Volvo 29er European Championship at the Royal Danish Yacht Club - Overall
by 29er Class & Royal Danish Yacht Club 6 Jul 2022 17:25 AEST
27 June - 5 July 2022
The Volvo 29er European Championships 2022 in Rungsted has given the sailors a taste of everything - light to medium-strong winds from different directions, flat water, waves, sun, and rain. The only consistent thing has been that the wind was shifty. These challenging conditions have ensured that the winners of this year's Europeans are sailors who can master different conditions and sail with consistency throughout.
Again, on the final day of racing, the sailors got a bit of everything weather-wise in Rungsted. With a sharp 10 am start the sailors began the day with a westerly 15-knot wind and sun. Later, during the last race of the championships the sailors faced rain and more extreme gusty winds.
Uncertainty about actual winner at first
What looked like two solid races and an overall win for the French team with Tom Goron and Mael Clochard, turned out to be accompanied by some extra points due to a UFD in the final race. "We are both disappointed but also happy of course for the silver", says the team just after they realised that their false start cost them the Gold overall. The team still wins the U-17 and European category.
That meant that the New Zealand team of George Lee Rush and Seb Menzies, who first thought they had lost the Gold became the overall winners of the 29er European Championships 2022. "We had a solid event and are happy with our performance, even though our last day wasn't the best. Huge respect for the young French team, they sailed really well here and would have been worthy winners too". The local Danes Jens-Christian Dehn-Toftehøj & Jens-Philip Dehn-Toftehøj defended their third spot during the day, which gives them Bronze overall and Silver in the European rankings. The team were delighted to make it a hat-trick, winning 3 championship medals in a row. GBR Charlie Gran and Sam Jones pick up Bronze in the European overalls after sailing a solid final series.
Spanish girls superior
The Spanish team Sara Momplet Baixauli & Isabel Momplet Baixauli took the win in the female category. "We have been so nervous, we couldn't sleep. Now we are so happy, it went really good. It is a relief but at the same time we want it to carry on, because it has been really, really nice", the team says. They can carry on the championship vibes close to their home waters in Balis for the upcoming 29er World Championship. Second overall female team was Martina Lodos Falcón & Martina Díaz-Salguero, also from Spain. They also take the first spot in the U-17 female category. Third spot in the overall female fleet went to the Austrian team with Seisia Mair & Stella Hurley.
Mini Impact league Winner
The Royal Danish Yacht Club and the 29er European Championship teamed up with Danish SailGP team for an extra prize to win - the Mini Impact League. Elisa Lindskog and Felicia Fernström from Sweden were assessed to have had the most sustainable impact and contributed with some great ideas on how the sailing world can continue to have a more positive impact on the environment - their prize will be tickets for a behind the scene experience at the ROCkWOOL Copenhagen Sail GP Grand Prix in August.
Overall Results:
1: NZL 3025 George Lee Rush & Seb Menzies, 64 points
2: FRA 2901 Tom Goron & Mael Clochard, 72 points
3: DEN 3 Jens-Christian Dehn-Toftehøj & Jens-Philip Dehn-Toftehøj, 82 points
Men's Europeans
1: FRA 2901 Tom Goron & Mael Clochard, 72 points
2: DEN 3 Jens-Christian Dehn-Toftehøj & Jens-Philip Dehn-Toftehøj, 82 points
3: GBR 3260 Charlie Gran & Sam Jones
Women's European
1: ESP 2984 Sara Momplet Baixauli & Isabel Momplet Baixauli
2: ESP 3074: Martina Lodos Falcón & Martina Díaz-Salguero
3: AUS 3286: Seisia Mair & Stella Hurley
Top-non European
1: NZL 3025 George Lee Rush & Seb Menzies
2: HKG 3055; Casey Law & Jack Dingemans
3: USA 311: Fynn Olsen & Pierce Olsen
Best U-17 male
1: FRA 2901 Tom Goron & Mael Clochard
2: ITA 3231 Mosè Bellomi & Pietro Berti
3: GBR 2849 Finn Morris & Oscar Morgan-Harris
Best U-17 female
1: ESP 3074: Martina Lodos Falcón & Martina Díaz-Salguero
2: GER 2957: Finja Waldheuer & Anna-Maria Rissanen
3: HKG 2748: Juliette Clot & Tiffany Mak
Nations Cup
Spain