Finn European Championship - Scott wraps up with 50 point margin

by Robert Deaves on 11 May 2014

Fleet action - 2014 Finn European Championship Robert Deaves/Finn Class http://www.finnclass.org

At the Finn European Championship in La Rochelle, Giles Scott (GBR) wrapped up in the perfect way with a win in the medal race to take the championship by an impressive 50 point margin. The defending champion Vasilij Zbogar (SLO) took the silver, after a very close medal race, by just one point from Ed Wright (GBR).

Strong winds, big waves and lots of rain featured on the final day in La Rochelle. First up was race 11, out on the sea. Bruno Prada (BRA) led round the top mark, and then there was a spectacular downwind leg in winds approaching 20 knots, and perfect rolling waves. Mark Andrews (GBR) rounded second and was soon in the lead to take the win from Josh Junior (NZL) and Deniss Karpak (EST).

Then the medal race was held in the harbour with a short, steep chop and winds around 20 knots making for some very testing and very close racing. Giles Scott (GBR) led round the top mark from Ed Wright (GBR), Jonathan Lobert (FRA) and Thomas Le Breton (FRA).

Wright lost some places on the second upwind and needed to put just one more boat between himself and Vasilij Zbogar on the downwind to take the silver. But it was not to be. Le Breton took a wide track to the left on the final downwind and nearly passed Scott, with Lobert in third. Zbogar had rounded the gate in second but struggled on the second, extended beat, to cross the finish in ninth. With Wright in sixth, Zbogar has saved the silver by one point.

It was fantastic close racing in marginal conditions and the whole fleet screamed over the finish line in under a minute.

Giles Scott in action during the 2014 Finn European Championship © Robert Deaves/Finn Class http://www.finnclass.org

Scott summed up his week 'It has been a great championship, with some enjoyable racing. The first day was a little bit challenging for all of us that managed to survive the black flag but I think in the end everything came good.'

On the medal race, he said, 'I thought there was a bit less tide on the right, so I went that way upwind, managed to cross the fleet and round in front of everyone. And then I kind of stayed the same speed as the guys in second and third. It remained quite close and then Thomas [Le Breton] had a bit of a surge down the last run and we evened out and I just got him on the line.'

'There were big choppy waves and there wasn't much speed difference to be had. It was very close racing as medal racing should be.'

2014 Finn European Championship © Robert Deaves/Finn Class http://www.finnclass.org

Reflecting on his second European title, he said, 'I have had a good 24 hours for it to settle in now, but I am very happy with how things are going at the moment and where I am at, and now I'm looking ahead to the bigger events later in the season. We have some training to do in the UK, and trips to Santander and Rio lined up.'

Wright explained his strategy, 'Today I was probably more sailing for the security of the bronze. I didn't want to snap a mast out there in the river we sailed in. I didn't want to push it. I am happy to come away with the bronze, but actually looking back it's so close, just one point would have made the difference, so I could have pushed a bit harder. Going round the top mark I was in second.'

Fleet action - 2014 Finn European Championship © Robert Deaves/Finn Class http://www.finnclass.org

'A medal is always good, so that's why I'm happy, but now I have to get down to some real training and onto the test event and Santander. It's all team based, so there's a lot of training to come.'

'Most of the week early on was light to medium conditions with really good sailing. We mainly had an oscillating breeze, but it was quite hard physically because it was that wind strength when it was hard upwind and downwind. But out on the race course here is a nice place to sail.'

2014 Finn European Championship © Robert Deaves/Finn Class http://www.finnclass.org

Zbogar was quite elated to take the silver, far above his expectations for the week. 'I am really happy with silver, the conditions were not really my favourite, so I am very happy. I have mew materials, new sail and mast, so didn’t know exactly how I'd go but everything is working fine and we know what is missing and we need to work on that.'

On the medal race itself, 'It was a very tight finish. I got lucky there as I lost a few places downwind. I had a good start, tried to be close to the top guys at the top mark and then I know I have a small advantage downwind. I was flying downwind and managed to round the bottom mark second. Then upwind I was slow and losing meter by metre. I was really struggling. I had an eye on Ed but he was faster so I tried to keep as few boats between us as possible. In the end I got lucky as Ed lost on the last downwind and that held me keep silver.'

The Junior European title, which is also sailed as an open event, went to Jake Lilley (AUS) after a great week here in La Rochelle. 'It's really cool to finally get a win. Thanks to the 25 other juniors here. It's awesome that we can help to build the class and compete in the open Europeans.'

'It was pretty frustrating that we finished second three times last year; that hurt. We worked really hard over the summer, we went to Miami and put heaps of work in so to come here and win the junior open title is really good for us. I'm really happy with that.'

On the final race today, where he held a pre-race lead of 125 point over Jorge Zarif (BRA). 'We had a good plan today to just have a solid race and not do anything crazy, and also keep an eye on where Jorge was. I also wanted to finish the regatta strongly and keep at least in the top 15. Josh [Junior] had a good race and so were many other guys in front of me. So I just tried to have an OK race and not go upside down.'

Jake Lilley - 2014 Finn European Championship © Robert Deaves/Finn Class http://www.finnclass.org

Though still a junior, Lilley is sailing and talking like a senior. Looking to the future, 'Our main focus is on the worlds and the Olympics from now. I'm really happy that all the juniors were here and we're racing with the big boys, so that's the big one for this year. Then it's all on towards the Games.'

As the Europeans in La Rochelle draws to a close, many sailors will be taking a short break before beginning their training programmes for Santander and the all-important Olympic qualification. Others will be heading to one of the EUROSAF events coming up, of which the first is the Delta Lloyd Regatta starting in just over a week.

As with the Finn Masters in La Rochelle in 2013, the event this week was hampered to a certain degree by unseasonal bad weather, but what was not in doubt was the quality of the racing and the great sailing conditions out on the sea off La Rochelle. Giles Scott has now won every event since returning to the class last year and seems to be improving event by event. Winning a major championship by 50 points in a 100 boat fleet is nothing short of phenomenal. With Scott saying there are still improvements to be made, he has set the standard everyone needs to match if they provide a fitting challenge in the coming years.

Results after 11 races ( Discards : 1 ) (101 entries)

( M.R.= Medal race/Finale. C.R.= Consolation race/Consolante)

Pos	Sail	Competitors	Grp	P Net	P tot	r.8	r.9	r10	r11 M.R	r12 C.R
Coefficients ==>						1	1	1	2	1
1	GBR 41	SCOTT Giles (GBRGS20)	Medal Race	26.00	40.00	1 1.0	14 14.0	8 8.0	1 2.0
2	SLO 573	ZBOGAR Vasilij (SLOVZ)	Medal Race	76.00	91.00	3 3.0	2 2.0	12 12.0	9 18.0
3	GBR 11	WRIGHT Edward (GBREW3)	Medal Race	77.00	179.00	13 13.0	7 7.0	6 6.0	6 12.0
4	FRA 112	LOBERT Jonathan (FRAJL23)	Medal Race	91.00	112.00	5 5.0	21 21.0	18 18.0	3 6.0
5	CRO 524	KLJAKOVIC GASPIC Ivan (CROIK3)	Medal Race	95.00	197.00	8 8.0	1 1.0	5 5.0	7 14.0
6	GBR 85	MILLS Andrew (GBRAM55)	Medal Race	105.00	151.00	46 46.0	4 4.0	1 1.0	8 16.0
7	FRA 29	LE BRETON Thomas (FRATL1)	Medal Race	114.00	216.00	34 34.0	8 8.0	7 7.0	2 4.0
8	NED 842	POSTMA Pieter Jan (NEDPP1)	Medal Race	116.00	164.00	2 2.0	38 38.0	2 2.0	5 10.0
9	HUN 40	BERECZ Zsombor (HUNZB1)	Medal Race	127.00	229.00	23 23.0	3 3.0	22 22.0	10 20.0
10	NZL 16	MURDOCH Andrew (NZLAM4)	Medal Race	135.00	171.00	20 20.0	23 23.0	4 4.0	4 8.0
11	GBR 88	ANDREWS Mark (GBRMA18)	FIN/FINN	138.00	240.00	17 17.0	11 11.0	16 16.0		SCP 11.0
12	SWE 6	ALLANSSON Bjorn (SWEBA4)	FIN/FINN	154.00	194.00	18 18.0	20 20.0	26 26.0		SCP 40.0
13	NZL 24	JUNIOR Josh (NZLJJ1)	FIN/FINN	162.00	264.00	7 7.0	54 54.0	14 14.0		SCP 12.0
14	SWE 33	SALMINEN Max (SWEMS11)	FIN/FINN	163.00	265.00	9 9.0	53 53.0	10 10.0		SCP 16.0
15	AUS 41	LILLEY Jake (AUSJL12)	FIN/J	184.00	286.00	4 4.0	33 33.0	25 25.0		SCP 18.0
16	GRE 77	MITAKIS Ioannis (GREIM3)	FIN/FINN	202.00	304.00	29 29.0	5 5.0	19 19.0		SCP 15.0
17	ITA 146	PAOLETTI Michele (ITAMP5)	FIN/FINN	204.00	245.00	6 6.0	10 10.0	34 34.0		SCP 23.0
18	URU 301	FOGLIA Alejandro (URUAF1)	FIN/FINN	218.00	320.00	14 14.0	6 6.0	9 9.0		SCP 26.0
19	BRA 109	ZARIF Jorge (BRAJZ4)	FIN/J	223.00	325.00	11 11.0	40 40.0	3 3.0		SCP 32.0
20	FIN 218	NIRKKO Tapio (FINTN1)	FIN/FINN	229.00	288.00	16 16.0	59 59.0	51 51.0		SCP 17.0
21	CRO 69	VUJASINOVIC Milan (CROMV2)	FIN/FINN	232.00	334.00	33 33.0	22 22.0	13 13.0		SCP 37.0
22	ITA 66	VOLOLINI Enrico (ITAEV14)	FIN/FINN	252.00	354.00	30 30.0	25 25.0	11 11.0		SCP 52.0
23	DEN 4	BENDIX Mads (DENMB4)	FIN/FINN	253.00	307.00	36 36.0	29 29.0	17 17.0		SCP 41.0
24	EST 2	KARPAK Deniss (ESTDK1)	FIN/FINN	256.00	358.00	BFD 102.0	15 15.0	23 23.0		SCP 13.0
25	ITA 117	POGGI Giorgio (ITAGP5)	FIN/FINN	263.00	319.00	26 26.0	56 56.0	15 15.0		SCP 30.0
26	AUS 261	TWEDDELL Oliver (AUSOT1)	FIN/FINN	272.00	374.00	10 10.0	30 30.0	32 32.0		SCP 28.0
27	POR 5	MELO Frederico (PORFP1)	FIN/FINN	277.00	379.00	19 19.0	13 13.0	33 33.0		SCP 49.0
28	ESP 7	MUSCAT Alejandro (ESPAM21)	FIN/FINN	286.00	341.00	43 43.0	43 43.0	27 27.0		SCP 25.0
29	TUR 21	KAYNAR Alican (TURAK2)	FIN/FINN	286.00	388.00	21 21.0	17 17.0	41 41.0		SCP 20.0
30	GBR 91	CORNISH Ben (GBRBC35)	FIN/FINN	289.00	356.00	22 22.0	35 35.0	28 28.0		SCP 38.0
31	ESP 8	GUITIAN SARRIA Pablo (ESPRA2)	FIN/FINN	296.00	398.00	12 12.0	9 9.0	29 29.0		SCP 24.0
32	NOR 1	PEDERSEN Anders (NORAP2)	FIN/J	302.00	362.00	25 25.0	60 60.0	38 38.0		SCP 19.0
33	GBR 29	MC COY Peter (GBRPM40)	FIN/J	307.00	378.00	31 31.0	64 64.0	20 20.0		SCP 39.0
34	GER 259	KASUSKE Philip (GERPK18)	FIN/J	318.00	379.00	27 27.0	49 49.0	61 61.0		SCP 45.0
35	SLO 5	VINCEC Gasper (SLOGV1)	FIN/FINN	318.00	374.00	32 32.0	42 42.0	21 21.0		SCP 35.0
36	POL 17	KULA Piotr (POLPK6)	FIN/FINN	330.00	432.00	24 24.0	26 26.0	BFD 102.0		SCP 27.0
37	CZE 85	VIKA Tomas (CZETV1)	FIN/FINN	335.00	396.00	15 15.0	27 27.0	40 40.0		SCP 29.0
38	ITA 123	BALDASSARI Filippo (ITAFB31)	FIN/FINN	351.00	453.00	41 41.0	39 39.0	44 44.0		SCP 22.0
39	CRO 1	OLUJIC Josip (CROJO01)	FIN/FINN	394.00	478.00	44 44.0	84 84.0	43 43.0		SCP 60.0
40	BRA 1	PRADA Bruno (BRABP1)	FIN/FINN	414.00	489.00	38 38.0	12 12.0	48 48.0		SCP 21.0
41	RUS 1	SELIANOV Alexey (RUSAS8)	FIN/FINN	415.00	517.00	BFD 102.0	57 57.0	56 56.0		SCP 46.0
42	POL 111	MARCINIAK Jakub (POLJM5)	FIN/J	419.00	521.00	28 28.0	DSQj 102.0	BFD 102.0		SCP 33.0
43	RUS 9	SKORNYAKOV Eduard (RUSES2)	FIN/FINN	437.00	518.00	45 45.0	81 81.0	71 71.0		SCP 44.0
44	GBR 87	CHILDS Paul (GBRPC31)	FIN/FINN	459.00	525.00	63 63.0	34 34.0	64 64.0		SCP 47.0
45	ESP 161	FERNANDES VASCO Miguel (ESPMF11)	FIN/FINN	461.00	526.00	49 49.0	63 63.0	62 62.0		SCP 51.0
46	CRO 7	BILIC Tudor (CROTB4)	FIN/FINN	468.00	545.00	37 37.0	77 77.0	55 55.0		SCP 43.0
47	CRO 52	BUGARIN Nenad (CRONB3)	FIN/J	470.00	572.00	58 58.0	58 58.0	36 36.0		SCP 34.0
48	TUR 211	ALICAN Basegmez (TURAB9)	FIN/FINN	470.00	556.00	40 40.0	86 86.0	37 37.0		SCP 56.0
49	RUS 6	KISTANOV Arkadiy (RUSAK48)	FIN/J	485.00	587.00	71 71.0	44 44.0	31 31.0		SCP 58.0
50	EST 11	VAINSALU Lauri (ESTLV11)	FIN/FINN	490.00	567.00	67 67.0	46 46.0	74 74.0		SCP 14.0
51	RUS 57	TERPIGOREV Egor (RUSET1)	FIN/FINN	500.00	602.00	39 39.0	28 28.0	BFD 102.0		SCP 31.0
52	POL 13	JODLOWSKI Michal (POLMJ1)	FIN/FINN	504.00	606.00	42 42.0	48 48.0	39 39.0		SCP 42.0
53	DEN 23	BOIDIN Martin (DENMB8)	FIN/FINN	509.00	581.00	65 65.0	16 16.0	49 49.0		SCP 50.0
54	RUS 8	KORSHIKOV Anatoly (RUSAK12)	FIN/J	511.00	613.00	52 52.0	18 18.0	57 57.0		SCP 53.0
55	FRA 177	PIC Fabian (FRAFP16)	FIN/J	513.00	615.00	56 56.0	62 62.0	46 46.0		SCP 65.0
56	ITA 214	BEVILACQUA Riccardo (ITARB31)	FIN/J	514.00	616.00	51 51.0	67 67.0	68 68.0		SCP 67.0
57	UKR 5	GUSENKO Andriy (UKRAG4)	FIN/FINN	517.00	588.00	50 50.0	71 71.0	42 42.0		SCP 48.0
58	POL 1	WOJEWSKI Milosz (POLMW14)	FIN/FINN	521.00	623.00	BFD 102.0	47 47.0	35 35.0		SCP 36.0
59	ESP 112	ROS MARTINEZ Fernando (ESPFR13)	FIN/FINN	524.00	604.00	80 80.0	24 24.0	24 24.0		SCP 73.0
60	NOR 16	BRODTKORB Lars (NORLB8)	FIN/J	531.00	626.00	48 48.0	95 95.0	53 53.0		SCPj 75.0
61	TUR 1	GOZEN CEM (TURCG5)	FIN/FINN	536.00	638.00	BFD 102.0	31 31.0	45 45.0		SCP 63.0
62	GBR 18	HADDEN James (GBRJH86)	FIN/FINN	538.00	640.00	57 57.0	37 37.0	58 58.0		SCP 55.0
63	GBR 23	BRIDDON Harry (GBRHB32)	FIN/J	549.00	651.00	62 62.0	51 51.0	60 60.0		SCP 59.0
64	ESP 500	ARANZUEQUE TORMO Jose Alejandro (ESPJA6)	FIN/FINN	558.00	635.00	47 47.0	32 32.0	50 50.0		SCP 77.0
65	ITA 747	FERRARESE Simone (ITASF2)	FIN/FINN	559.00	661.00	66 66.0	36 36.0	30 30.0		SCP 74.0
66	CZE 1	MAIER Michael (CZEMM1)	FIN/FINN	579.00	651.00	72 72.0	65 65.0	47 47.0		SCP 54.0
67	IRL 4	HAMILTON Ross (IRLRH18)	FIN/FINN	593.00	695.00	70 70.0	76 76.0	52 52.0		SCP 57.0
68	GER 252	MARTENS Eike (GEREM6)	FIN/FINN	613.00	698.00	73 73.0	85 85.0	72 72.0		SCP 64.0
69	GER 25	KOHLHOFF Max (GERMK35)	FIN/J	619.00	697.00	68 68.0	73 73.0	67 67.0		SCP 71.0
70	NZL 111	PURDIE Karl (NZLKP01)	FIN/FINN	622.00	724.00	61 61.0	90 90.0	86 86.0		SCP 61.0
71	POL 16	MIKOLAJ Lahn (POLML5)	FIN/J	622.00	724.00	35 35.0	50 50.0	59 59.0		SCP 68.0
72	RUS 11	KIRILL Luzan (RUSKL6)	FIN/J	632.00	719.00	54 54.0	69 69.0	66 66.0		SCPj 87.0
73	USA 21	LAMPHERE Gordon (USAGL12)	FIN/FINN	637.00	727.00	55 55.0	45 45.0	69 69.0		SCPj 90.0
74	FRA 75	HAY Laurent (FRALH5)	FIN/FINN	667.00	761.00	59 59.0	94 94.0	78 78.0		SCP 66.0
75	FRA 89	MONTAGUT Benjamin (FRAAP19)	FIN/FINN	680.00	760.00	60 60.0	80 80.0	76 76.0		SCP 62.0
76	AUS 22	MC MILLAN Joe (AUSJM34)	FIN/J	698.00	800.00	53 53.0	74 74.0	65 65.0		SCPe 102.0
77	ARG 1	FALASCA Santiago (ARGSF1)	FIN/J	703.00	786.00	79 79.0	70 70.0	80 80.0		SCPj 78.0
78	BUL 855	VANGELOV Dimitar (BULDV1)	FIN/J	718.00	820.00	83 83.0	75 75.0	79 79.0		SCP 69.0
79	ITA 975	VONGHER Alessandro (ITAAV36)	FIN/FINN	719.00	810.00	78 78.0	DNEj 102.0	70 70.0		SCP 70.0
80	NED 972	KIRSCHBAUM Tobias (NEDTK3)	FIN/J	744.00	846.00	BFD 102.0	66 66.0	81 81.0		SCPj 72.0
81	USA 11	TOTH Philip (USAPT14)	FIN/FINN	746.00	848.00	74 74.0	68 68.0	85 85.0		SCPj 89.0
82	CRO 6	LOVROVIC Dan (CRODL1)	FIN/FINN	753.00	855.00	BFD 102.0	55 55.0	63 63.0		SCPe 102.0
83	EST 12	KINKAR Martti (ESTMK1)	FIN/FINN	765.00	855.00	82 82.0	52 52.0	82 82.0		SCP 80.0
84	GER 713	HAVERLAND Lars (GERLH8)	FIN/FINN	768.00	856.00	76 76.0	78 78.0	73 73.0		SCP 76.0
85	RUS 27	KOTLYAROV Denis (RUSDK17)	FIN/J	769.00	871.00	DNS 102.0	61 61.0	77 77.0		D+SC 102.0
86	USA 40	LAURENCE Luke (USALL38)	FIN/FINN	770.00	872.00	DNS 102.0	19 19.0	54 54.0		SCPe 102.0
87	ITA 83	SAVIO Matteo (ITAMS93)	FIN/J	774.00	863.00	75 75.0	82 82.0	83 83.0		SCPj 83.0
88	FRA 99	ALLAIN DES BEAUVAIS Marc (FRAMA15)	FIN/FINN	784.00	886.00	77 77.0	87 87.0	88 88.0		SCP 81.0
89	ESP 755	GOROSTEGUI Arce (ESPVG1)	FIN/FINN	803.00	905.00	64 64.0	DNF 102.0	75 75.0		SCP 79.0
90	RUS 28	KOTLYAROV Artur (RUSAK4)	FIN/J	808.00	901.00	88 88.0	79 79.0	87 87.0		SCPj 82.0
91	FRA 38	AUDOIN Michel (FRAMA20)	FIN/FINN	810.00	901.00	81 81.0	72 72.0	89 89.0		SCP 86.0
92	FRA 51	LELEU Alec (FRAAL57)	FIN/J	814.00	916.00	69 69.0	41 41.0	90 90.0		SCPj 84.0
93	SUI 63	GAUTSCHI Thomas (SUITG2)	FIN/FINN	870.00	969.00	85 85.0	89 89.0	92 92.0		SCP 88.0
94	FRA 66	LOBERT Philippe (FRAPL26)	FIN/FINN	873.00	969.00	86 86.0	93 93.0	91 91.0		SCP 85.0
95	FRA 84	LOSTIS Jean-pierre (FRAJL77)	FIN/FINN	892.00	994.00	87 87.0	83 83.0	DNF 102.0		SCPj 92.0
96	ITA 191	CATTANEO Alessandro (ITAAC112)	FIN/FINN	908.00	1010.00	84 84.0	88 88.0	84 84.0		SCPe 102.0
97	RUS 1117	BILL Andrew (RUSAB34)	FIN/FINN	909.00	1011.00	89 89.0	91 91.0	96 96.0		SCPe 102.0
98	FRA 897	REGOUT Bruno (BELBR2)	FIN/FINN	919.00	1018.00	90 90.0	97 97.0	95 95.0		SCP 93.0
99	GBR 631	HART Richard (GBRRH18)	FIN/FINN	922.00	1024.00	91 91.0	96 96.0	94 94.0		SCPe 102.0
100	RUS 88	ANANGEV Alexandr (RUSAA14)	FIN/J	924.00	1026.00	DNS 102.0	92 92.0	93 93.0		SCPj 91.0
101	USA 2	HEIMLER Charles (USACH25)	FIN/FINN	957.00	1059.00	92 92.0	DNC 102.0	DNC 102.0		SCPe 102.0

Penalties and redress : 160 (55 BFD; 1 D+S; 2 DNC; 1 DNE; 5 DNF; 5 DNS; 1 DSQ; 90 SCP; )

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