European 18ft Skiff Grand Prix - Round 4 Day 1

by Andy Richards on 27 Jul 2007 After a fairly light wind affair in Round 3, the European 18ft Skiff Grand Prix turned up to Sonderborg in Denmark to the inevitable rain but nearly 20 knots of breeze.

The event, sponsored by Ullman Sails and GP Covers, is only the second time that the Grand Prix has visited Denmark however a healthy fleet of 15 skiffs have turned up.

Decision of the day was then of course big or small rig - the gusts of wind blowing through the dinghy park had everyone waiting until the last minute, but in the end most of the fleet went big gambling on having the power in the lighter spells. This was to prove eventually the right decision, but not after some fun and games keeping the skiffs upright in the choppy conditions. In race 1, locals and heavyweights GP Covers (DEN) shot off into the lead never to look back. They were chased in vain by the current Grand Prix Series leaders Pindar Radii (GBR), however this team could only focus on keeping the ever improving Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics (GBR) from chasing them down. In the end, the results stood like as that, with GE Commercial Finance (GBR) bringing in 4th.

The second race was a bit more of mixed affair with numerous places changes. The breeze had kicked in a bit sending some teams ashore looking for their small rigs, however the bulk of the fleet hand in there with the big rigs and had a ride of their lives. After the first windard mark and inevitable bear away into the chop, only half a dozen skiffs were left standing in the 20 knots gusts - just keeping the skiff upright would guarantee you a top third result! GP Covers were again out front but this time got hunted down by the GE Commercial team who eventually pulled through to take the gun. UTI (SUI) showed some heavy wind form by taking third, while Gill / Wet and Wild kept up their challenge with a 4th.

The third race was then sailed on a dying breeze as the predicted wind shifted round to the SW and died in the late afternoon. PICA (GBR) and UTI (SUI) were this time at the front fighting it out, however in the end Gill / Wet and Wild managed to split the two on a photo finish. Pindar Radii finished up 4th while the danes Bodatex came in 5th.

Racing continues tomorrow and into Saturday, when its planned that 12 races will have been completed.

Results (after 3 races, no discards, 15 starters):
1st GP Covers (DEN) - 9pts
2nd Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics (GBR) - 9pts
3rd Pindar Radii (GBR)- 12pts
4th UTI (SUI) - 12 pts
5th GE Commercial Finance (GBR) - 13 pts
6th Bodoted (DEN) - 15pts

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Photos by Christophe Favreau http://www.christophefavreau.book.fr