI	28	31	5	13	8	10	36*	14	17	126
15	FRA 73	Guilleaume FLORENT	9	21	BFD*	21	16	20	34	8	2	131
16	CZE 1	Michael MAIER	30	23	12	34*	29	8	11	7	13	133
17	GBR 541	Chris BRITTLE (J)	19	DSQ*	27	15	7	14	8	22	31	143
18	NED 6	Stefan De VRIES	20	27	13	4	24	16	25	21	BFD*	150
19	AUS 221	Anthony WOSSITER	24	24	11	19	23	13	22	17	25*	153
20	SUI 477	Christophe BURGER	39	5	BFD	33	3	12	16	11	36	155
21	DEN 200	Jonas Hoegh CRISTENSEN (J)	10	25	23	18	12	5	24	DNF*	41	158
22	GBR 577	Dave MELLOR	29	19	14	25	28	31	17	32*	3	166
23	IRL 8	David BURROWS	35	13	9	27	20	11	28	55*	30	173
24	POL 12	Waclaw SZUKIEL	26	26	36	24	11	28	21	5	43*	177
25	FRA 7	Sylvain CHTOUNDER	34	22	31	14	4	44	6	23	50*	178
26	SWE 736	Johann TILLANDER	16	18	49*	46	33	27	26	30	8	204
27	AUS 228	Josh BEAVER	15	29	21	22	32	30	30	48*	42	221
28	CRO 25	Marin MISURA (J)	23	10	20	37	15	OCS*	47	42	33	227
29	USA 40	Bryan BOYD	25	38	43	41	37	29	45*	16	10	239
30	AUT 271	Florian RAUDASCHL	21	39	18	DNF*	30	41	14	31	47	241
31	GRE 12	Apostolos KARNOUTSOS	32	41	40	39	40	22	13	18	DNF*	245
32	BRA 109	Jorge ZARIF	51	32	29	OCS*	27	25	50	27	9	250
33	SWE 734	Anders NILSSON	41	BFD*	35	35	34	17	20	51	18	251
34	FRA 11	Mathieu DEPLANQUE	18	17	BFD*	36	43	38	DNF	24	14	254
35	TUR 3	Arif GURDENLI	40	33	30	40	46*	33	18	36	28	258
36	ESP 107	Agustin HUAREZ	44	30	32	38	DNF*	39	33	25	19	260
37	CZE 9	Michal HRUBY	36	20	19	DNF*	25	43	37	50	32	262
38	IRL 5	Jacob YOUEN	56*	45	44	28	35	37	23	13	45	270
39	GBR 2	Adam COWLING	31	46	34	30	26	47*	32	45	27	271
40	UKR 21	Sergey KOTOV (J)	52	36	26	DNF*	DNF	26	46	19	11	280
41	GBR 593	Ed GREIG (J)	48*	43	25	31	38	45	39	38	21	280
42	GBR 550	Matt HOWARD	42	42	33	45*	41	36	41	26	20	281
43	POL 13	Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICS	13	16	3	3	DSQ*	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	291
44	IRL 10	Aaron OGRADY	37	40	48	32	31	46	54*	44	15	293
45	FIN 216	Tapio NIRKKO (J)	46	28	38	49*	42	35	48	28	34	299
46	SLO 5	Gasper VINCEL (J)	45	35	39	29	39	40	DNF*	35	38	300
47	POL 7	Rafal SZUKIEL	55*	37	28	42	44	24	35	47	44	301
48	ITA 15	Michele MARCHESINI	12	BFD*	BFD	26	45	OCS	42	33	35	321
49	TUR 7	Akif MUSLUBAS	47	BFD*	41	20	9	OCS	43	46	BFD	334
50	USA 74	Henry SPRAGUE	38	53	37	48	36	34	27	DNF*	BFD	337
51	NED 80	Sander WILLEMS	33	44	42	DNF*	51	OCS	49	40	37	360
52	GRE 8	Alexandros DRAGOUTSIS	43	50	50	43	49	53*	52	43	40	370
53	GRE 11	Packomios PAPASTEFANOU (J)	BFD*	48	46	47	50	42	31	52	DNF	380
54	POL 40	Robert POTCZYNSKI	57*	51	51	51	48	52	40	37	51	381
55	BRA 100	Mauricio BUENO	49	DNF*	45	44	54	49	57	39	46	383
56	HUN 61	Pallay TIBOR	50	49	55	DNF*	53	50	53	53	24	387
57	ESP 292	Miguel Santa Ursula VIRA	53	55	56	DNF*	47	51	44	41	48	395
58	POL 9	Piotr ZOLTOWSKI (J)	59*	52	52	52	56	55	51	56	39	413
59	TUR 11	Sinan SUMER	54	47	47	53	55	48	56	54	DNF*	414
60	GRE 1	Angelos BOUBOURAS (J)	58*	54	53	50	52	54	55	49	49	416
61	HUN 6	Pal GASZTON (J)	DSQ*	57	58	55	58	57	59	57	52	453
62	HUN 30	Sipos BENCE (J)	61	BFD*	54	56	59	56	58	58	53	455
63	GRE 2	Mitopoulos KOUSTOUTINOS (J)	60	56	57	54	57	58	DNS*	59	DNF	465

Finn European Championship 2002 report

The 2002 Finn Junior and Senior European Championships were sailed in Cesme, in Turkey from June 29th to July 8th. It was was officially declared open by sailing 'Pope', ISAF President Paul Henderson during a wonderful opening ceremony preceding a week of wonderful sailing. Reports by by Corrine Rolland-McKenzie and Bill Bell (IJ)

Day one

The first day of the Finn European Championship was blessed with great sailing conditions allowing two races in medium to strong wind, waves and blue sky. The 63 Finn sailors sailed the new 'windward-leeward' course under 12 knots, and the revised RRS 42 in the afternoon race when the wind reached 18 to 20 knots.

Race one

Race one was started under light (8-9 knots) and a shifty wind. After one general recall, the start was given under black flag, penalising 18 years old Greek sailor, Packomios Papastefanou. Luca Devoti led to the top mark but was passed at the leeward mark by Jaap Zielhuis and Rafael Trujillo. Karlo Kuret and Ben Ainslie, also very fast on the run, gained lots of ground. They finished the race in 3rd and 4th places.

Race two

After a two hour race, the wind had increased to 22 knots. The course was then changed for a triangle and the 'Q' flag was up allowing pumping on the downwind legs. After one general recall, the black flag was up again disqualifying five boats.

Once again, Luca Devoti was leading at the top mark with Michael Fellmann. The German took advantage of the reaches and the free pumping to pass Luca. Ali Enver Adakan, gained ground on the last two legs to finish in third place. With the wind dying to 12 and eight knots toward the end of the race, the flag Q was replaced by Flag I, reinstalling RRS 42.

The Finn fleet 'behaved' on the run and reaches under the watchful eyes of an experienced Jury. Only three breaches of RRS 42 were recorded including two at the start of the beat.

After six hours spent on the water, everyone was glad to arrive at the Cesme Yacht Club for free pasta and home made pastries. Tired sailors with sore legs were hoping for some good rest and a massage. "I miss my Laser!" commented Ben Ainslie. The Olympic Champion was lying in 6th position.

Race three

The day's only race was started under black flag after a general recall. The wind was stable in direction but uneven in strength over the course, varying between 12 and 18 knots.

At the top mark, five sailors were disqualified for breaking the start. After recovering from a bad start, Luca Devoti displayed some great upwind speed to lead the fleet for the third time at the top mark. The Italian was followed by Ben Ainslie who passed him on the reaches. The Laser Champion kept his lead, pushed all the way to the finish by Michael Fellmann and Mateusz Kusznierewicz who finished the race in second and third place. After the downwind legs, Luca regained more ground to cross the line in forth position. Croatian Nenad Viali took fifth place in front of Rafael Trujillo who had an amazing recovery, improving from 26th at the first top mark to sixth at the finish after passing 10 boats on the last beat.

Three boats were yellow flagged today, all on the beat at the start of the race including Finn legend American 'Super' Henry Sprague for sculling!

Day Three

After seven hours on the water and two races sailed today, Michael Fellmann took the lead of the Finn European Championship four points ahead of Luca.

Race four

The German scored a fifth and a second in two tricky races with medium and shifty wind. Luca took a bad start on the second race of the day to finish in 15th position after placing second in the first race of the day. "I had a very conservative start," explained Luca. "The black flag was up and I started in the back of the line. I didn't take the right options later and couldn't recover enough." The first race of the day was won by Croatian Karlo Kuret after two hours on the water waiting for the wind to settle.

Race five

Emilios Papathanasiou won the afternoon race. "I had a very good start", commented the current European Champion, "I went to the middle of the course to see which side would be favoured. The right looked better so I went there. I rounded the top mark just ahead of Christoph Burger and Sylvain Chtounder." Emilios increased his lead on the run to win the race by a good margin. Michael took second in front of Mateusz Kusznierewicz.

Young Ukrainian, Sergey Kotov had a very bad day. He broke his sail in the first race, managed to get back to the Yacht club to change it, but unfortunately missed the start of the second race by just five minutes. The jury had a rather quiet day. After giving a few warnings to the top sailors, everyone sailed within the rule. Ben Ainslie was the only one to collect a yellow flag for pumping.

Day four

The competitors arrived at Cesme Sailing Club for day four of the regatta to find little wind and that Ben Ainslie and Mateusz Kusznierewicz had both been disqualified from race five. Both were measurement infractions, Ben having too much centreboard projection and Mateusz for a breach of measurement procedure.

Race six

With two races scheduled for the day, while everyone was still on the shore with no wind it was announced that the first race would start on time in thirty minutes and the start line was about 40 minutes away. We believe the towing race to the start line was won by the Australian team. Common sense prevailed and after a short postponement everyone arrived at the start to find a 12 to 14 knot wind. The race got away on the first start with four boats OCS, those who went out to the right picked up a big lift which set the pattern for the race. First was Andrew Simpson followed by Pascal Rambeau and Rafael Trujillo Villar.

Race seven

Race seven started in similar conditions again favouring the right hand side. Emilios Papathanassiou was sailing low and fast to the right trying to be first to the lift. The locals started to get excited when Enver Adakan led around the last mark. However sailing at the middle of the course trying to protect both sides he was pitted on the line by Emilios who was followed by Kristian Aderman, Luca, the new overall leader, Ben Ainslie and Florian Chtounder.

Day five

Another clear day with a 10 to 12 knot wind. The fleet got away on the start with event leader Luca in clear air at the port end and challenger Ben Ainslie at the starboard end. Luca kept to the left hand side of the course and sailed into a patch of low pressure and rounded the first mark mid fleet.

Race eight

Enver Adakan was again leading at the first mark and held on for second place at the finish behind Ben Ainslie who had slowly worked his way to the front. In a close bunch followed Karlo Kuret, Jaap Zielhuis, Waclaw Szukiel and Charlie Cumbley. Meanwhile Luca had clawed his way back up fleet to finish tenth.

Final day

Going into the final race Ben led Luca by five points with Karlo a further seven points behind Luca.

Race nine

The race again started in 12-14 knots. Luca led Ben at the first mark after the right handers ran out of pressure. On the first reach Luca immediately went low and was sailed over by Ben who was then never headed. A 20ø wind shift caused a course change at the windward mark at the end of the second round, however this did little to change the positions at the front of the fleet.

Ben, after just six months in the Finn, went on to win the race and the series, second in the race was Guilleaume Florent which was his best result for the series as was Dave Mellor third place.

2001 Europeans - Malcesine, Italy

Details: Category: Europeans; Published: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 23:13

Euroepan Championships 2001 - Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy

1	GRE 6	Emilios Papathanasioo	1	6	11	3	1	9	1	33	32
2	GBR 6	Andrew Simpson	8	4	12	1	22	3	6	4	38
3	FRA 1	Xavier Rohart	11	11	1	7	3	29	11	2	46
4	CRO 11	Karlo Kuret	17	12	13	2	2	1	5	26	52
5	FRA 17	Pascal Rambeau	3	7	8	9	20	10	3	12	52
6	BEL 7	Sebastien Godefroid	6	1	15	5	5	22	20	1	53
7	POL 17	Mateusz Kusznierewicz	2	5	3	11	8	24	16	9	54
8	ESP 100	Rafael Trujillo	27	2	2	31	7	4	18	8	68
9	GER 79	Michael Fellmann	12	3	5	21	6	35	23	17	87
10	GBR 541	Chris Brittle (Jun)	9	17	ocs	20	17	21	7	10	101
11	ITA 71	Massimo Gherarducci	10	48	16	33	16	8	2	19	104
12	CZE 1	Michael Maier	33	13	24	8	14	7	25	15	106
13	DEN 7	Holm Soren	5	25	4	17	35	5	21	ocs	112
14	ITA 15	Michele Marchesini	24	42	25	27	27	2	12	6	123
15	SWE 7	Kristian Aderman (Jun)	15	22	22	12	9	17	26	34	123
16	NED 701	Martijn Van Muyden	dnf	14	33	43	4	14	10	7	125
17	NED 785	Jaap Zielhuis	19	8	36	30	13	18	24	14	126
18	FRA 11	Mathieu Deplanque	14	18	ocs	14	25	47	8	3	129
19	POL 12	Waclaw Szukiel	28	20	28	6	28	15	14	24	135
20	GBR 15	Charlie Cumbley (Jun)	39	15	19	28	24	6	dsq	16	147
21	NED 765	Stefan De Vries (Jun)	20	28	7	4	11	62	dnf	20	152
22	SUI 471	Christoph Burger	4	9	14	39	10	ocs	56	29	161
23	FRA 7	Sylvain Chtounder	32	31	ocs	26	55	12	4	5	165
24	CZE 19	Jiri Hyza	36	40	10	22	29	46	9	25	171
25	GRE 1	George Kontogouris (Jun)	18	26	18	10	37	61	43	21	173
26	BEL 2	Philippe Rogge	37	63	26	19	19	19	31	27	178
27	USA 1176	Greg Skidmore	21	30	dnf	36	38	11	30	13	179
28	GBR 567	Dan Dixon	41	33	23	24	26	32	29	18	185
29	ESP 107	Agustin Juarez	31	27	27	45	15	20	38	32	190
30	GER 81	Jan-Dietmar Dellas	58	21	9	13	18	13	72	61	193
31	CZE 9	Michal Hruby	7	38	39	42	21	34	35	23	197
32	GBR 577	Dave Mellor	46	35	21	15	32	25	46	28	202
33	GRE 12	Apostolos Karnoujsos	54	39	17	23	31	38	44	22	214
34	USA 1161	Mo Hart	26	23	34	34	49	23	37	44	221
35	GBR 550	Ian Clingan	13	10	37	46	12	ocs	53	52	223
36	AUT 271	Florian Raudaschl	53	54	20	49	41	16	19	31	229
37	UKR 21	Sergey Kotov (Jun)	29	41	45	32	44	50	22	36	249
38	EST 8	Taveter Imre	25	34	dnf	37	34	27	36	56	249
39	BRA 100	Mauricio Bueno	40	52	31	41	36	37	34	30	249
40	GRE 11	Tristos Cifionas	16	29	35	50	50	ocs	27	51	258
41	POL 7	Rafal Szukiel	38	43	41	38	30	36	40	35	258
42	TUR 7	Akif Muslubas	34	19	38	25	68	49	dsq	40	273
43	ITA 20	Luigi Masturzo	51	50	30	52	23	31	59	38	275
44	AUT 7	Michael Gubi	45	44	32	29	39	52	51	39	279
45	RUS 7	Vladislav Kapitonov (Jun)	49	46	46	55	45	45	15	46	292
46	DEN 1	J. Hogh-Christensen (Jun)	73	24	40	51	63	dnf	41	11	303
47	IRL 10	Aaron O'Grady (Jun)	30	45	48	35	47	65	45	55	305
48	GBR 13	John De Leeuw	23	49	52	54	57	71	17	54	306
49	GBR 1	Sander Kooy	42	47	49	16	54	63	39	77	310
50	NED 2	Boet Brinkgreve	48	36	50	48	46	70	63	41	332
51	IRL 5	Youen Jacob	69	57	29	40	42	75	54	48	339
52	SLO 5	Vincec Gasper (Jun)	35	37	54	dnf	60	dns	13	57	348
53	POL 13	Michal Rumszewicz (Jun)	44	51	60	58	58	41	dnf	37	349
54	GBR 537	Adam Cowling	50	53	55	61	56	57	32	47	350
55	ITA 82	Roberto Bosetti	dnc	dnc	42	53	33	42	52	53	367
56	EST 15	Janno Hocl (Jun)	67	75	59	47	53	51	28	64	369
57	NED 771	Bastian Kort	62	64	62	66	67	43	48	42	387
58	GBR 51	Phil Laycock	57	62	43	64	43	56	67	dnf	392
59	NED 761	Cees Scheurwater	72	65	61	67	78	54	33	45	397
60	NED 766	Ewout Meyer	65	58	57	69	75	33	47	75	404
61	GER 266	Michael Eller	78	60	44	59	70	55	49	68	405
62	NED 667	Sander E. Willems (Jun)	82	56	69	62	74	26	60	59	406
63	ESP 290	Diego Fructuoso (Jun)	60	59	51	78	48	dnf	65	49	410
64	ITA 1	Luca Devoti	22	16	6	dnf	dnc	dnc	dnc	dnc	412
65	ITA 52	Franco Martinelli	55	61	65	56	66	48	70	70	421
66	NED 779	Hein-Pieter Okker	47	32	dnf	dnf	40	28	dnf	dnf	423
67	POL 40	Robert Potczynski	52	66	70	60	dnf	59	62	60	429
68	HUN 1	Tibor Pallay	75	55	71	63	72	69	42	63	435
69	GRE 7	Agglos Boubouras (Jun)	63	68	72	79	81	44	64	50	440
70	NED 757	Robert Eduard De Jong	dnf	dnf	ocs	44	51	40	55	69	443
71	GER 165	Dirk Meid	77	70	67	75	52	66	61	58	449
72	USA 1163	Emil De Balthazar	61	69	75	70	61	64	58	66	449
73	GER 27	Matthias Wolff (Jun)	76	79	56	72	71	67	50	62	454
74	GBR 8	Tim Carver	88	dnf	ocs	18	dnf	30	dsq	43	455
75	SUI 456	Nick Benz	43	78	58	73	64	73	74	81	463
76	GER 19	Andreas Bollongino	66	83	53	74	62	53	79	76	463
77	DEN 181	Moses Lovstad	56	73	73	68	83	39	73	dnf	465
78	NED 772	Richard Tobe	68	84	66	65	73	77	57	67	473
79	ESP 260	Victor Serrano	64	81	74	76	69	60	68	65	476
80	GER 92	Detlev Guminski	70	76	78	82	65	58	dsq	71	500
81	GER 48	Manfred Poeschl	59	67	64	dnf	59	dnf	dsq	73	506
82	EST 5	Lauri Linkolm (Jun)	79	86	47	57	80	79	dnf	79	507
83	GER 121	Thomas Finke (Jun)	85	77	63	71	82	68	80	74	515
84	ITA 27	Andrea Bianchi	71	72	68	77	76	78	76	84	518
85	CZE 120	Denis Froehlich (Jun)	74	71	76	80	84	76	66	80	523
86	HUN 21	Peter Sipos	80	82	77	81	77	72	78	78	543
87	ITA 88	Maria Giugni Umberto	84	74	dnf	dnf	79	80	71	72	552
88	HUN 27	Bence Sipos (Jun)	86	87	79	83	85	74	75	82	564
89	ITA 75	Jacopo Bianchi	81	80	81	84	dnf	dnf	77	83	578
90	EST 1	Idnurm Juhan	83	85	80	85	dnf	dnf	69	85	579
91	GER 12	David Guminski (Jun)	87	88	82	86	dnf	dnf	81	86	602

Europeans 2001 Report

The 2001 Finn European Championships was sailed at Malcesine on Lake Garda, Italy and organised by Fraglia Vela Malcesine. Emilios Papathanasiou, after winning the Riva Cup last March, confirmed he is the King of the Lake by taking his first major championship win in fine style. Equally impressively Chris Brittle took the Junior title.

A record fleet of 91 boats competed in the 2001 Finn European Championship at Malcesine, on the Eastern shore of Lake Garda, Italy. After three days of strict measurement and a practice race, racing took place between Monday June 28th and Saturday July 7th, with nine races scheduled.

With 24 countries represented and most of the best Finn sailors present, the competition promised to be of the highest level. Mateusz Kusznierewicz was looking to defend his title against many strong opponents. The 2001 Finn Junior European championship title would also be disputed. 2000 winner, Charlie Cumbley would face 19 other Juniors.

Emilios sets the pace

A perfect day on Garda Lake with a nice and constant breeze from the southern end of the lake allowed for the first two races of the championship to be completed. Despite a rather short course (45 minutes in the first race and 55 minutes in the second) and a crowded bottom mark, the 2001 Finn European Championship started with two highly competitive races.

Emilios Papathanasiou took the lead in the first race after an impressive start at the pin end of the line. Tacking to the left and leading at the top mark, the Greek increased his lead to win the first race quite easily in front of Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Pascal Rambeau. In 4th position was Swiss sailor and sailmaker, Christoph Burger, followed by Soren Holm. The young Dane, 3rd in Kiel is a newcomer in the class after only three months in the Finn.

After a similar start, Rafael Trujillo took the lead of the second race before being caught up by Sebastien Godefroid on the run. The 1996 Silver Medallist conserved his lead to win the race in front of 'Rafa'. "It will be a very difficult regatta to win. Speed being the most important factor, and tactics very predictable," declared Sebastien Godefroid.

Perfect sailing

What could make a Finn sailor more happy than a big fleet, a long and even starting line, 19 knots of a steady and very faithful southerly wind (it always come at the same time, everyday at around 1 pm!!), 30 degrees, sun, clear blue water...and the breathtaking scenery offered by the steep mountains surrounding Lago di Garda!

After a few general recalls, racing finally started at 2 pm. The pin end of the line was once again very favoured and places highly fought for. Xavier, Mateusz and Emilios started to the left. The best start went to Estonian Imre Taveter who jumped out in front of Mateusz as the starting gun went. Unfortunately for Imre, his speed could not compete with the Polish bullet who passed him within the first few minutes. The first third of the beat saw half of the fleet tacking two meters from the rocks and the sunbathing spectators...sailing is surely a spectator sport in Lake Garda!

Soren Holm surprised everyone by once again leading the fleet around the first three marks. Soren is surely the fastest learner in the Finn history! The young Dane battled hard to stay in the top of the fleet and finished in 4th. Rafael Trujillo, Finn training partner until 1996 and Ex-Star crew for Jose Maria Van der Ploeg in Sydney, moved into the lead on the second beat. He kept his lead until the last beat when Xavier finally passed him to win the race. Rafael managed to stay ahead of Mateusz to finish second.

Bart takes race four

The second race of the day proved to be the most difficult of the regatta. The wind had weakened to 10 knots and the left side was no longer favoured. Andrew Simpson won the race just in front of Karlo Kuret after a tough battle around the course. Emilios who was first at the top mark finished in third place. "It was quite a tricky race," confided Andrew Simpson. "The wind seemed to be more spread out than previously and I chose to start near the committee boat. I stayed in the middle and then repeated the same on the second beat. That's where I passed Emilios who had gone more to the left of the course. Karlo was always behind me and I had to try hard not to let him pass me."

Stefan de Vries finished 4th in the last race of the day to lead the juniors in 10th place overall. Emilios was still leading the Championship on equal points (21) with Mateusz. Andrew "Bart" Simpson was 3rd on 25 points. Tired but happy by two great races, the sailors were welcomed once on shore by a well deserved Pasta and beer party provided by event sponsor, Hasseroder and Bolla.

Second win for Emilios

Garda Lake can offer every kind of sensations from the most exciting to the least! The conditions the next day, with a constant southerly wind peaking to 15 knots in the first race and weakening to eight in the second race, were most predictable. The race was won on the start as there was no chance to play tactically and come back on the following legs. Despite some pressure to the right of the course, a strong current prevented any incursions on this side. Automatically, sailors headed to the left of the course, as far as the rocky coast could allow. In the first race, Karlo Kuret gained the lead by tacking the furthest away on the left side in one of the little bay boarding the Lake. He led until the leeward mark when Emilios just succeeded in breaking the overlap. Emilios won the race with Karlo second and Xavier Rohart 3rd, passing Martijn van Muyden on the line.

Karlo's revenge

Karlo was not happy to lose his chance of winning the race so he had just to repeat the same operation in race five to win it, this time without being troubled by anyone. Karlo crossed the finish line nearly two minutes in front of local sailor Michele Marchesini who was welcomed like a hero by his club friends! Third place went to Andrew Simpson.

Third win for Emilios

By winning his third race of the Championship, Emilios Papathanasiou, confirmed his chances of winning the 2001 European Title. All the favourites started at the pin end except for Karlo, Pascal Rambeau and Massimo Gherarducci who took a good start 50 meters from the left end. They went directly to the left side on the beach. Emilios Papathanasiou who had started as usual the closest to the pin had time to place himself more to the right after watching closely the French and the Italian.

Pascal Rambeau, who is back in the Finn class after an Olympic campaign in the Soling with Philippe Presti, rounded the top mark in first place, just in front of Massimo Gherarducci. Massimo took the lead on the run in front of Pascal and Emilios. Positions stayed the same on the second beat. Emilios sailed more to the inside of the run to take the lead, just one meter in front of Massimo and Pascal. The first junior was Chris Brittle in 7th position.

Bart closes gap

Today was no different to any other day: the left was again favoured and the start the biggest factor. Sebastien Godefroid explains how he won his second race of the regatta. "The left was still the way to go but one tack to the beach was enough to get in front of the fleet. I started towards the committee boat and I didn't have any fast guys around me. I could then take a fast start and play with my speed to cross in front of the left group. Once in front of them I only had to control them and win the race."

Emilios Papathanasiou also started at the committee boat, but a small tack to the right lost him too much ground to be able come back with the leaders. A quick victory was lost after he finished 33rd, however he was still leading overall, but the top three places were now open to seven sailors. In the Junior competition, Chris Brittle finished 10th to remain first junior.

No race

After 4 hours wait on Lake Garda, the last race of the Championship had to be abandoned giving the 2001 Finn European Title to Emilios Papathanasiou. The Junior European title went to Chris Brittle.

Racing was scheduled at 10 am and the southerly was already blowing but all the mountains surrounding the Lake were crowned with threatening clouds. As the morning went by, the wind didn't settle and four hours later, it started to increase. Half an hour before the deadline, the race committee took the wise decision to cancel the race. The sailors headed to the shore when the first raindrops started falling.

Emilios said, "I have been training a lot here, especially with Michele Marchesini, so I was well prepared. I also lost some weight and I am better in medium to light conditions. I have good speed and am much faster downwind. I was lucky that everything went well for me." This is the first European title for Emilios who came third at the 1997 Finn Europeans in Split, Croatia. Andrew Simpson, who has been sailing in the Finn for only one year, took second place. Xavier Rohart took bronze. Campaigning in both the Finn and the Star class, he has proved his ability to compete efficiently in both classes.

In the Junior division, 19 years old, Chris Brittle takes the Junior European Title but more importantly, finished in 10th place overall. Second Junior is Kristian Aderman in 15th place. Charlie Cumbley takes the third place in 20th position overall.

A special thank you to Fraglia Vela Malcesine who organised a superb regatta. FIV, the racing committee and the Jury all worked hard, allowing for eight good races and a high level championship. Congratulations to the winners but also to all the Finn sailors for their sportsmanship and great spirit.

1999 Europeans - Oostende, Belgium

Details: Category: Europeans; Published: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 23:11

Finn European Championship 1999 - Oostende, Belgium

1	GBR 54	Iain Percy	2	2	2	1	3	14	1	4	10	25
2	POL 17	Mateusz Kusznierewicz	1	1	3	5	1	7	6	8	2	26
3	CAN 11	Richard Clarke	8	18	1	8	5	8	4	5	DNF	57
4	GER 79	Michael Fellmann	11	6	7	13	9	23	7	41	6	82
5	IRL 8	David burrows	13	8	12	18	2	3	33	19	12	87
6	SWE 7	Fredrik Loof	6	4	52	14	13	42	2	9	1	91
7	RSA 1	Ian Ainslie	3	5	4	35	BFD	2	12	28	4	93
8	GBR 540	David Mellor	21	3	10	6	8	6	39	23	18	95
9	FRA 1	Xavier Rohart	15	12	9	21	14	5	BFD	12	8	96
10	IRL 1	John Driscoll	20	9	8	26	7	10	23	15	5	97
11	BEL 7	Sebastien Godefroid	5	7	20	23	23	21	3	13	7	99
12	AUS 221	Anthony Nossiter	10	26	5	30	20	27	9	3	3	103
13	CZE 304	Michael Maier	4	33	14	16	4	12	19	29	9	107
14	UKR 21	Juri Tokovoi	7	29	15	4	26	9	8	27	13	109
15	CRO 11	Karlo Kuret	12	11	31	9	16	11	13	26	14	112
16	NED 701	Martijn van Muyden	25	16	16	28	6	15	15	2	31	123
17	AUS 222	Paul McKenzie	31	14	25	27	24	20	10	1	15	136
18	ITA 14	Nenad Viali	14	17	23	12	18	18	28	38	17	147
19	AUS 219	Findlay Taylor	26	25	6	11	21	24	5	34	DNF	152
20	GBR 550	Richard Stenhouse	9	30	19	7	15	25	32	21	28	154
21	ITA 71	Massimo Gherarducci	30	19	64	3	27	16	14	35	11	155
22	ITA 1	Luca Devoti	17	23	43	24	11	36	21	10	DNF	185
23	POL 4	Dominik Zycki	40	10	30	2	22	41	17	24	DNF	186
24	NZL 242	Ian Baker	22	21	68	44	28	1	20	43	21	200
25	GER 6	Andreas Buchert	38	34	18	22	34	32	30	6	29	205
26	FRA 7	Sylvain Chtounder	18	55	13	15	19	35	36	32	37	205
27	TUR 6	Ali Enver Adakan	42	43	34	17	10	39	26	30	16	214
28	NZL 19	Stuart Bannatyne	36	24	54	10	12	28	24	51	32	217
29	GRE 6	Emilios Papathanasiou	19	5	27	56	37	33	25	62	19	221
30	AUS 220	Mark Bulka	29	31	24	38	35	19	27	22	36	223
31	BEL 2	Philippe Rogge	45	48	29	34	39	13	22	7	39	228
32	RUS 8	Evgeny Chernov	27	32	22	29	29	29	BFD	31	38	237
33	NED 733	Stefan de Vries (Jr)	47	40	32	50	50	17	18	18	24	246
34	GRE 1	George Kontogouris (Jr)	34	37	37	39	25	37	48	17	25	251
35	SUI 1	Othmar Mller v. Blum.	35	35	49	49	45	22	11	14	45	256
36	GBR 564	Jamie Lea	16	13	21	25	30	BFD	59	BFD	22	264
37	ESP 100	Rafael Trujillo Villar	23	27	35	46	31	48	BFD	37	20	267
38	CZE 479	Michal Hruby	28	42	28	19	44	30	31	47	55	269
39	AUS 223	Carl Schmidt	49	52	17	33	32	45	34	25	47	282
40	USA 1151	Darrell Peck	41	22	11	53	DNF	38	42	53	23	283
41	SUI 471	Christoph burger	46	39	50	20	17	BFD	44	39	46	301
42	DEN 143	Lasse Hjortaes	65	28	41	60	48	47	35	20	27	306
43	SUI 465	Christoph Christen	52	45	45	32	36	44	43	33	34	312
44	ESP 260	Agustin Juarez	37	38	44	37	38	40	38	65	41	313
45	FRA 11	Mathieu Deplanque	55	DNF	39	36	43	26	50	45	26	320
46	NZL 27	Clifton Webb (Jr)	51	36	DNF	DNF	DNF	4	16	11	DNF	352
47	CAN 1	Eric Oetgen	39	51	55	31	46	55	53	42	35	352
48	GBR 567	Daniel Dixon	48	50	51	43	40	43	49	55	30	354
49	HUN 1	Balazs Hadju	44	54	38	54	42	31	BFD	16	DNF	357
50	POL 41	Andrzej Czapski	43	44	26	41	52	BFD	BFD	46	33	363
51	POL 7	Rafal Szukiel	57	56	46	45	58	51	40	36	53	384
52	GRE 8	Alexandros Dragoutsis (Jr)	56	48	36	52	57	49	BFD	48	42	388
53	USA 1168	Geoffrey Ewenson	59	53	62	57	54	46	37	44	43	393
54	USA 1078	Andrew Kern	DNF	41	56	40	47	34	BFD	58	49	403
55	GER 81	Jan Dietmar Dellas	54	49	53	64	41	52	56	63	40	408
56	TUR 44	Akif Muslubas	60	DNF	42	47	33	BFD	29	BFD	44	411
58	GRE 11	Christos Chionas (Jr)	63	46	40	63	51	BFD	55	57	52	427
57	GBR 555	Simon Stonehouse	53	47	65	55	60	58	41	69	48	427
59	GBR 5	John Greenwood	33	DNF	72	48	BFD	50	45	54	50	430
60	AUS 225	Graeme Taylor	71	15	58	67	56	59	BFD	52	DNF	456
61	GBR 8	Tim Carver	32	DNF	33	62	49	BFD	47	BFD	DNF	457
62	SUI 460	Daniel Brun	70	DNF	60	42	53	BFD	46	56	56	461
63	USA 1138	Scott Griffiths	58	57	63	66	59	53	54	66	54	464
64	CZE 13	Rudolf Lidarik (Jr)	61	DNF	67	59	62	57	51	50	58	465
65	IRL 5	Youen Jacob	62	DNF	57	51	65	BFD	64	40	57	474
66	GER 10	Eberhard Bieberitz	67	58	59	58	DNF	56	58	68	51	475
67	GER 22	Martin Mitterer	64	DNF	48	65	55	54	52	61	DNF	477
68	IRL 10	Colin Chapman	24	18	47	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	479
69	AUS 213	Jake Gunter	69	60	69	DNF	61	63	60	49	62	493
70	GBR 10	Robert Deaves	68	DNF	70	61	67	60	61	64	59	510
71	GER 166	Alexandros Ruck	72	DNF	73	68	63	61	57	67	61	522
72	UKR 47	Sergiy Kotov (Jr)	74	61	75	71	64	62	DSQ	59	60	526
73	USA 1163	Emil de Balthazar	75	59	66	69	66	64	DNF	DNF	63	540
74	HUN 4	Tibor Pallay (Jr)	76	DNF	74	72	69	65	62	60	64	542
75	BEL 8	Filip Verhaeghe	73	DNF	71	70	68	66	63	70	DNF	559
76	POL 1	Marcin Wojtoniak (Jr)	66	DNF	61	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	595
77	AUT 271	Florian Raudaschl (Jr)	50	DNF	DNS	DNS	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	596

1999 Europeans report

Organised by the LBWB and the Royal North Sea Yacht Club the 1999 Finn Europeans promised to be very interesting, and interesting it certainly was. Sebastien Godefroid was out to defend his title and it was the last chance for Clifton Webb (who turned 21 during the event) to win the Juniors. The sailing itself was quite tricky with strong tides and large waves. For the Italian, Irish and Australian sailors, the regatta was used as part of the Olympic selection process. The regatta was sailed under a new format agreed in Melbourne. Nine races were sailed over six days with one discard after 5 races were completed. In less than 12 knots of wind the course was a trapezoid outer loop and a triangle/windward return in over 12 knots.

Tough Day!

When 20 knots of wind meet with an opposite current of 3.5 knots and air temperature of 10ø, on the North sea, it means a difficult day! Finn sailors, usually known as the toughest, were glad to reach the shore after their two first races of the European Championship.

The start was planned at 11am and a few sailors decided to go out early to check the current and wind. They had plenty of time to do so...when the rest of the fleet decided to launch, the Oostend-Dover Sea-Cat arrived on schedule (10am) in Oostende, blocking the entrance of the harbour for a good hour! The first race was of course delayed and the fleet (minus 10 sailors training outside) had no choice but to wait on shore for the reopening of the Harbour!

After one recall, the black flag came quickly to dissuade early starters. Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Iain Percy led at the top mark, with a good distance from Sebastien Godefroid, Ian Ainslie and Michael Maier. The leaders remained in the same order during the race except Sebastien Godefroid who fell to 5th after breaking his boom vang on the reach.

After a good start, Xavier Rohart was leading the second race. He remained in front during the beat and the two reaches until he broke his cunningham and conceded the advantage to Iain Percy. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (him again!) after rounding the top mark in 16th position, climbed to 6th after the reaches, to second place after the run, and then won the race after a tacking dual with Iain Percy. We are all by now used to the skills and speed of Mateusz, but today, even his father could not believe it!

Juri Saraskin, had a very boring day. After the motor of his boat broke down at the gybe mark, Juri was left drifting all day without being rescued. Fortunately for him the tide pushed him towards the shore where he landed 5 1/2 hours later!!

Iain Percy takes Lead

The wind, blowing 15 to 20 knots from the west (along the Belgium coast), was again opposite to the current and the black flag was displayed automatically after the first general recall. Australian Anthony Nossiter led the fleet to the top mark with a big lead on David Mellor, and fellow Australians Finn Taylor and Carl Schmidt. Anthony remained in the lead until the last beat. In the meantime, Richard Clarke was working his way up the fleet. After rounding the first mark in 10th position, the Canadian (with his San Diego North sail and a new Devoti boat) made a small gain on the reaches and second beat by hitting the right corner. The race was nearly won for Richard after passing 6 more boats on the run, by choosing to go on the sand bank for less unfavourable current. He followed Iain Percy on the right side of the last beat but continued to the lay line while the Brit came back to cover Mateusz and Anthony. With the wind shifting to the right Richard won with Iain Percy second, and Mateusz third in front of Ian Ainslie.

It was a bad race for Fredrik L””f who didn't work out the tide as well as Richard. After going right on the run and out of the sand bar, the Swede lost 20 boats against the stronger current. The last beat did not help either and the World Champion collected one of his worst races ever in 53 position!

With big black clouds rolling towards the fleet, the threat of a thunderstorm and big wind shifts, the second race was postponed. The sky never completely cleared but after a few good showers and a more stabilised wind, the second start was given. Another big black cloud on the left of the course influenced the wind and most of the fleet to this favoured side. Dominik Zycki was well ahead at the windward mark, with Massimo Gherarducci second and Juri Tokovoi third. Dominik conserved his lead on the reaches but Iain Percy passed 7 boats into 4th place behind Massimo, now in third, and Juri Tokovoi in second. The second beat was shortened and Dominik conserved his lead, with Juri Tokovoi and Iain Percy coming closer behind. The run did not cause many upsets and Dominik, still in front on the last beat had to fight with Iain Percy who finally passed him 100 meters before the finish. Using a Latini mast and North UK kevlar sails, as well as great racing tactics, Iain Percy is at this stage the main threat for Mateusz, with a 3 point lead over the Pole. First Junior is George Kontogouris in 35th place.

Mateusz Kusznierewicz Back in First!

Once again, the Harbour was closed for nearly an hour while the Finn fleet was leaving the shore for their day's race. As a result, 20 boats including a few coaches and rescue boats got stacked in the harbour. When they finally escaped it was well past starting time! Fortunately, the start had been postponed to give them the chance to start but the 5 minute gun went as soon as they arrived. The weather forecast had been promising less wind but 17 to 20 knots were recorded on the racing area. The current was in the same direction as the wind but the waves were as high as 2 meters. "It was the perfect conditions for me," declared Mateusz after coming back to shore with a 3rd victory. "The waves were bigger and longer than yesterday. This is when I am the best!" Leading from start to finish, the Gold medalist did not take any chances. With no big clouds and steady wind, speed was the more important factor. Second place was shared by Iain Percy, Michael Maier and then finally David Burrows across the line. Iain Percy took third place in front of Michael Maier and Richard Clarke.

After 5 races, Mateusz claimed back the top position from Iain Percy. The Brit is only 1 point behind and with a 15 point break on Richard Clarke in third place, the end of the regatta looked like turning into a dual. George Kontogouris is still leading the Junior division in 38th place in front of Stefan De Vries, 46th and Alexandros Dragoutsis 54th.

Iain Percy Back in the Lead Again

Race 6 started on time at 11am, after a notice was given to all competitors to leave the harbour before 9.40am and the closure of the harbour. The conditions were once again very enjoyable with a nice breeze averaging 10 knots and bright sunshine. As usual the black flag was hoisted on the second attempt. It resulted with 4 disqualifications and another general recall. The third start was the good one and 4 more heads dropped!

The kiwis, who had not particularly shone in this regatta decided to catch up with good results. Ian Baker, after a rocket start, was leading the fleet to the top mark from the right side just ahead of Clifton Webb (well rested from his 2 days break following a neck injury) and David Mellor. On the small reach (trapezoid outer loop) and the downwind, the New Zealanders protected their advance, Ian Baker 100m in front of Clifton, while Ian Ainslie passed David Burrows and Dave Mellor. Ian Baker conserved his lead to win the race from Ian Ainslie and David Burrows.

Race 7 started under black flag (8 boats DSQ) with a favoured pin end of the line. Fredrik L””f and Luca Devoti along with Finn Taylor, Sebastien Godefroid and Richard Clarke, crossed in front of everyone and remained on the left side, favoured at the time. Sebastien Godefroid took the lead on the run but unfortunately, touched the leeward mark and lost places while doing his 720 penalty turn. In the meantime, Iain Percy gained ground on the downwind legs. While the last beat didn't provide many opportunities, Iain Percy took the lead on the run in front of Fredrik L””f while Mateusz slipped down a few places to 7th after being 'yellow flagged' for pumping. Iain Percy won his second race and took the overall lead, 6 points in front of Mateusz.

Australia Day!

The wind was light (8 to 10 knots) today from the North, the sea was flat despite a slight swell and the current strong (1.8 kn) running across the wind. The pin end of the line was favoured but the right side of the course looked like the way to go, as a result, both ends of the starting line were busy. Anthony Nossiter, Paul McKenzie and Richard Clarke started at the pin end, went to the left before crossing the fleet to the right. The Aussies were in front at the top mark (Nossiter 1st, McKenzie 2nd). Richard, overlaid the mark and passed 4th, just in front of Martijn van Muyden and Iain Percy. Martijn, very fast down wind, took the lead during the run (trapezoid outer loop). On the second beat, while the 3 leaders sailed more conservatively in the middle, Richard Clarke went hard right. Paul McKenzie rounded the top mark just ahead of Anthony Nossiter and Martijn. Iain Percy gained one place, in front of Richard, Andreas Buchert and Philippe Rogge. On the last downwind, Martijn's speed led him to second place, in front of Anthony, but wasn't enough to pass Paul McKenzie, winner of the race. Iain Percy remained in 4th position and increased to 9 points his overall lead over Mateusz, 8th. Richard Clarke is now unbeatable in 3rd place in the overall results, with 36 points break on David Burrows. Black flag casualties: Jamie Lea, Akif Muslubas and Tim Carver collected their second one today!

The guest stars of 'In the busy Oostende Harbour' new episode are: Andy Kern, Ian Ainslie and Emilios Papathanasiou. After missing the Finn departure time this morning and ignoring the red lights on their way out, the 3 sailors had a close sight of the Ferry coming in the Harbour! They made it on time to the starting line but may be disqualified if the Chief of rescue wins a protest against them tonight!

Iain Percy is the new Finn European Champion!

Until the end, Mateusz Kusznierewicz had a chance to beat the Brit after finishing in second position behind Fredrik L””f in today's intense race. For that, Iain had to finish at least 9 places behind the Pole. With everyone counting the sailors across the finishing line, the suspense reached its climax when Iain Percy finally crossed...in 10th place to win the championship. Once again, the victory escaped Mateusz by a 'little' deadly point. Once again his defeat is served by Fredrik L””f, who won the race only half a meter from the Gold medalist, after a fierce tacking dual to the finishing line. Mateusz is not bitter: "I am still happy with the way I went today and during this regatta. My worse result is an eighth place and for me it is a great achievement."

And to beat him it needed a very talented and focused sailor: Iain Percy has surely all these qualities and many more! When asked about the recipe for his victory, Iain's answer is very clear and analytic. "I have good fitness and I was also very focussed for this regatta. I had here the ideal conditions for racing as it is exactly what we get on the other side of the Channel. If I am a bit slower than Mateusz down wind I am faster upwind." Today, Iain had it all again, but with a "too conservative start and lots of stress," it was the hardest race for Iain.

Richard Clarke who had secured his third position yesterday already, did not sail on the last day. Michael Fellmann took 4th place and won his place in the Olympics!

It was a very close regatta in the Junior division as well, with Stefan de Vries winning the title from George Kontogouris, only 1 place and 5 points ahead of the Greek. Third place goes to Clifton Webb who scored some good results (4, 16, 11) despite a sore neck and 4 DNF. At the age of 19, Stefan is happy with his results. "I did not have time to train as much as I wanted. I had to concentrate lots of time on my studies this year. So I am really happy with winning this title."

In 10th place is John Driscoll who is counting on the Kiel week regatta to get even with David Burrows for his last Olympic qualification opportunity. While Sebastien Godefroid is disappointed in 11th position in a regatta many people expected him to win, Anthony Nossiter is satisfied in 12th, 5 places ahead of Paul McKenzie and 7th from Finn Taylor in the first Olympic selection regatta for Australia. Luca Devoti has won his ticket for Sydney 2000 after being the first Italian after Hyeres, SPA and the European Championship.

Many thanks to the Royal North Sea Yacht Club, Regatta organisers and sponsors who provided the Finn sailors with a great regatta and fair sailing. Thanks also to the Lefebvre sailmakers who were kept very busy by the Finn sailors and the sail measurer (your reporter) during this event!

2000 Europeans - Al Arenal, Spain

Details: Category: Europeans; Published: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 23:07

Finn European Championship 2000 - Al Arenal, Spain

1	POL 17	Mateusz Kusznierewicz	2	3	2	1	1	2	1	14	12
2	CRO 11	Karlo Kuret	10	10	5	4	3	5	3	13	40
3	IRL 8	David Burrows	5	6	4	10	14	1	8	18	48
4	CAN 11	Richard Clarke	6	19	7	11	4	4	10	6	48
5	BEL 7	Sebastien Godefroid	17	7	3	14	DSQ	8	2	1	52
6	CZE 1	Michael Maier	1	4	21	15	6	13	14	10	63
7	SWE 7	Fredrik Loof	16	14	14	2	2	14	15	2	63
8	NED 701	Martijn van Muyden	9	26	9	8	15	16	4	3	64
9	FRA 1	Xavier Rohart	44	1	6	3	8	11	7	41	77
10	GRE 6	Emilios Papathanasiou	15	2	23	12	5	6	16	31	79
11	GBR 564	Jamie Lea	8	38	27	6	25	9	6	7	88
12	RSA 1	Ian Ainslie	31	17	8	5	10	26	9	20	95
13	TUR 6	Ali Enver Adakan	7	41	18	13	17	10	13	26	104
14	ITA 1	Luca Devoti	18	23	13	7	11	39	11	22	105
15	GER 79	Michael Fellmann	26	11	25	22	21	3	5	19	106
16	ITA 71	Massimo Gherarducci	14	5	15	19	18	15	23	28	109
17	AUS 221	Anthony Nossiter	13	16	12	23	29	20	20	9	113
18	HUN 1	Balazs Hadju	19	DSQ	19	16	16	21	12	30	133
19	AUS 222	Paul McKenzie	22	31	11	35	22	12	34	12	144
20	SUI 467	Peter Theurer	12	25	28	20	23	18	42	21	147
21	FRA 7	Sylvain Chtounder	21	DNC	20	9	9	22	37	35	153
22	ITA 14	Nenad Viali	59	12	22	33	30	17	29	16	159
23	BEL 2	Philippe Rogge	46	8	26	25	19	27	38	17	160
24	GBR 15	Charlie Cumbley	4	24	17	26	DSQ	23	DSQ	4	167
25	SUI 1	Othmar Muller von Blumencron	34	13	31	32	12	24	27	32	171
26	DEN 143	Lasse Hjortnaes	35	15	DNF	21	7	37	46	11	172
27	NED 7	Stefan de Vries	25	35	32	28	27	DSQ	18	8	173
28	GBR 540	David Mellor	33	DSQ	10	18	13	35	22	52	183
29	ESP 1	Javier Aguado	30	20	41	24	38	30	28	15	184
30	POL 4	Dominik Zycki	40	50	38	17	33	19	19	39	204
31	EST 8	Imre Taveter	36	22	29	27	24	34	33	43	205
32	ITA 15	Michele Marchesini	28	27	34	34	RDG	32	31	24	207
33	ESP 260	Agustin Juarez Marrero	24	34	48	39	43	29	17	29	214
34	GBR 541	Chris Brittle	45	28	24	29	45	7	40	53	217
35	FRA 11	Mathieu Deplanque	42	36	49	44	28	28	36	5	219
36	CZE 9	Michal Hruby	11	45	36	43	31	25	39	40	225
37	GRE 1	George Kontogouris	37	37	33	30	20	51	48	25	230
38	POL 12	Waclaw Szukiel	20	44	45	41	35	46	21	27	232
39	SUI 471	Christoph Burger	63	40	16	36	26	38	41	44	241
40	RUS 14	Mikhail Apukhtin	29	32	42	55	42	50	26	37	257
41	NED 781	JW Kok	32	30	39	42	49	31	47	36	257
42	POL 7	Rafal Szukiel	38	54	50	31	48	52	24	23	265
43	SUI 465	Christen Christoph	48	42	35	45	51	33	30	34	267
44	RUS 8	Evgeny Tchernov	43	29	30	51	37	41	53	42	272
45	GRE 12	Akis Karnoutsos	54	33	37	37	40	47	35	DNC	282
46	GRE 11	Christos Chionas	50	9	53	47	46	42	43	50	286
47	GRE 8	Alexandros Dragoutsis	57	48	55	40	36	36	25	48	287
48	UKR 21	Sergey Kotov	52	39	51	38	34	43	59	33	289
49	AUT 271	Florian Raudaschl	49	21	43	46	50	53	45	38	291
50	GBR 54	Iain Percy	3	18	1	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	298
51	GER 22	Martin Mitterer	23	52	52	48	47	49	32	58	302
52	CZE 3	Rudolf Lidarik	39	47	44	49	41	40	DSQ	47	306
53	FRA 14	Daniel Kurbiel	51	49	47	54	44	48	44	55	336
54	GER 8	Jurgen Eiermann	62	43	46	53	39	45	52	DNC	339
55	SUI 440	Walchli Dominique	27	51	57	56	52	56	55	46	342
56	GER 81	Jan-Dietmar Dellas	60	53	40	57	54	44	58	49	354
57	RUS 7	Vladislav Kapitonov	47	46	54	52	53	54	54	51	356
58	NED 761	Cees Scheurwater	41	59	56	59	56	59	51	57	378
59	NED 766	Ewout Meijer	65	58	58	50	59	61	49	45	379
60	GER 48	Manfred Poeschl	53	55	60	60	57	58	56	56	394
61	NED 760	Wouter Molenaar	58	57	61	58	55	57	57	54	395
62	SUI 462	Franz Burgi	61	56	59	61	58	55	50	60	398
63	GER 92	Detlev Guminski	56	63	DNC	63	61	63	DNC	61	435
64	GER 2037	Matthias Wolff	66	60	62	DNC	DNC	65	60	59	441
65	POL 9	Piotr Zoltowski	67	62	64	64	63	64	62	63	441
66	NED 725	Hans Willekes	64	DNC	DNC	65	60	62	61	62	442
67	NED 753	Bas Proper	55	61	DNC	62	DNF	60	DNC	DSQ	445
68	GER 1939	Rolf Weber	68	64	63	66	62	66	63	64	447

European Championship 2000 report

The 2000 Finn European Championships were held from the 7th to the 15th April 2000 inclusive, in the waters of Arenal (Mallorca-Baleares) organised by the Club Nautico el Arenal, with the collaboration of the Real Federacion Espanola de Vela and Federacion Balear de Vela. Mateusz Kusznierewicz won his first European Senior title, having won the Junior Europeans on two occasions. The winner of the 2000 Junior Europeans was 19 year old Charlie Cumbley, the current Junior Finn World Champion.

Day One

The first race was started in a 6-8 knot southerly wind and overcast skies on a humid day. After several general recalls the black flag was displayed and the 68 boat fleet got away cleanly. The seemingly traditional way to sail in this wind direction at Arenal proved to be correct as all the leaders came from the left hand side. The light wind tested the patience of every sailor and the fleet soon spread out, with few changes in position. Michael Maier lead round the first mark and extended his lead throughout the first race. Iain Percy, was second around the first mark closely followed by Mateusz Kusznierewicz. These two had a close race until Iain was penalised for rocking on the second beat and Mateusz got past and they finished second and third. 19 year old Charley Cumbley was fourth, followed by David Burrows who had also taken a penalty on the first reach. The international Jury, lead by Fernando Bolin from Spain, penalised eight boats for rule 42 infringements and made several warnings to individual sailors.

Day 2

At the start of the first race the wind was from the north-west at eight knots; by the end of the day there was a steady 18-20 knots. The first beat proved crucial. Xavier Rohart was the first to find out, he started at the starboard end of the line, (rather than the favoured port end),to enable him to go to the right hand side on the first beat. Having rounded the first windward mark ahead, he lead all the way to the finish. In the second race of the day, again the black flag was needed after two general recalls. On the last beat of the afternoon's race the heavier and fitter sailors came through , the wind having increased to 20 knots. Iain Percy had a good lead over Mateusz around the last leeward mark, he lost some of his lead during the beat due to making more tacks to cover his position, Sebastien Godefroid also caught some distance, finishing third.

Day 4

The black flag was used after only one general recall, the leading sailors all started on the left hand side and went left up the first beat. Mateusz made the biggest gain to lead at the first mark, followed by Sylvain Chtounder and Luca Devoti. There was a good battle amongst the following group, Fredrik Loof and Xavier Rohart ending up in second and third respectively.

After a clean first start in the second race, the correct way on the first beat was again left. Karlo Kuret lead around the first mark, closely followed by Mateusz. Sylvain Chtounder had to take a 720 after a conflict with Mateusz just before the windward mark. This allowed Fredrik through ahead. During the first run, conditions were marginal for surfing, Karlo was one of those penalised for rule 42 infringement, while taking his 720, Mateusz went through and lead to the finish. The battle for second was fought hard by Fredrik, Karlo and Richard Clarke and saw Fredrik going through at the end of the last run. The final reach to the finish saw many places change and close finishes between competitors all through the fleet.

Mateusz had a convincing lead overall after 5 races with one discard on 6 points, Xavier Rohart was in second on 18 points, third to sixth place were separated only by 6 points. Sadly, defending champion, Iain Percy had retired from the regatta due to an illness.

Day 5

Again there were several general recalls, and after some adjustment to the line and a black flag the fleet got away. The favoured side of the beat was the left. David Burrows lead at the first mark. The start has proved to be crucial and the ability to be able to go off the start line to the favoured side of the beat essential. 18 year old Chris Brittle made a good start and first beat, rounding the first windward mark close behind Burrows. Michael Fellmann had his first good race of the championship rounding the first mark in third and staying there to the finish. Xavier was in fifth place at the second mark but down the run dropped to eleventh when pushing the boat just to far and capsizing. Karlo Kuret continued to dominate the top ten finishing fifth. Mateusz showed his blistering boat speed and tactics coming through to second position from starting at the wrong end of the line, rounding the first mark in twentieth position.

Although the forecast was for the sea breeze to fill in this did not happen, and just as before the left paid. Sebastien won the first leg closely followed by Mateusz. Nothing seems to get in the way of the Pole as he again dominated, overtaking Sebastien downwind to finish first. Mateusz has not yet had a place outside the top three in this regatta He has sailed in Arenal over the past eight years and knows the behaviour of the weather here.

The current leader of the Junior championship was Charley Cumbley two points ahead of defending Champion Stefan de Vries.

Day 6

Another glorious day with sunshine and 8-10 knots of wind. The first beat saw many overstand the top mark as the wind changed 15 degrees. The conditions again dictated that the favoured side was left on the first beat. Jamie Lea led the fleet round the first mark followed by Anthony Nossiter, Fredrik Loof and leading Junior Charlie Cumbley. Lea sailed well downwind, holding his lead from Loof and Nossiter. The second beat was different to the first, the wind increased, filling from the seaward side first (right). This saw Fredrik round the mark first, Britain's Jamie Lea fell to seventh. After rounding the first mark in seventh, Sebastien picked up places throughout the race, the second windward mark saw Fredrik ahead of Sebastien, they had a gybing dual down the last run ending with Sebastien leading the final reach to the finish. Martijn Van Muyden finished strongly in third.

Mateusz had his worst race of the regatta finishing 14th. But he was able to discard this race to become the 2000 Finn Senior European Champion, his first European title since he won the Junior title in 1996. The ninth race could not be held due to time restrictions, reducing the championship to 8 races.

The two leading juniors Charlie Cumbley and Stefan de Vries fought hard in today's race finishing fourth and eighth respectively. The hard work put in by all the younger Finn sailors increases the level of competition in the whole fleet. The top three Juniors Charlie Cumbley, Stefan de Vries and Chris Brittle all had at least one result in the top ten, showing that training and hard work pays - it will not be long until they have more races in the top ten.

In today's race there was a battle for second overall won by Karlo Kuret who said that it was hard, as not only were the conditions tricky but also it was necessary to keep a close eye on David Burrows and Xavier Rohart. Richard Clarke had another good race finishing 6th today bringing his overall position up to fourth.

The race committee responded well to changes in the wind and conditions, setting excellent lines and courses. The sailors very much enjoyed the regatta, only one day was lost due to too much wind and the organisation both on the water and ashore was run in a very professional manner by Club Nautico Arenal lead by the president of the race committee Guillermo Patino.

It was good to see so many sailors here from countries that had not yet qualified for the Olympics. The top fifteen sailors all came from different countries, the battle will be tough for the medals at the Olympic Games. Mateusz Kusznierewicz won this event convincingly with a total of 12 points over eight races this shows that his hard work put in over the winter months in Australia and New Zealand has paid off.