Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain

Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain - Day 5

by Robert Deaves 16 Mar 2018 22:35 PDT 9-17 March 2018

Spectacular finish to Race 8 - 2018 Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain © Robert Deaves

Both Nicholas Heiner, from the Netherlands, and Edward Wright, from Britain, are guaranteed medals at the Open and U23 Finn Europeans in Cadiz after the final day of the Opening Series on Friday. The conditions were again exceptional, with Briton, Ben Cornish, winning another race, while Swedish world champion, Max Salminen, moved up to third, with just the medal race to sail.

In the U23 championship, Nils Theuninck, from Switzerland, returns to the lead, holding a one-point lead over defending champion Henry Wetherell, from Britain. Third placed Ondrej Teply, from Czech Republic, is 34 points adrift.

Nils Theuninck hold a one-point lead in the U23 Championship - 2018 Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain - photo © Robert Deaves

The day started with heavy rain, and then a postponement as the skies cleared and the sun made a welcome appearance. Three races were scheduled but after the late start, and then a delay in starting the first race, it meant that only one race was added to the scoresheet – the re-sail of the abandoned Race 8 from Thursday.

Victor Gorostegui leads round the top mark - 2018 Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain - photo © Robert Deaves

But the conditions were exceptional again with a great breeze, huge waves, some much needed sunshine and a spectacular roller coaster reach to the finish as 3-4 metre waves swept the fleet down to the line.

Getting underway in 12-14 knots, the fleet rounded the top mark pretty tight with Victor Gorostegui, of Spain, leading round from Deniss Karpak, of Estonia and Alican Kaynar, of Turkey. Karpak led at the gate but then it all changed again on the second upwind with USA's Caleb Paine leading round from Nenad Bugarin, from Croatia and Tapio Nirkko, from Finland.

Finishing Race 8 in style - 2018 Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain - photo © Robert Deaves

Cornish rounded fourth and passed all three downwind to record his third race win in a row. Paine crossed second with Bugarin third.

With the time limit set at 16.00, the race committee did a great job setting up fast and firing the first warning signal just after 15.45. However the fleet was too keen and two general recalls later, time had run out and the fleet was sent back to the harbour.

Downwind in Race 8 - 2018 Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain - photo © Robert Deaves

Cornish was philosophical about his win after the previous day's race win had been scrubbed.

"It was nice to get out there and put right what went wrong yesterday. I was a bit disappointed that the race got thrown out yesterday. But it was nice to go out with a clear head and go and get another race win."

He was about 20th round the first mark, but then, had "a good first downwind and I seemed to hit every shift up the second beat which gave me a good chance down the last run. I managed to slide my way down for the win."

"It's such a shame we didn't get the last race in with such nice conditions. But as it comes to the end of the week everyone is desperate for something and just pushes harder and harder."

Salminen also had mixed feelings about the abandoned race, where he placed sixth.

"It's been an amazing last two days with really big waves and the sun finally came out with nice medium wind, and it's been going good."

"Yesterday we had some big rain clouds coming through that shifted things around a bit, but I am really happy with my speed and my performance overall. Then we had a little hairy second race yesterday that finally got kicked out and I placed sixth in that race, and that was bothering me last night. Then I came back today and actually scored better, at least compared to the guys around me on the scoreboard. So that feels really good."

He placed seventh today and goes into the medal race in the bronze medal position, but he knows he still has a fight on his hands with four sailors capable of taking it away from him.

"It's really pleasing to be up there. Unfortunately first and second is out of reach which is a shame but that didn't happen today, that happened on the first two days. But I am pleased with my sailing towards the end."

Start of Race 8 - 2018 Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain - photo © Robert Deaves

One of those who will challenge him in the medal race is the 2013 world champion, Jorge Zarif, from Brazil.

"I think this week has been a really good week. I had really bad starts but I played the right sides so I had consistent results, which has put me in sixth overall, and I hope I can do something well in the medal race tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it. I have to pass three guys but the maths is possible so let's see."

Nicholas Heiner has led from Day 1, and needs to be within two boats of Wright to secure his first Finn championship title.

He described the day, "Eventually the wind kicked in really quickly and it was another nice sailing day. It was really patchy for the first race and really tricky conditions. I didn't have the speed upwind so I got buried a little bit, but luckily I had the speed downwind and I knew I had to put it down on the last run to secure points on Ed, who was in front of me, I was really happy to at least get one decent result in today and it's all on tomorrow."

But he won't be happy with anything but gold.

"I have a five point lead and am guaranteed a medal, but I have been leading all week and we want to finish that way for sure. It's another yacht race tomorrow and only ten boats and a massive forecast so I think it will be good fun and a lot of action."

Ed Wright - 2018 Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain - photo © Robert Deaves

There will be two races going on inside the medal race. Gold and silver will go to Heiner or Wright, while five sailors are in the mix for the bronze. Seventh placed Cornish is only 13 points adrift and after his performance the last two days, who would write off a second Europeans bronze medal in a row.

Josh Junior faces mountainous seas - 2018 Finn European Championship at Cádiz, Spain - photo © Robert Deaves

The forecast is so bad for Saturday that the medal race has been brought forward to 09.30 in an attempt to get racing in before the wind really kicks in. Even then the forecast for 09.00 is for strong wind from 25-30 knots. The final race for the rest has been rescheduled for 10.30.

If the sailors get the chance to race it should be an awesome battle.

Results after Day 5: (eight races, 1 discard)

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Pts
1	NED 89	Nicholas HEINER	EZVA ALMERE	1	7	2	1	17	5	12	14	42
2	GBR 11	Edward WRIGHT	PARKSTONE YC	9	1	5	7	20	3	5	17	47
3	SWE 33	Max SALMINEN	GKSS	31	18	1	5	11	2	23	7	67
4	USA 6	Caleb PAINE	SAINT FRANCIS MBYC RYC	3	10	61	19	15	12	6	2	67
5	NZL 24	Josh JUNIOR	WBBC	6	43	4	4	25	9	4	19	71
6	BRA 109	Jorge ZARIF		17	14	22	3	9	10	7	15	75
7	GBR 91	Ben CORNISH	EXE SAILING CLUB	29	31	7	BFD	7	4	1	1	80
8	FRA 112	Jonathan LOBERT	SRR	4	34	9	16	1	8	15	BFD	87
9	CRO 1	Olujic JOSIP	JK LABUD	26	66	28	10	8	11	2	6	91
10	GRE 77	Ioannis MITAKIS	Y.C.G.	37	5	26	6	4	14	10	29	94
11	NZL 61	Andy MALONEY	RNZYS	12	15	24	29	12	20	3	10	96
12	SUI 1	Nils THEUNINCK	Gstaad Yatch Club	33	3	8	25	3	35	17	12	101
13	FIN 218	Tapio NIRKKO	EPS	47	16	10	11	24	21	16	4	102
14	GBR 71	Henry WETHERELL	BEAVER SAILING CLUB	19	6	21	39	6	7	11	32	102
15	EST 2	Deniss KARPAK	SK KST	20	45	3	14	14	13	45	5	114
16	CRO 52	Bugarin NENAD	JK LABUD	BFD	33	23	9	18	16	14	3	116
17	TUR 21	Alican KAYNAR	FENERBAHCE DOGUS YELKEN	7	41	40	8	2	19	34	11	121
18	ESP 17	Pablo GUITIAN	Centro Náutico Elcano	15	42	6	13	22	23	20	23	122
19	CZE 5	Ondrej TEPLY	JACHTKLUB BRNO	10	28	11	BFD	10	6	50	21	136
20	CRO 369	Milan VUJASINOVIC	S.C. SPLIT	25	13	13	21	13	24	49	33	142
21	CAN 18	Tom RAMSHAW	SLYC/RCYC	22	17	15	2	BFD	31	38	30	155
22	ARG 48	Facundo OLEZZA	CVB	STP	19	19	23	BFD	32	41	18	155
23	NOR 1	Anders PEDERSEN	DDROBAKSUND YATCH CLUB	24	60	36	12	BFD	15	8	9	164
24	GER 259	Phillip KASUESKE	VSAW	52	4	30	17	21	27	22	BFD	173
25	ITA 59	Alessio SPADONI	CC ANIENE	36	20	31	31	5	30	52	20	173
26	AUS 261	Oliver TWEDDELL	SYC/SSCBC	5	46	38	26	26	22	72	16	179
27	FIN 8	Oskari MUHONEN	ESPOON PURSISEURA	23	2	BFD	33	36	26	47	13	180
28	POL 17	Piotr KULA	GKZ GDANSK	8	21	52	18	32	28	BFD	22	181
29	USA 91	Luke MULLER	SAINT FRANCIS YATCH CLUB	39	22	14	24	23	33	31	BFD	186
30	POL 16	Mikolaj LAHN	UKZ WIKING TORUM	18	12	59	20	39	DNF	26	25	199
31	FRA 17	Fabian PIC	PFV	40	48	17	30	27	18	19	BFD	199
32	RUS 1	Egor TERPIGOREV	FANTASTICA S/T CSKA	21	9	63	46	BFD	29	9	26	203
33	RUS 73	Vladimir KRUTSKIKH	FANTASTICA	43	11	18	37	37	45	30	38	214
34	IRL 9	Oisin MCCLELLAND	DSC/BYC	14	44	27	40	34	36	27	BFD	222
35	GBR 96	Hector SIMPSON	YORKSHIRE DALES SC	49	59	47	22	19	17	18	BFD	231
36	SWE 11	Johannes PETTERSSON	ROYAL SWEDISH YATCH CLUB	41	50	12	27	31	40	46	37	234
37	GER 25	Max KOHLHOFF	NORDDEUTSCHER REGATTA VEREIN	11	26	BFD	15	28	39	BFD	31	242
38	ESP 7	Alejandro MUSCAT	Club Nàutic Garraf	34	40	32	RET	16	25	BFD	8	247
39	NZL 64	Brendan MCCARTY	KERIKERI CRUISING CLUB	30	24	29	49	45	46	32	42	248
40	FIN 225	Mikael HYRYLÄINEN	NJK	73	29	45	42	49	43	13	28	249
41	DEN 24	André HØJEN CHRISTIANSEN	SNV	35	62	46	38	44	37	21	36	257
42	UKR 4	Gusenko ANDRII		56	38	BFD	36	46	34	24	34	268
43	AUS 32	Jock CALVERT	ROYAL YATCH CLUB OF TASMANIA	46	32	48	34	50	55	37	45	292
44	EST 1	Taavi Valter TAVETER	PÄRNU YATCH CLUB	STP	30	73	53	38	48	25	48	296
45	ESP 57	Victor GOROSTEGUI	Real Club Marítimo de Santander	50	58	25	47	47	51	68	24	302
46	AUS 1	Jake LILLEY	RQYS	28	39	16	BFD	BFD	1	39	DNC	307
47	GER 595	Simon GORGELS	DEUTSCHER TOURING YATCH CLUB	77	68	54	STP	30	52	35	44	319
48	FRA 9	Guillaume BOISARD	CLUB NAUTIQUE DE SAINTE-MAXIME	16	54	69	41	43	58	43	BFD	324
49	RUS 14	Mikhail YATSUN	KRASNOSDAR	42	37	20	56	62	65	42	BFD	324
50	GBR 98	Cameron TWEEDLE	WPNSA	66	77	42	44	51	44	36	46	329
51	GBR 38	Callum DIXON	DOCKLANDS SAILING & AMP	71	78	56	28	33	56	64	27	335
52	FRA 93	Antoine DEVINEAU	SNO NANTES	38	57	49	BFD	29	50	29	BFD	344
53	AUS 41	Lewis BRAKE	RQYS	84	53	79	48	53	38	51	35	357
54	ESP 26	Joan CARDONA MENDEZ	RCN Palma	13	DNE	37	32	35	59	DNC	DNC	360
55	CZE 1	Michael MAIER	JMJ	BFD	65	44	43	40	42	54	DNC	380
56	SLO 11	Liam OREL	JADRALNI KLUB JADRO KOPER	58	49	35	67	57	62	57	BFD	385
57	ESP 117	Carlos ORDÓÑEZ	Club Vela Blanes	60	35	57	57	60	67	76	51	387
58	ESP 575	Jorge NAVARRO RIOS	Real Club Nautico Valencia	54	55	67	54	54	63	59	49	388
59	GBR 81	James SKULCZUK	MYC/WPNSA	85	86	41	BFD	42	71	40	40	405
60	POR 51	Filipe SILVA	CIMAV	55	27	51	72	70	DNC	78	54	407
61	SLO 99	Jan OREL	JADRALNI KLUB JADRO KOPER	74	75	43	50	69	49	BFD	50	410
62	SWE 5	Fredrik TEGNHED	KARLSTAD KAPPSEGLINEGS KLUBB	59	51	50	65	63	66	62	60	410
63	CYP 1	Panagiotis IORDANOU	LIMASSOL NAUTICAL CLUB	STP	8	60	69	DNC	DNC	75	43	411
64	FIN 118	Waltteri MOISIO	EPS	44	69	66	62	56	60	77	55	412
65	GBR 703	Markus BETTUM	GURNARD SAILING CLUB	82	82	81	55	48	47	63	41	417
66	RUS 4	Evgenii DEEV	CSKA SEVASTOPOL	BFD	52	BFD	51	41	61	33	BFD	422
67	BRA 177	Andre MIRSKY	IATE CLUBE DO RIO DE JANEIRO	48	STP	70	68	59	DNC	53	52	422
68	POL 52	Krzysztof STROMSKI	YCREWA	68	81	77	58	75	53	55	39	425
69	TUR 35	Can AKDURAK	TURKISH SAILING FEDETARION	32	56	39	DNE	DNC	DNC	28	BFD	431
70	HKG 8	James DAGGE	RHKYC	72	73	68	64	52	57	66	53	432
71	IRI 1	Ahmad AHMADI		76	63	33	76	74	69	60	58	433
72	ESP 182	Alvaro BALLESTEROS MTNEZ. DE LA CAMARA	Real Club Náutico Motril	65	70	34	STP	73	DNC	61	64	447
73	GBR 581	Alex ATKINS	CHRISTCHURCH SAILING CLUB	64	25	71	80	77	DNF	69	63	449
74	BER 9	Rockal EVANS	ROYAL BERMUDA YATCH CLUB	62	80	76	52	DNE	41	48	BFD	451
75	ESP 527	Alvaro SOBRAL LUSQUIÑOS	Real Club Náutico de La Coruña	67	72	62	66	68	DNF	65	56	456
76	RUS 6	Arkadii KISTANOV	KHLEBNIKOVO	27	23	BFD	45	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	463
77	AUS 69	John ALEXANDER	RPAYC/RORC/SYC	61	47	65	81	DNS	DNC	70	59	475
78	GBR 28	Jack ARNELL	CHRISTCHURCH SAILING CLUB	STP	67	53	DNS	DNC	DNC	67	47	476
79	ESP 888	Andrés Ivan LLORET PEREZ	CN EL CAMPELLO	51	83	80	60	61	54	DNC	DNC	481
80	POL 12	Oskar ADAMIAK	CHKZ CHOJNICE	69	36	55	75	66	DNF	DNC	DNC	485
81	AUT 1	Moritz SPITZAUER	UYCNS	79	84	82	71	67	72	56	61	488
82	RUS 41	Felix DENIKAEV	FANTASTICA	87	74	58	73	65	DNC	44	BFD	493
83	UKR 69	Sergii MALIUTA	BLACK SEA YATCH CLUN ODESSA	75	61	72	59	55	DNF	79	BFD	493
84	POL 73	Andrzej ROMANOWSKI	AZS POZNAN	78	DNF	BFD	70	64	64	71	57	496
85	SUI 86	Piet ECKERT	ZSC/RCNV	45	76	75	63	58	DNC	DNC	DNC	501
86	ESP 114	David ORDÓÑEZ	Club Vela Blanes	80	64	83	STP	76	70	80	66	515
87	SWE 61	Mikael NILSSON	UPPSALA KANOTFÖRENING	83	DNC	BFD	61	71	68	74	DNC	541
88	SVK 21	Michal HRIVNAK	TJ SLAVIA STU BRATISLAVA	81	85	84	DNF	DNC	DNC	58	65	557
89	ESP 99	Gerardo SEELIGER	Real Club Náutico de Barcelona	88	87	74	STP	72	DNS	73	RET	561
90	ESP 337	Miguel Ángel CABRERIZO MORALES	Real Club Náutico Motril	70	88	78	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	62	574
91	ESP 313	Antonio PARRA	Real Club Náutico de La Coruña	86	79	64	77	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	582