18ft Skiff European International Championships - Overall

Action from the final day of the 18ft Skiff European International Championships on Lake Garda © Christophe Favreau / www.christophefavreau.book.fr

Action from the final day of the 18ft Skiff European International Championships on Lake Garda © Christophe Favreau / www.christophefavreau.book.fr

The final day of the European International Championships for 18ft skiffs was held in perfect Lake Garda sailing conditions. A little less breeze than the previous two days although the wind did build during the afternoon. Three races were held, the last two of which were shortened to allow the fleet ashore early for those beginning the long journey home.

In the first race the Danish team Fleming Clausen, Thomas Ebler and Soren Clausen on GP Covers, looking to take the European Championship title and Howie Hamlin, Mike Martin and Trent Barnabas on Pegasus Racing, overall series leaders, took advantage of a pin end biased line and started on port tack, crossing almost the entire fleet before hitting the cliffs with a solid lead. Fleming and his team held the advantage until the windward mark but Howie took the lead on the downwind leg and opened up a sizeable gap on the rest of the fleet to take his eighth bullet of the series. After crossing the line the Pegasus team did not drop their kite but sailed directly back to the beach, the series in the bag with two races to spare, counting nothing worse than second place after discards. A truly impeccable display of high performance sailing and boat handling.

Meanwhile the minor placings were all still well up for grabs. Australians John Winning, Andrew Hay and Geoff Bauchop on Yandoo managed to pull through to second place ahead of the flying Danes on GP Covers. However, further down the fleet Grant Rollerson Raphael Grenn and Warren Sare on De Longhi were involved in an incident that was to end their chances of a podium position in the series in the protest room.

In the second race Fleming and his crew on GP Covers had the bit between their teeth, perhaps realising that a podium position in the series as well as the European title was theirs to take. They repeated their port tack flying start and took a lead that they held for the duration of the short two lap race. British boat SELS, (Ed Browne, Andy Fairley and Graham Oliver) followed GP Covers lead to take second place with Yandoo in third.

The final race was sailed in slightly more breeze as the Ora thermal wind reached its maximum. Yandoo took the bullet and with it second place in the European International Championship. Mason Woodworth, David Browne and Simon Hamilton on White Stuff, who had been steadily improving throughout the regatta, came through to second, with GP Covers taking third place, securing them the European title and third overall in the International series. A deserved result and impressive performance from this experienced team. Australian Grant Rollerson and his crew on De Longhi had a nightmare day, but having sailed a very consistent series claimed fourth place overall. The battle for fifth place in the series and first British boat went down to the line between SELS and Peter Barton, Martin Borrett and Ian Turnbull on Barron and Smithers. At the line although SELS took fourth place they were not able to put enough boats between them and Barron and Smithers who with their fifth place took fifth overall.

So ended an extremely successful event at one of the world's greatest sailing venues. Not only did Campione see biggest gathering of 18ft skiffs outside Australia, but also a marked improvement in the quality and standard of the European and UK fleets, providing worthy competition to some of Australia's and the world's top skiff sailors.

Overall Results: