2024 505 Euro Cup in San Raphael - Overall

Podium in the 5o5 Euro Cup event at San Raphael © www.int505.org

The first 505 Europa Cup of 2024 took place at the charming venue of St Raphael in the south of France, hosted by Club Nautique de St Rachael.

The 505 Europa Cup circuit consist of four events over the season, taking us to some exciting and interesting venues. The race track at St Raphael is located in a beautiful Bay, with easy launching from the Club giving a short sail out to the race track.

Many of the 35 teams from 7 countries had arrived early to get some practice in and knock off the winter rust. These teams had ample time to get used to the big breeze that stuck around for the entire event and enjoy the fine food and wine the region is known for.

The racing kicked off on Friday and the fleet were greeted with a building breeze. Starting off in the mid teens and building well in to the twenties with gusts well over 30 knots. For early in the season this was a challenge for many of the teams, but the front of the fleet handled it well. First blood went to the British team of Ian Pinnell crewed by Irish sailor Charles Dywer. While many boats struggled for consistency the USA team of Mike Holt and Rob Woelfel sailing their brand new P&B rigged boat put down the marker with a 3,1,1 first day, opening up a good lead from Mike Daisenberger and Johannes Tellen from Germany and Pinnell and Dywer in 3rd.

Saturday brought more of the same, a puffy and shifty offshore Easterly of 15-25 knots. Holt and Woelfel started in the same vein, winning race 4 but opened the door slightly to everyone with a 6th in Race 5. This was won by Jan-Phillip Hoffman and Felix Brocherhoff from Germany from Pinnell and Dywer with US team of Howard Hamill and Jeff Nelson 3rd. At the end of Day 2, Holt and Woelfel led from Pinnell and Dywer with Hoffman and Brockerhoff third.

The final day on Sunday was looking like it would be different, the wind was down under 10 knots and there was rain forecast. The fleet launched without much optimism but the pessimism would be for nothing as St Raphael produced another great day of sailing with the breeze around 15 to 20 knots, good waves and a mix of sunshine and showers. Hoffman and Brockerhoff tried to make it interesting by winning race 6, but Holt and Woelfel kept their scoreline tidy to finish second and Hamlin and Nelson finished 3rd to make 2nd through 5th very tight. Going into the last race, Holt and Woelfel had it tied up, but completed a dominant regatta win with a runaway win in the last race. Hoffman and Brockerhoff finished 2nd but a 3rd for Daisenberger and Tellen was enough to take 2nd overall by a point. A tie for third was won by Hoffman and Brockerhoff leaving Hamlin and Nelson in 4th and another point back were Pinnell and Dywer in 5th.

Next up on the Europa Cup circuit is the iconic Riva on Lake Garda. That just about gives you time to find a 505 and make it there!

Full results can be found here.