Melges 24 European Championship 2011 in Aarhus

by Justin Chisholm on 24 Jul 2011 The Böklunder Melges 24 European Championship 2011 will take place from 22 to 28 July in Aarhus, Denmark. Attending the event will be a top quality fleet of 80 teams from sixteen nations who have assembled at Aarhus Sailing Club. Racing in the main championship series begins tomorrow, Sunday 24th July, with the first start scheduled for 10 AM local time.

Today around 60 teams took advantage of a practise day to line up against the competition and to familiarise themselves with the local conditions. Wind conditions out on the water during the day built from almost flat calm to around 10 knots, allowing two practise races to be run, giving both the competitors and the race team a chance to dial into regatta mode.

Speaking after racing, several competitors commented on the shifty nature and patchiness of the breeze on the racecourse, suggesting that it could be a tricky week ahead for the tacticians. Back ashore, the sailors were able to finish preparing their boats for competition, before this afternoon enjoying some free beer and a Böklunder sausage barbecue.

Immediately prior to the Championship Opening Ceremony this evening Principal Race Officer Hank Stuart led the packed marquee in a minute's silence in recognition of the terrible events which took place in Norway yesterday. During the opening ceremony local regatta organisers Torben Houborg, Borge Dammand, Christina Laub Frank and Kenneth Holst were thanked by International Melges 24 Class Chairman Riccardo Simoneschi for their hard work in putting this championship together. International Melges 24 Class website

Aarhus Sailing Club and the International Melges 24 Class would like to thank event title sponsor Böklunder for their most generous support of the 2011 Böklunder Melges 24 European Championship. Böklunder is the producer of a delicious range of meat and sausage products.