8mR World Championship - Hollandia victorious in Helsinki

by 8mR Worlds on 6 Aug 2013 Following nine intense races at the 8mR World Championship, Hollandia NED-1 claimed victory in Helsinki. The title in Sira Cup was claimed by Raven CAN-25, in Coppa d’Italia by Hollandia again, in Neptune fleet by Falcon K-20 and in First Rule fleet by Elfe II H-9.

Helsingfors Segelsällskap, as the organizing club on island Liuskasaari in Helsinki delivered great racing in beautiful surroundings and with a warm welcome ashore for the teams.

Hollandia NED-1 owned by Ruud van Hilst took control of the event on day one and sailed a consistent series to beat of rivals Yquem II SUI-2 owned by Jean Fabre and Lafayette GBR-2 owned by Murdoch Mc Killop. Hollandia’s 1-2-2-1-1-(3)-1-2-2 series with 10 points in total shows its persistent and stabile sailing through the week in different conditions. Saturday’s final race was sailed in light conditions where the second and third positions were found out. Yquem II claimed victory in this final race which jumped him up to second position with 17 equal points with Lafayette, which finished third today and put him into third. Top three boats were showing their superior sailing on modern boats as the difference between the third and fourth position was 18 points.

The same top three remained also in Coppa d’Italia, but only one point difference between second and third position.

The winner of the classics in Sira Cup was clear already before the final race on Saturday. After wight races completed Raven CAN-25 helmed by Brian Gooderham could have been skipped the ninth race as secured the leader position already before that. The series 5-5-5-3-4-5-4-4-(10) with 30 points in total was enough to claim the title of World Champion. 13 points behind from the winner claimed the second position Finnish Luna FIN-17 with Harri Roschier in helm. The battle between the third and fourth position ended up with equal 62 points. Even Finnish Silja FIN-9 helmed by Nathalie Ahlström was finishing right before Sira N-33 helmed by H.M King Harald V of Norway in final race, it did not gave him that much advantage to jump up to the third position. Bronze medal was claimed by Sira in tough competition with Silja.

In Neptune fleet Falcon K-20 owned by Jan Willem Ypma was ending up with his firm lead in style – 2-1-1-1-1-(4)-1-1-1 series and eight points in total did not leave very much choices for the boats following. The battle between second and third position was solved in final race. As Anne Sophie GER-15 owned by Hanns-Georg Klein was finishing before Aun in this race, it gave them one point advantage before Aun J-1 owned by Yutaka Kobayashi.

The only competitor in fleet First Rule Elfe II H-9 owned by Andi Lochbrunner, did not compete on Saturday anymore, but claimed the victory sailing in style with his gaff boat.

Great and successful event ended up with a hilarious prize giving ceremony and festive dinner at Helsingfors Segelsällskap on island Liuskasaari, Helsinki.

Top three boats in overall after nine races:

1st Modern - Coppa d´Italia - Hollandia NED-1 - RNCYC - Ruud Van Hilst (NED) 1-2-2-1-1-(3)-1-2-2 = 12 points
2nd Modern - Coppa d´Italia Yquem II SUI-2 - SNG – Jean FABRE (SUI) 4-3-1-(28DNF)-3-1-3-1-1 = 16 points
2nd Modern - Coppa d´Italia – Lafayette GBR-2 - RNC - Murdoch McKillop (GBR) 2-1RDG-(3)-2-2-2-2-3-3 = 17 Full results

Top three boats in Sira Cup after nine races:

1st Sira Cup - Raven CAN-25 – RCYC – Brian Gooderham (CAN) (5)-5-5-3-4-5-4-4-(10) = 35 points
2nd Sira Cup – Coppa d’Italia – Luna FIN-17 - HSS – Harri Roschier (FIN) 7-6-(8)-5-7-6-5-7-8 = 51 points
3rd Sira Cup - Coppa d´Italia – Sira N-33 - KNS – H.M. King Harald V of Norway (NOR) 6-9-6-4-11-(15)-9-11-6 = 62 Full results

Top three boats in Neptune fleet after nine races:

1st Neptune - Sira Cup – Coppa d’Italia - Falcon K-20 – KNZ&RV – Jan Willem Ypma (NED) 2-1-1-1-1-(4)-1-1-1 = 9 points
2nd Neptune - Sira Cup – Coppa d’Italia – Anne Sophie GER-15 - MYC – Hanns-Georg Klein (GER) 1-(4)-4-4-3-1-2-2-3 = 20 points
3rd Neptune - Sira Cup – Aun J-1 - RNCYC – Yutaka Kobayashi (JPN) 3-2-3-2-2-2-3-(4)-4 = 21 Full results

Top three boats in Coppa d’Italia after nine races:

1st Modern - Coppa d´Italia - Hollandia NED-1 - RNCYC - Ruud Van Hilst (NED) 1-2-2-1-1-(3)-1-2-2 = 12 points
2ndd Modern - Coppa d´Italia - Yquem II SUI-2 - SNG – Jean FABRE (SUI) 3-3-1-(25DNF)-3-1-3-1-1 = 16 points
2nd Modern - Coppa d´Italia – Lafayette GBR-2 - RNC - Murdoch McKillop (GBR) 2-1RDG-(3)-2-2-2-2-3-3 = 17 Full Event website