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!