History of the European Championship 1956 to 1975

History of the European Championship 1956 to 1975

Introduction

At the time that the Finn became the Olympic singlehander in 1952, the IYRU used to delegate the organisation of a European Championship with a crew of one to member countries. They had the freedom to select a suitable class for the event. In those days it was customary - as it was in the Olympic Games until 1996 - that the host country supplied the boats for the European Championship and that each country is allowed to enter only one sailor.

The sailors had to qualify in a local class and then adjust to the class the host country selected and the individual boat which was assigned to them each day. Before 1954 the event was generally sailed in the O-Jolle and won by sailors unknown in the Finn class.

The 1954 IYRU European Championship for a crew of one was delegated to the Federal Republic of Germany and organised again in the 1936 O-Jolle in Berlin on the Wannsee. Interesting for us is the fact that the people who were fast in the Finn were also representing their countries in that event. The favourite, Paul Elvström, won four races but had so many collisions in others that he finally ended up only 4th. The Championship was won by Andre Nelis - silver medalist in the 1956 Olympics - without winning a single race. The silver medalist of the 1936 Olympics Werner Krogmann was second and Rickard Sarby was third.

In 1955 the Championship was delegated to Austria and the O-Jolle was selected again for the races organised on Lake Traunsee. There were 11 races with generally very little wind. The Austrian Wolfgang Erndl became the European Champion. The Finn sailor Jan de Jong from Holland was third, Andre Nelis 6th, Vernon Stratton 8th and Rickard Sarby 12th after he had left the regatta because of the poor wind conditions.

1. European Championship 1956
Loosdrechter Lakes, Holland, August 20-25
15 entries from 15 countries

Belgium should have organised the IYRU European Championship for a crew of one. However because there was no suitable sailing area the Belgians gave the organisation to the Dutch. They in turn selected a totally unsuitable sailing area themselves, although they have such fine areas. The selected site was a former peat bog near Loosdrecht with very shallow water and hundreds of little islands left over from the peat-cutting. In addition the water was crowded with about 1000 recreational spectator boats and the little islands were heavily wooded. The competitors never saw the next mark and had to decide which of the various narrows between the basins might turn out to be the most advantageous.

However for the history of the Finn it is important that the Dutch selected for the first time the Finn Dinghy for that European Championship and provided 15 cold moulded boats, not all of which had self-bailers and buoyancy bags. There were very variable wind conditions so it heavily depended on the lot the sailors drew each day. Because of the unsuitable site Elvström refused to participate. The first European Champion of the Finn Class was Jürgen Vogler from the German Democratic Republic; the runner up was the Frenchman Didier Poissant, and Andre Nelis was third. In 7th place was Rickard Sarby, and in 11th Curd Ochwadt the promoter of the Finn Class in the Federal Republic of Germany. Also, at this European Championship the IFA was finally founded and had its first Annual General Meeting.

 

Final Results 1956

 

1.       Jürgen Vogler                          DDR                                   7839
2.       Didier Poissant                        F                                        7770
3.       Andre Nelis                            B                                        7369
4.       Richard Murray                       K                                        5885
5.       Y. Shavrin                               SR                                      5868
6.       B. Markus                              Z                                        5712
7.       Rickard Sarby                         S                                        5680
8.       E. Rundström                          N                                        4888
9.       Adelchi Pelaschier                   I                                         4827
10.     S. Payne                                 IR                                       4248
11.     Curd Ochwadt                        G                                        4204
12.     St. Rydgren                             L                                        2926
13.     Erzin Demir                             TR                                      2604
14.     A. Allende                              D                                        2352
15.     Willy Pieper                            H                                        1998
 

 

2. European Championship 1957
 
Naples, Italy, August 27-September 3
 
12 entries from 12 countries

The Italians selected the Finn again and provided 12 very nice brand new boats, all well and equally equipped. Racing was in Naples Bay - site of the Olympic racing three years later. There were 16 races scheduled, of which 10 were finally sailed. Winds were generally light and taking advantage of the tide was quite important. Andre Nelis won 8 races and became the superior winner. The battle for the runner-up was tight between Pelaschier, Vogler, and Schwarz. Sweden was represented by the nephew of Rickard Sarby, Bert Sarby.

Final Results 1957
 
1.       Andre Nelis                            B                                        10486
2.       Adelchi Pelaschier                   I                                         6943
3.       Jürgen Vogler                          DDR                                   6619
4.       Borge Schwarz                       D                                        5924
5.       Hans Sleeswijk                       H                                        5524
6.       Bert Sarby                              S                                        4271
7.       Jerome Harinkouck                 F                                        4223
8.       Czeslaw Marchaj                    PZ                                      3891
9.       Vernon Stratton                      K                                        3832
10.     Tonko Pivecevic                     Y                                        3715
11.     Hans Larcher                          Z                                        3553
12.     Erzin Demir                             TK                                     2751

 

3. European Championship 1958
Cascais, Portugal, September 3-7
12 entries from 12 countries

No country was particularly interested in being entrusted by the IYRU with the organisation of the 1958 European Championship. Finally Portugal accepted without ambition, lacking experience in the Finn. For the first time, the organiser invited the participants to bring their own boats in order to save the costs in building new ones. Four sailors brought their own dinghies and had a large advantage. The 8 new boats supplied by the organiser had never been sailed before and were inferior. An additional problem was the launching facilities. A crane lowered and lifted the boats with the skipper on board from a 20 m high quay. So this Championship was more a test of technical skills than of sailing abilities.

Final Results 1958
1.       Adelchi Pelaschier                   I                                         7684
2.       Karel Warburg                        H                                        6161
3.       Bernhard Reist                        Z                                        4021
4.       Harinkouck                             F                                        3952
5.       Arne Baltscheffsky                  L                                        3769
6.       Börge Schwarz                       D                                        3518
7.       Jürgen Vogler                          DDR                                   3427
8.       Richard Murray                       K                                        3396
9.       Bert Sarby                              S                                        2756
10.     Wolfgang Erndl                       OE                                     2510
11.     Curd Ochwadt                        G                                        1994
12.     Teixeiza da Fonseca                P                                        1265

 

4. European Championship 1959
 
Silsersee, Switzerland, August 27-30
 
18 entries from 18 countries

For 1959 the IYRU delegated the event to Switzerland. Although this country even today still has a strong O-Jolle fleet, the Finn was selected since it was the designated singlehander for the 1960 Olympics. The Swiss choose the Silsersee south of St. Moritz with usually strong winds, where however they had never before organised a sailing regatta. The 52 year old Dutchman Jan de Jong, 1.95 m tall, weighing 100 kg, but quick as a flash and smart, won four races and was twice runner-up. In second overall, the Frenchman Pinaud, had a number of new technical gadgets on his Finn. The German Democratic Republic sent J. Vogler who came third and had won the Gold Cup before. Fourth was Kuhweide, at that time only 16 years old.

Final Results 1959
1.       Jan de Jong                             H                                        5480
2.       Yves Louis Pinaud                  F                                        4290
3.       Jürgen Vogler                          DDR                                   4008
4.       Willy Kuhweide                      G                                        3845
5.       Henning Wind                         D                                        3816
6.       Per Jordebakke                      N                                        3646
7.       Adelchi Pelaschier                   I                                         3334
8.       Keith Musto                            K                                        2886
9.       Bernhard Reist                        Z                                        2633
10.     Peter Fürst                              OE                                     2524
11.     Andre Nelis                            B                                        2446
12.     E. Stadig                                 L                                        2038
13.     Bengt Hornevall                      S                                        1786
14.     B. Oliviera                              P                                        1723
15.     Andrzej Podolski                    PZ                                      1298
18.     Bir                                          TR                                      1131
17.     Tolnai                                     M                                       828
18.     Perrakis                                  GR                                     191

 

5. European Championship 1960
Ostende, Belgium, July or early August
10 entries from 10 countries

Four races between force 4 and 7 suited Paul Elvström perfectly and he won three of the races. 17 year old newcomer from the Federal Republic of Germany Willy Kuhweide won the first race, but scored never worse than 4th, and thus became runner-up. Host Andre Nelis won two races, but did not perform that well in the heavy wind and had a collision in the sixth race. In the fourth race, when it blew force 7, it is reported that Elvström in first and Kuhweide in second position did not dare to gybe. However Nelis in third position risked the manoeuvre, made it technically, but hit the mark, got entangled with the French Pinaud and lost several hundred meters.

Final Results 1960
1.       Paul Elvström                          D                                        5074
2.       Willy Kuhweide                      G                                        4870
3.       Andre Nelis                            B                                        4518
4.       Yves-Louis Pinaud                  Z                                        4393
5.       Hans Sleeswijk                       H                                        3472
6.       Jack Knights                           K                                        2635
7.       Göran Andersson                    S                                        2615
8.       Klaus Koop                            DDR                                   1566
9.       Jouko Valli                              L                                        1361
10.     Andrzej Podolski                    PZ                                      1193

 

6. European Championship 1961
Warnemünde, German Democratic Republic, July 14-18
14 entries from 14 countries

In splendid racing conditions seven races were sailed without a discard. After each race the overall lead changed. Before the last race in force 4-5 there were five competitors who could win the title. The Swede Goran Andersson won that race clearly and thought he was the champion until the last round. Chuchelov had a safe 2nd until he broke his mast step on the last beat and had to retire. So Willy Kuhweide moved into second position, which was just enough to take the championship.

Final Results 1961

1.       Willy Kuhweide                      G                                        5456
2.       Göran Andersson                    S                                        5326
3.       Walter Gärtner                        DDR                                   4886
4.       Wim Maarse                           H                                        4523
5.       Hubert Raudaschl                    OE                                     3850
6.       Alex. Chuchelov                      SR                                      3263
7.       Yves-Louis Pinaud                  F                                        2787
8.       Spacek                                   CZ                                      2719

 

7. European Championship 1962
Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany, June 12-16
11 entries from 11 countries

By 1962 the Finn was so well established even in the Federal Republic of Germany that it was selected (in disfavour of the 1936 O-Jolle) for the last European Championship for a crew of one under the IYRU flag. Only one mast and one sail were allowed and the reigning champ Willy Kuhweide as well as his Austrian friend Hubert Raudaschl blew their chances before the first start by selecting soft masts and flat sails. The wind turned out to be light and shifty all week. The Frenchman Francis Jammes developed a ‘new’ sailing technique, standing upright in his boat and pumping or gybing all the time. Jammes was leading up until the last race, but he failed to cover his only opponent and lost the title to the Swede Boris Jacobsson who had quickly picked up the art of questionable propulsion. The 3rd overall Jan de Jong and 4th Richard Creagh-Osborne despised the technique vehemently but the younger people swore to practise it.

 
Final Results 1962
1.       Boris Jacobsson                      S 318                                 5098
2.       Francis Jammes                       F 164                                 4730
3.       Jan de Jong                             H 43                                   4700
4.       Richard Creagh-Osborne        K 7                                     3825
5.       Wilhelm Kuhweide                  G 203                                 3633
6.       Hubert Raudaschl                    OE 31                                3378
7,       A. Schemer                             M 21                                  2264
8.       Börge Schwarz                       D 16                                   2232
9.       J. Kariofillis                             GR 6                                  2072
10.     Roar Larsen                            N 24                                   1868
11.     Dr. Fred Auer                         Z 81                                   857

 

8. European Championship 1963
Lake Balaton, Hungary, September 15-22
18 entries from 10 countries

The IYRU had decided not to continue with the European Championships after 1962. So the IFA picked up the tradition and delegated the event to Hungary. From now on two entries per nation were allowed. The beginning of the regatta was postponed by one day when the British and the Norwegian entry phoned that they had a car accident but would come soon - never to arrive. Bernhard Straubinger from the Federal Republic of Germany was leading with a large margin before the last race. However as in the year before, the smart Swede Boris Jacobsson won the last two races, while Straubinger finished only 11th and 6th, and thus won the championship for the second time. The second Swedish entry Andersson won the bronze.

 

Final Results 1963

1.       Boris Jacobsson                      S                                        6449
2.       Bernhard Straubinger              G                                        6237
3.       Bernt Andersson                     S                                        5421
4.       Miroslav Vejvoda                   CZ                                      4994
5.       Uwe Mares                             G                                        4898
6.       Walter Gärtner                        DDR                                   4764
7.       Hubert Raudaschl                    OE                                     3955
8.       A. Neeser                               Z                                        3647
9.       György Finaczy                       M                                       3614
10.     B. Horák                                CZ                                      3518

 

9. European Championship 1964
Oeresund, Denmark, August 26-31
32 entries from 20 countries

Six races in force 3-5 were sailed on three days and one race was abandoned when only 14 boats were still upright in force 6-8. The European Championship was the final selection for most of the participants for the Olympics soon after.

 

Final Results 1964

1.       Willy Kuhweide                      G 503                                 7743
2.       Henning Wind                         D 30                                   6245
3.       Wim Maarse                           H 260                                 6187
4.       Bernhard Straubinger              G 416                                 6187
5.       Boris Jacobsson                      S 318                                 4965
6.       Per Jordebakke                      N 60                                   4497
7.       Miroslav Vejvoda                   CZ 111                               4488
8.       Bernt Andersson                     S 448                                 4477
9.       Brian Saffery-Cooper              K 144                                 3740
10.     György Finaczy                       M 40                                  3447
11.     Mike Astley                            K 177                                 3226
12.     Miklos Tuss                            M 50                                  3051

 

10. European Championship 1965
Cascais, Portugal, September 6-12
29 entries from 16 countries

As a new regulation the ruling champion in addition to his countries quota of two and overseas countries were allowed to enter. The ruling US Champion Dick Tillman entered as the only non-European. Of the seven races one was light air, two were medium, and four heavy. A burning question at that time was how much wet sweaters or sweat shirts one should use before a limitation was set by the IYRU. For the first time two boats were disqualified by the jury for infringement of rule 60 - means of propulsion.

Final Results 1965
1.       Bernd Dehmel                         DDR 98                              7044
2.       Valentin Mankin                      SR 636                               6317
3.       Willy Kuhweide                      G 503                                 6016
4.       Jürgen Mier                             DDR 232                            5095
5.       Boris Jacobsson                      S 318                                 5003
6.       J. Stutterheim                          G 516                                 4965
7.       Henning Wind                         D 82                                   4639
8.       Hubert Raudaschl                    OE 31                                3869
9.       Arne Akerson                         S 321                                 3837
10.     Richard Hart                           K 131                                 3510
11.     Panagiotis Couligas                 GR 55                                3288
12.     Rogge                                     B 13                                   3252
13.     Dick Tillman                            US 419                               3159
14.     Rest                                        H 109                                 3140
15.     Mike Astley                            K 177                                 2999

 

11. European Championship 1966
Attersee, Austria, September 4-12
43 entries from 25 countries

Because of the authority he had gained by winning the 1964 Gold Cup, Hubert Raudaschl managed to convince the Council at the 1965 Gold Cup, to delegate the European Championship 1966 to Austria. Since the championship was open for all the non-European countries as well, all the top helmsmen had entered with the exception of Willy Kuhweide (because he had not qualified despite winning the Gold Cup that same year) and Henning Wind (who in those days refused to sail on fresh water on principle). The first race saw a lazy drifter, a five minute thunderstorm with Bruder on a screaming reach through the finishing line, many boats capsizing, and a sudden calm again with no hope for those under water to bail their boats. In rather shifty conditions Hubert Raudaschl capitalised from his knowledge of the local conditions. He had the best speed upwind, however he lost quite a bit again on the reaches and the runs. After a poor start in the regatta Raudaschl managed to take line honours four times and won convincingly with 14.7 points against runner up Jörg Bruder with 68.0.

Final Results 1966
1.       Hubert Raudaschl                    OE 81                                14.7
2.       Jörg Bruder                             BL 3                                   68.0
3.       U. Köhler                               Z 208                                 81.4
4.       Valentin Mankin                      SR 636                               85.0
5.       Dick Tillman                            US 419                               87.4
6.       E. Altmayer                             BL 25                                 88.7
7.       A. Rymkiewicz                        PZ 42                                 90.4
8.       B.E. Treleaven                        KZ 62                                101.0
9.       Bernd Dehmel                         DDR 9                                107.4
10.     A. Bally                                  Z 145                                 108.0
11.     Arne Akerson                         S 321                                 112.0
12.     Lucian Christl                          OE 70                                113.0
13.     Miroslav Vejvoda                   CZ 111                               116.0
14.     Serge Maury                           F 462                                 116.7
15.     S. Golser                                I 371                                  117.0
16.     B. Horák                                CZ 138                               120.0
17.     G. Wossala                             M 77                                  126.0
18.     P. Lippert                               DDR 3                                127.0
19.     W. Erdmann                           G 434                                 135.7
20.     György Finaczy                       M 40                                  142.4

 

12. European Championship 1967
Naples, Italy, August
43 entries from 24 countries

Conditions were mainly light and fluky. The championship was in doubt up to the last leg of the last race. Van Grünewaldt from Sweden had been leading on points from the second race on. However going into the last race Willy Kuhweide was only 1.4 points behind the Swede, if both discarded their worst race - with third place a good distance behind. When Kuhweide rounded the last mark third and the Swede was around 20th everybody thought that Willy would win the title once again. However Kuhweide made one of the few mistakes of his sailing career, tacked away from a veer and dropped to 9th. So both sailors finally discarded the last race and the Swede was the winner overall.

 
Final Results 1967
1.       Arnold von Grünewaldt           S 366                                 19.0
2.       Willy Kuhweide                      G 711                                 21.4
3.       Jürgen Mier                             DDR 3                                42.8
4.       Hubert Raudaschl                    OE 81                                60.0
5.       Henning Wind                         D 93                                   65.0
6.       Valentin Mankin                      SR 636                               73.7
7.       Fabio Albarelli                        I 406                                  74.0
8.       Jonty Farmer                           KZ 9                                  82.0
9.       V. Kozlov                               SR 381                               83.0
10.     Bernhard Reist                        Z 224                                 85.4
11.     Bernhard Straubinger              G 416                                 90.0
12.     Couligas                                  GR 37                                90.4
13.     Mauro Pelaschier                    I 388                                  92.0
14.     Carl van Duyne                       US 245                               98.0
15.     Miroslav Vejvoda                   CZ 111                               102.0
16.     Andy Zawieja                         PZ 321                               107.0
17.     Sturm                                      OE 50                                117.0
18.     Lucian Christl                          OE 70                                117.0
19.     J.P. Boumans                          B 6                                     119.0
20.     Wossala                                  M 77                                  122.0
22.     Jack Knights                           K 238                                 123.0
23.     Jose Manuel Quina                  P 65                                   125.0
24.     Dumont                                   F 365                                 128.7
25.     B. Horák                                CZ 7                                   129.0

 

13. European Championship 1968
Medemblik, Holland, August 26-31
32 entries from 19 countries

The championship was again in doubt right up to the last beat of the last race and eventually it was Arne Akerson’s better consistency that pulled him just ahead of Henning Wind and Uwe Mares. Winds were predominantly from the north-east and appeared to be very steady before the start. However, during the race, slow subtle swings were invariably present. Added to this problem was the notorious Ijsselmeer chop. However, despite all the pumping that was going on, all the helmsmen restricted themselves to one pump per surfable wave. Raudaschl sails set on Bruder masts was the rig of the day. Wedges were still much in evidence and the kicking strap had still not positively demonstrated any superiority over the wedge. The outcome depended finally on tactics and it was the aggressive genius of the Swedes and their flair for going well in moderate conditions that finally proved decisive.

Final Results 1968
1.       Arne Akerson                         S 321                                 44.0
2.       Henning Wind                         D 93                                   48.0
3.       Uwe Mares                             G 800                                 49.0
4.       Valentin Mankin                      SR 636                               56.7
5.       Andersson                              S 516                                 60.7
6.       Bernd Dehmel                         DDR 9                                62.7
7.       Zawieja                                   PZ 321                               64.7
8.       Hubert Raudaschl                    OE 101                              65.7
9.       Werenskiold                           N 83                                   67.7
10.     Binkhorst                                H 369                                 69.0
11.     Kozlov                                    SR 381                               70.4
12.     Maury                                     F 496                                 74.7
13.     John Maynard                         K 284                                 75.0
14.     Patrick Pym                            K 274                                 75.7
15.     Beck                                       H 381                                 83.7
16.     Köhler                                    L 142                                 84.7

 

14. European Championship 1969
Warnemünde, German Democratic Republic August 8-15
39 entries from 21 countries

Measurement was too strict, indicating, that there hardly existed any genuine Finns at that time on the entire globe. Philippe Soria disregarded the ‘suggestions’ of Vernon Forster and was disqualified after the second race. The wind wandered aimlessly around the compass in most of the races. But Sweden’s three representatives Akerson the ruling champion from 1968, Sall, and Liljegren set a record which was equalled in 1985 by the Danish but certainly can never be broken, by winning Gold, Silver and Bronze. Arne Akerson had the best speed in the difficult conditions and did not have to start in the last race in order to secure the title again.

Final Results 1969
1.       Arne Akerson                         S 321                                 48.7
2.       Börge Sall                               S 392                                 58.7
3.       Guy Liljegren                          S 554                                 74.1
4.       Jürgen Mier                             DDR 3                                77.7
5.       Andreas von Eicken                G 969                                 78.0
6.       Frits Beck                               H 381                                 78.5
7.       György Finaczy                       M 40                                  79.4
8.       Andrzej Zawieja                      PZ 321                               84.0
9.       Michel Hupin                          B 90                                   85.0
10.     Walter Mai                             G 991                                 102.7
11.     Valentin Mankin                      SR 36                                 106.7
12.     Panagiotis Couligas                 GR 117                              106.7
13.     Jan Winquist                           L 156                                 109.0
14.     Bernd Dehmel                         DDR 9                                115.0
15.     Tiemen Vries                           H 418                                 115.0
16.     Patrick Pym                            K 274                                 115.4
17.     Rafail Chucharov                     BU 4                                  121.0
18.     Robert Andre                          US 10                                 121.7
19.     Miroslav Vejvoda                   CZ 111                               123.0
20.     Vitall Dirdira                           SR 14                                 124.0

 

15. European Championship 1970
Dublin, Ireland, July 4-11
42 entries from 19 countries

There were three entries per country allowed, so the participation was very good. The championship was a test of stamina, determination and fitness. For the second half of the week the wind was hardly ever less than Force 4 and there were gusts of 7 or even more. After he had won the Gold Cup in 1969 Thomas Lundquist held up the Swedish flag again. Willy Kuhweide had bought back his old wooden Raudaschl boat and did much better than the previous year, finishing fourth. In the Wednesday race it was blowing so hard that Lundquist and Van Elst in first and second position wore round instead of gybing on the run. Because of fog on Tuesday there were two races scheduled on Thursday, the second of which should not have been held. Two competitors were discovered floating well away from their craft, including Gerardo Seeliger, later president of the IFA. The Canadian Phelan had his new Elvström boat sink under him. Most of the skippers wore too many wet sweaters which was unlimited by regulations at that time - and were unable to get back into their boats after a capsize. Wooden Bruder masts had taken over by 40-2.

Final Results 1970
1.       Thomas Lundquist                   S 532                                 26.0
2.       Guy Liljegren                          S 554                                 32.4
3.       Jürgen Mier                             DDR 3                                44.0
4.       Willy Kuhweide                      G 711                                 45.7
5.       Serge Maury                           F 96                                   50.0
6.       Hans Van Elst                         H 424                                 50.4
7.       György Finaczy                       M 40                                  54.0
8.       P. Mondéteguy                       F 612                                 70.3
9.       Bernd Dehmel                         DDR 9                                73.7
10.     R. Bergsten                             S 557                                 84.7
11.     Norman Freeman                    US 909                               87.0
12.     B. Watson                              K 233                                 87.7
13.     Walter Mai                             G 991                                 93.7
14.     Oleg Shilov                             SR 4                                   94.0
15.     Victor Potapov                       SR 15                                 101.7
16.     Gerardo Seeliger                     E 69                                   106.0
17.     Iain Macdonald-Smith             K 341                                 109.0
18.     C. Anderson                           L 159                                 115.0
19.     Elias Hatzipavlis                      GR                                     119.0
20.     Michel Hupin                          B 90                                   131.0

 

16. European Championship 1971
Athens, Greece, August 14-22
67 entries from 27 countries

Each country was allowed to send three competitors except Sweden who had an extra quota for the ruling champion. In the pre-race measuring Gilbert Lamboley tested his ‘Pendulum Method’ to obtain data on the centre of gravity and weight distribution of characteristic hulls. The wind stayed in the north throughout the series and was therefore rather strong. Racing on the 4th and 5th day had to be cancelled due to winds of Force 6 and over. Thomas Lundquist from Sweden finished 3rd in the 1st race but was scored as a non-starter because he had forgotten to take out his tally. This error cost him not only the race but eventually the championship. So it was the Dutch helmsman Baudouin Binkhorst who became the new European Champion, despite the fact that he never won a race. Neither did the second overall Magnus Olin.

 
Final Results 1971
1.       Baudouin Binkhorst                 H 454                                 34.0
2.       Magnus Olin                           S 509                                 35.4
3.       György Finaczy                       M 40                                  37.0
4.       Miroslav Vejvoda                   CZ 111                               49.0
5.       Victor Potapov                       SR 1                                   55.0
6.       Fritz Beck                               H 4                                     58.0
7.       Thomas Lundquist                   S 532                                 59.0
8.       Serge Maury                           F 7                                     62.0
9.       Fabio Albarelli                        I 450                                  62.4
10.     Minski Fabris                          Y 30                                   64.0
11.     Göran Andersson                    S 516                                 70.0
12.     Iain MacDonald-Smith            K 347                                 82.0
13.     P. Mondéteguy                       F 661                                 84.7
14.     John Clarke                            KC 111                              86.0
15.     Gerardo Seeliger                     E 69                                   87.0
16.     Kees Douze                            H 7                                     88.0
17.     Carl van Duyne                       US 245                               90.7
18.     Walter Bachmann                    Z 267                                 91.0
19.     Blazy Wyskowski                   PZ 179                               91.0
20.     G. Asblom                              S 585                                 93.7
21.     H. Hatzipavlis                          GR 122                              97.0
22.     S. Golser                                I 458                                  99.0
23.     J. Walle Hansen                      N 87                                   104.0
24.     Francis Jammes                       F 625                                 106.0
25.     Kai Krüger                             G 1233                               107.0
26.     Richard Storer                        K 360                                 109.0
27.     Ron Jenyns                             KA 9                                  112.4
28.     Patrick Pym                            K 274                                 116.0
29.     A. Rymkiewicz                        PZ 174                               116.0
30.     F. Schöttle                              US 224                               130.7
31.     Uwe Heinzmann                      G 1122                               132.0
32.     Ivan Hoffman                          CZ 3                                   142.0
33.     P. Grammatikou                      BU 321                              142.0
34.     Andy Zawieja                         PZ 321                               145.0
35.     Luciano Lievi                          I 417                                  147.0

 

17. European Championship 1972
Medemblik, Holland, June 14-19
47 entries from 26 countries

Wind conditions were good and from every point of the compass, ranging from light to force 7, but always shifty and demanding. Christian Schröder from the DDR won two races, was always among the top 8, and might have won even a third race when a self bailer broke while he was leading. Some of the competitors used the Mader hulls and the stiff Needlespar masts they would have to use at the Olympics, in order to become familiar with the new material. The traditional wooden masts proved to be far superior to the new aluminium masts.

Final Results 1972
1.       Christian Schröder                  DDR 8                                33.7
2.       Thomas Lundquist                   S 532                                 40.7
3.       Magnus Olin                           S 509                                 44.4
4.       Serge Maury                           F 1                                     59.0
5.       Kees Douze                            H 7                                     67.4
6.       Per Werenskiold                     N 83                                   68.0
7.       Bernd Dehmel                         DDR 9                                73.0
8.       Alex Welter                            BL 5                                   81.0
9.       John Bertrand                         KA 113                              81.0
10.     Kim Weber                             L 161                                 82.4
11.     Blazy Wyskowski                   PZ 179                               85.0
12.     Walter Mai                             G 1271                               86.0
13.     Carl Van Duyne                      US 245                               91.7
14.     Minski Fabris                          Y 30                                   93.0
15.     Ryszard Blaszka                      PZ 56                                 97.7
16.     Luciano Lievi                          I 417                                  102.0
17.     Claudio Biekarck                    BL 10                                 103.0
18.     B.B. Barbour                          SA 399                               106.7
19.     P. Mondéteguy                       F 6                                     108.0
20.     Uwe Heinzmann                      G 1122                               125.0
21.     K. Kruijer                               H 494                                 127.7
22.     Baudouin Binkhorst                 H 454                                 128.0
23.     Mauro Pelaschier                    I 460                                  132.0
24.     A. Papaioannou                      GR 165                              135.0

 

18. European Championship 1973
Wladislawowo, Poland, August 5-11
48 entries from 23 countries

The ruling European Champion Christian Schröder from the DDR this time won 3 of the 7 races and had a 10th as his discard. Lennart Gustafsson of Sweden got a 2nd overall, while the German Democratic Republic also took 3rd and 4th. Sailing conditions were very difficult with medium winds but all sorts of old waves from previous wind directions. The winning sailors from the DDR used a great variety of wooden masts. They had practised weeks before the event with the help of an extraordinary support team and gathered with scientific methods the right spar for the various conditions.

Final Results 1973
1.       Christian Schroeder                 DDR 8                                27.7
2.       Lennart Gustafsson                  S 589                                 37.7
3.       Jürgen Wolff                           DDR 29                              50.7
4.       Jochen Schümann                    DDR 9                                50.8
5.       Craig Thomas                         US 934                               61.4
6.       Ryszard Blaszka                      PZ 56                                 72.0
7.       Magnus Olin                           S 584                                 81.0
8.       Rolli Berdash                          SR 9                                   89.7
9.       Jean Pasturaud                        F 675                                 96.7
10.     Andrzej Zawieja                      PZ 321                               101.0
11.     David Howlett                         K 341                                 115.0
12.     Hans Van Elst                         H 424                                 115.4
13.     Carl van Duyne                       US 245                               118.0
14.     Elias Hatzipavlis                      GR 162                              132.0
15.     Bob Smith                               US 886                               137.0
16.     Uwe Heinzmann                      G 1122                               143.0
17.     Alex Welter                            L 5                                     147.0
18.     Sanford Riley                          KC 143                              147.0
19.     Sergej Konstancki                   SR 8                                   149.7
20.     Clive Roberts                          KZ 157                              152.0
21.     Andreas Haan                         M 11                                  160.0
22.     Kees Douze                            H 7                                     165.0
23.     Miroslav Cada                        CZ 1                                   165.0
24.     Richard Hart                           K 331                                 165.0
25.     Miklos Tuss                            M 50                                  175.0

 

19. European Championship 1974
Niendorf, Federal Republic of Germany, June 1-7
55 entries.

Wind conditions were excellent, the organisation on the water professional, the festivities ashore disappointing. The ruling world champion Serge Maury did not participate because he had failed to qualify in the French trials. In 1974 the Needlespar B mast was reported to be the best spar, and the Swedish Marinex sails were the choice of the champion.

Final Results 1974
1.       Guy Liljegren                          S                                        41.0
2.       Jacques Busquet                     F                                        52.7
3.       Elias Hatzipavlis                      GR                                     57.0
4.       Jean Grandchamp                   F                                        76.7
5.       Kent Carlsson                         S                                        79.0
6.       Andrei Balashov                      SR                                      81.7
7.       Christian Schröder                  DDR                                   89.7
8.       Jaques Rogge                          B                                        97.4
9.       David Howlett                         K                                        97.7
10.     Jürgen Wolff                           DDR                                   101.0
11.     Mauro Pelaschier                    I                                         118.7
12.     G. Ehlers                                 G                                        120.0
13.     Richard Hart                           K                                        120.0
14.     Ryszard                                  PZ                                      122.0
15.     Palmgren                                 L                                        123.0
16.     Kees Douze                            H                                        124.0
17.     Minski Fabris                          Y                                        124.7

 

20. European Championship 1975
Palamos, Spain, May 31-June 8
49 entries from 20 countries

Every day at about 2.00 pm there was a nice sea breeze, starting with force 1, later up to force 3. The first beat was better on starboard, later you had to keep right. You had to go to the corners, tacking up in the middle was disastrous. Lanaverre and Roga boats dominated the fleet. Serge Maury won the second and the last race, and the regatta overall by a good margin.

Final Results 1975
1.       Serge Maury                           F 711                                 33.0
2.       David Howlett                         K 341                                 51.4
3.       Mauro Pelaschier                    I 509                                  53.4
4.       Claudio Biekarck                    BL 69                                 71.0
5.       Ryszard Blaszka                      PZ 299                               73,7
6.       Van den Broek                       F 7                                     77.0
7.       Andrei Balashov                      SR 2                                   77.7
8.       Gerardo Seeliger                     E 99                                   81.0
9.       Luciano Lievi                          I 517                                  83.0
10.     Joaquin Blanco                        E 101                                 84.0
11.     Jonty Farmer                           KZ 149                              85.0
12.     Grandchamp                           F 710                                 90.0
13.     Jörgen Lindhardtsen                D 126                                 90.0
14.     Jaques Rogge                          B 2                                     91.4
15.     José Luis Doreste                    E 109                                 102.7
16.     Jochen Schümann                    DDR 9                                103.0
17.     Andreas Haan                         M 11                                  104.0
18.     Themelis                                 GR 49                                113.0
19.     Petaja                                     L 161                                 116.7
20.     Papacannou                            GR 1                                  120.0
21.     Baudouin Binkhorst                 H 6                                     120.7
22.     Roberto Haas                         A 42                                   124.0
23.     Lue van Keirsblick                  B 15                                   129.0
24.     Hans Van Elst                         H 524                                 132.0
25.     Richard Grönblom                   L 171                                 133.0
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