UK Europe Class set for the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
by Jon Tweedle 21 Feb 2022 20:43 AEDT
Stand C22, 26-27 February 2022
Europe sailing in Portland Harbour © Will Loy
The UK Europe Class are absolutely delighted to be once again displaying at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, after an absence of 8 years.
The renaissance of the Class over the last few years has been phenomenal, driven by a young, dynamic Assc Committee and supported by a membership that has to be possibly the most diverse in UK dinghy sailing. With a strategy that's supported sustainable growth at every level of the fleet, the Europes once again secured their place in the 50+ Club at the 2021 Nationals and are looking to increase this further in 2022, with more new boats being launched and other older restorations being completed. Additionally, for the first time in many years there will a full British Team competing at the Europe World Championships at Douarnenez this summer.
The UK Europe Class Stand (C22) will be displaying a 2019 Winner built boat purchased new via Rooster Sailing, along with photo- displays and videos captured during recent years. Apart from the brilliantly light and responsive boat (sail one and you'll understand!), what sets this Class apart from the others is our people and their diverse range of sizes, weights, ages and genders that are fully engaged and competitive. At the 2019 Nationals, 40% of competitors were female, 50% were under 40 years old, age range was 15-70+, and weight range was 50-83Kgs. In 2021, 4 of the Top 7 sailors were female, and boat ages ranged from brand new to 40+ years old!
At the show we're trying to reflect this inclusiveness with our personnel; all will be easily identifiable with their distinctive Class T-Shirts, and more than willing to chat about the boat, the Class, the events and the support the Assc offers, be it advice on kit, techniques or maintenance, repairs and upgrades. The Class Facebook pages "UK Europe Sailors" and "Europe Class Association UK" are great resources to find out more and to make contact with others. Leaflets on the Stand will offer information on the boat and what we have planned for this coming year. For younger sailors (and the not so young also), we have produced a number of posters to adorn the walls of bedrooms and sheds, hopefully to help inspire the next generation of sailors in general, and Europe sailors in particular - just ask the staff on the stand.
With brand new Winner boats, masts and gear being imported by Rooster (G30), and Synergy Marine (C32) about to go into production with their own UK built Europe, there really has never been a more exciting time to be involved in the UK Europe Class.