Europeans - Final Report - Snipe Class International

Kamien Pomorski, August 23, 2014.

(Photo courtesy Eurosnipe2014)

Final results, after 9 races, 2 discards (top 5)

1. ESP Raul De Valenzuela Santaella & Antolin Alejandre De Ona, 26

2. POR Tiago Morais & Tomas Pires De Lima, 31

3. ESP Jordi Triay Pons & Lluis Mas Barcelo, 36

4. BRA Alexandre Tinoco & Bernardo Low-beer, 37

5. ESP Victor Perez & Cristian Sanchez, 37

Regatta report by Pietro Fantoni, full results, photos, videos and …

Racing in Northern Europe often means racing in cold temperatures and windy weather. But the wind and cold, with clouds and patches of sun in quick succession, didn’t cool the sailors who arrived in this corner of Poland.

This is due to the warm friendliness of Zibi Rakocy and the Snipe Polish community. It was one of the best organized events in Europe in recent years. Zibi and his team did a fantastic job, working with a number of sponsors, a marina, and especially the town of Kamien Pomorski, which was proud to host the European Championship of the Snipe Class or, as they say, the Class Slanka (pronunication: swonka). Thank you, dziękuję

…

Open Europeans

It was also the first Open European Championship, with no selections or quotas for each country, and the event was open to non-European teams. I believe that almost all of those present agreed that the experiment has been positive. The number of competitors (increased compared to the previous Europeans) proves this and the high level of sailors, at least in the first positions, has not decreased. The Open Europeans ensure a good number of participants, a return to the desired image of the organizers and sponsors, gives the opportunity to the host country to bring many boats, and enables many sailors to participate. As it emerged during the sailors’ meeting, the idea of opening the Europeans, which was until 2012 restricted to a limited number, has been successful and some skeptics will have to objectively reconsider their positions. The benefits of openness are clear; while the drawbacks (mainly the decline of participants in some national regattas – once qualifyers for the Europeans – allegedly caused by the opening of the Europeans) are still to be demonstrated.

Meetings, social events and parties

This regatta had it all. Sailors’ meeting (we will write in a later article), the National Secretaries meeting, opening ceremony with a parade of the various nations, cannon shots, speeches and fireworks, award ceremonies at the end of each day, concerts in the main square, organ concerts in the cathedral, dinners at the town hall at the nearby hotel, free beers and local snacks after each day of sailing. All these events enhanced the “Serious Fun” side of our class. Moreover, beyond the official events prepared by the excellent Polish organization, I want to remember the impromptu parties at the bar next to the marina with large quantities of Okocim beer, and the legendary parties organized by the Belgian team, which involved many sailors from other countries and featured music and dancing almost until dawn.

All this was possible thanks to the location. Kamien Pomorski is a small town in Pomerania, near the border with Germany, with its churches and its characteristic buildings, vestiges of a past that has been Swedish, Prussian, German and Polish, before and after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The marina, the main square where a stage was set up, boat park, hotels, bars, and restaurants were all within walking or biking distance. This certainly helped socialization among the sailors.

Race area and weather conditions

For days the flags on the pier never ceased to wave vigorously, stretched out by the wind. In the morning, we looked out the window of our hotel, past the severe vaguely Soviet architecture, and wondered whether the flags were made of cardboard rather than cloth.

The race course was a 20 minute sail from the ramp, even less time if it was blowing hard and you were able to sail a furious and adrenaline-charged reach, pumping the main without fail. It was placed in front of the marina, within a lagoon (Zalew Kamienski), separated from the Baltic Sea by a low and narrow strip of land. The lagoon is connected at its NE end to the sea by a channel, and to the SW it is connected by another channel to another larger lagoon (Zalew Szczecinski), in which the river Oder enters and marks the border between Germany and Poland. The water is brown, fresh and shallow (2-3 meters). The windward mark was always set close to the low coast of an island. For this reason the wind was always gusty, with large shifts.

It was a regatta with medium-strong winds. There was not a single moment of a windward leg of a single race where the hiking straps were not necessary. The first day the wind was very strong. We all know the class limit of the wind in closed waters (25 knots), as well as it how it should be measured and how long it should be checked. The race committee estimated that it was within the limits for racing. However, almost half the fleet was not able to finish the only race held on the first day due to damages and failures. The reason for so many withdrawals is due to gusts (some measured almost 30 knots), shallow waters (a trouble in case of capsizing), and small waves (compared to the wind), which certainly did not favor planing and jibing. The large percentage of withdrawals (only 38 out of 61 boats finished the race) is a cause for reflection. During the National Secretaries’ meeting we discussed the possibility of changing the rule that determines how the wind has to be measured (taking into account any gusts). On other days the wind was moderate, from 12 to 15 knots average, but always very gusty and shifty, sometimes with gusts as high as 20 knots.

Report of races

I do not really like to write detailed reports of the races: what happened on this or that leg, who won, who finished second and who finished third. I am not so interested. This time I also have to admit that I did not see the races from the front; because of our meager 120 kilos, Julia and I fiercely fought from the middle of the fleet, against strong winds, damages to the boat, opponents, and mark roundings more similar to boardings by pirates. Clouded by fatigue, with lactic acid in the eyes … it would be difficult for me to see and make a record of what happened in front of the fleet.

Many spectators were able to follow the races live with the GPS trackers (the first use for our class in a European race). You can watch the video and the interviews with daily leaders that SnipeToday filmed before and after the races (links below).

Anyway, Raul De Valenzuela and Antolin Alejandre deservedly won the Championship thanks to a consistency that none of their opponents managed to maintain for all 9 races. For the Spanish team of Almeria this is the second consecutive title of European Champions. A confirmation. Also, we don’t forget that Antolin a few days before won (as skipper) the Junior Europeans. Congratulations!

The surprise was the young Portuguese team of Tiago Morais and Tomas Pires De Lima. This junior team was even in the lead before the last day. Having young blood in the class is a good news.
After a difficult start to the regatta (ret-5-15-20 in the first two days), Jordi Lluis Mas Triay and crew were able to grab a good result on the podium, thanks to their two bullets in the last two days.

Alexandre Tinoco and Bernardo Low-beer from Brazil, after starting with three victories, scored a series of unexpected results that pushed them off of the podium.

Rounding out the top five teams were Victor Perez and Cristian Sanchez, also with a difficult final day.

Other winners of single races: Jostein Grodem and Maj Kristin Hansen Borgen (NOR), a little ‘ups and downs’ in the results, Manu Hens and Enrico Michel (BEL) winners of two races but with a bizarre series that left them heavily penalized (ret-20-ocs-ocs-6-1-1-2-3).

The Championship ended with the prize giving ceremony and speeches by sponsors and authorities and winners. Each sailor was called to the stage and received a present. At the end of the ceremony Bronislaw Karpinski, the mayor of Kamien Pomorski, along with Zbigiew Rakocy, General Secretary for Europe, gave the SCIRA flag to Pepe Perez, in representation of Spain.

So dziękuję Kamien Pomorski and see you in 2016 in Santiagio de la Ribera, Spain, for the next European Championship.

Pietro Fantoni

	Sail Number	SKIPER	CREW	Scores	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
1	ESP 31237	Raul De Valenzuela Santaella CLUB DE MAR ALMERIA	Antolin Alejandre De Ona CLUB DE MAR ALMERIA	26,0	7	3	4	6	(8)	(ocs)	2	3	1
2	POR 28767	Tiago Morais C N LECA	Tomas Pires De Lima CVA	31,0	2	4	6	4	(16)	3	6	(13)	6
3	ESP 29698	Jordi Triay Pons C.M.M.	Lluis Mas Barcelo C.M.M.	36,0	(ret)	5	15	(20)	1	5	4	1	5
4	BRA 31151	Alexandre Tinoco RCRSRIBERA-SPAIN	Bernardo Low-beer RCRSRIBERA-SPAIN	37,0	1	1	1	11	4	9	(12)	(dsq)	10
5	ESP 28676	Victor Perez C.D.CANAL DE ISABEL II	Cristian Sanchez C.D.CANAL ISABEL II	37,0	4	2	8	5	(11)	2	8	8	(13)
6	ESP 31247	Damian Borras Camps MAHON	Ivan Moreno IBIZA	41,0	(dnc)	7	5	2	7	(11)	7	6	7
7	ITA 30269	Enrico Solerio YACHT CLUB SANREMO	Sergio Simonetti C.V. SANTA MARGHERITA LIGURE	44,0	3	(dnc)	2	8	5	4	20	(ocs)	2
8	ESP 30987	Juan Deben Tiscar LICEO CASINO VILAGARCIA	Gerardo Prego Menor LICEO CASINO VILAGARCIA	50,0	(dnc)	(16)	10	12	2	8	5	9	4
9	BEL 28855	Yannick Laumans KLYC	Kai Kinnear KLYC	60,0	6	11	11	3	9	(20)	9	11	(20)
10	DEN 29916	Christian Skjoldvang Andersen ES	Celina Skjqdt ES	67,0	13	14	13	9	3	(16)	3	(21)	12
11	SWE 29943	Lucas Orn GKSS	Axel Edwall GKSS	68,0	12	6	(14)	(19)	13	6	10	7	14
12	FRA 30757	Jean Jacques Frebault C V ARCACHON	Cyril Laprebendere CV HOURTIN MEDOC	78,0	15	9	7	24	(30)	10	(31)	5	8
13	ITA 30009	Paolo Lambertenghi CVT	Yuri Miorandi CIRCOLO VELA ARCO	85,0	(dnc)	17	17	15	(32)	7	14	4	11
14	BEL 31174	Manu Hens RYCB	Enrico Michel NA	95,0	(dnf)	20	(ocs)	ocs	6	1	1	2	3
15	NOR 30186	Jostein Grodem AASGAARDSTRAND SF	Maj Kristin Hansen Borgen BAERUM SF	99,0	8	13	(dnc)	1	19	22	(36)	15	9
16	NOR 30090	Birger Jansen BAERUM	Ivar Jacobsen BAERUM	114,0	9	15	12	(33)	21	14	19	24	(28)
17	SWE 30068	Per Edwall GSC	Ole Martin Moen GSC	115,0	5	10	(50)	13	(33)	17	13	27	30
18	ESP 30869	Miguel Cid Montoya RCN CORUNA	Carmen Mateo Suarez-pumariega CN SADA	120,0	(26)	22	18	14	12	(23)	17	18	19
19	ESP 30146	Ignacio Cano Rodriguez RCM MELILLA	Baltasar Ali Martin Mohamed RCMMELILLA	125,0	14	(ocs)	20	31	15	12	(34)	17	16
20	ESP 30242	Jaime De Miranda Osset RCN CORUNA	Marta Perez Rodriguez CNR FERROL	126,0	(dnc)	19	26	17	28	13	11	12	(ocs)
21	ESP 30238	Aurora De Juan Ojeda RCMMELILLA	Juan Creus Martinez RCM MELILLA	134,0	11	12	28	(30)	18	15	(43)	23	27
22	BEL 30400	Dirk De Bock RYCB	Yannick Bongaerts RYCB	135,0	20	(ocs)	3	10	(dnf)	dnf	15	10	15
23	NOR 30312	Magnus Hedemark BÆRUM SEILFORENING	Anette Melsom Myhre ASKER SEILFORENING	142,0	24	8	19	(44)	10	31	28	22	(35)
24	ITA 30983	Fabio Rochelli S.V.BARCOLA GRIGNANO	Daniela Semec S.V. BARCOLA GRIGNANO	147,0	22	21	(32)	7	25	24	23	(29)	25
25	POL 29894	Sokolowski Lukasz ZLKS	Sokolowski Piotr ZLKS POZNAN	157,0	18	24	24	22	(37)	28	16	25	(31)
26	ITA 29960	Tom Stahl CIRCOLO NAUTICO CHIOGGIA	Jacopo Stahl CIRCOLO NAUTICO CHIOGGIA	170,0	23	(33)	16	18	(34)	33	32	30	18
27	FRA 29367	Maxim Romain BLUE CIRCLE SAILING CLUB (UK)	Guy Welch BLACKWATER SAILING CLUB (UK)	171,0	17	18	(47)	28	(39)	19	29	36	24
28	BEL 31226	Thierry Den Hartigh RYCB	Fabienne Goubau RYCB	173,0	21	30	27	(39)	20	(34)	21	28	26
29	BEL 30474	Dries Crombe SRNA GALGENWEEL	Julie Vermeiren SRNA GALGENWEEL	179,0	(dnc)	39	9	45	24	25	18	19	(46)
30	POL 30644	Piotr Mańczak ŻLKS	Przemysław Blaszka NIEZRZESZONY	185,0	10	23	34	(42)	(43)	36	39	26	17
31	ITA 15790	Pietro Fantoni CIRCOLO DELLA VELA MUGGIA	Julia Melton LAUDERDALE YACHT CLUB	192,0	(dnc)	(37)	37	21	31	32	35	14	22
32	POR 29994	Diogo Machado Pinto ANLISBOA	Goncalo Santos SAD	192,0	38	35	29	23	22	(27)	22	(46)	23
33	FRA 30114	Thomas Jerome CS MONTEROLAIS	El Ghozi Nadia CS MONTEROLAIS	193,0	(dnc)	38	21	25	35	21	(44)	32	21
34	BEL 30758	Ghys Wim WIM	An Van Daele VVW	201,0	25	26	22	29	26	35	38	(dnc)	(dnc)
35	ITA 29082	Alessandro Bari ASSOCIAZIONE VELICA TRENTINA	Antonio Bari ASSOCIAZIONE VELICA TRENTINA	202,0	30	25	(41)	41	14	29	(53)	34	29
36	ESP 29924	Arturo Chao Correa RCM MELILLA	Guillermo Tardido Enrique RCM MELILLA	208,0	28	31	23	32	29	(42)	30	35	(37)
37	ITA 30200	Giuseppe Borrelli PLANET SAIL BRACCIANO ROMA	Daniele Guazzieri PLANET SAIL BRACCIANO ROMA	218,0	32	29	25	37	(47)	26	37	(41)	32
38	ITA 30303	Ivo Gattulli AVB	Alea Cecconi AVB	218,0	29	40	35	27	27	(43)	27	33	(53)
39	POL 28221	Dawid Marczak ZLKS KIEKRZ	Bartosz Pędzinski ZLKS KIEKRZ	225,0	(dnc)	36	31	(47)	41	37	24	16	40
40	FIN 30558	Jukka Kotisalo LAPPEENRANTA LRPS	Eija Kotisalo LAPPEENRANTA LRPS	232,0	34	(43)	33	35	17	(45)	33	42	38
41	NOR 30660	Steffen Skjonberg BÆRUM	Maria Kaiser ÅSGÅRDSTRAND SF	232,0	(dnc)	27	52	26	(dnc)	18	42	31	36
42	POL 30537	Krzysztof Kluza ZLKS KIEKRZ	Natalia Wierzbicka ŻLKS KIEKRZ	236,0	16	(ocs)	42	34	36	(ocs)	25	38	33
43	DEN 29939	Svend Andersen ROYAL DANISH YACHTCLUB	Pia Skjoldvang ROYAL DANISH YACHTCLUB	238,0	(ret)	34	(53)	43	23	30	26	43	39
44	FIN 30900	Kai Saarhelo BSF, PORI	Riku Vaeaeriskoski MARJANIEMEN PURJEHTIJAT	258,0	35	28	38	(49)	38	(ocs)	40	37	42
45	POL 30334	Rafał Zakrzewski JACHT KLUB WIELKOPOLSKI	Agnieszka Wiercińska JACHT KLUB WIELKOPOLSKI	260,0	27	(50)	36	36	42	40	(48)	45	34
46	POL 29475	Michał Jaruga KŻ MEWA POZNAŃ	Kinga Jaruga KŻ MEWA POZNAŃ	264,0	(dnc)	(48)	40	38	40	38	47	20	41
47	POL 30708	Tomasz Słodecki PKM LOK	Mariusz Pokryszka PKM LOK	278,0	19	41	(ocs)	50	(53)	39	46	39	44
48	POL 29973	Jakub Kulesza ZLKS KIEKRZ, POZNAN	Ewa Kulesza ZLKS KIEKRZ, POZNAN	290,0	33	47	39	(54)	(dnc)	41	41	44	45
49	POL 29352	Przemysław Skowroński ŻLKS KIERZ	Marcin Korbik ŻLKS KIEKRZ	305,0	36	49	43	(51)	(54)	44	45	40	48
50	USA 28470	Stephan Irgens CSA	Monica Irgens CSA	309,0	31	42	49	46	44	49	(52)	48	(50)
51	BEL 30344	Guy Celis RYCB	Charlotte Hambrouck RYCB	326,0	(dnc)	32	30	16	(dnc)	dnc	dnc	dnc	dnc
52	FIN 29418	Hanna-leena Lehtinen HELSINGFORS SEGELKLUBB	Juha Lehtinen HELSINGFORS SEGELKLUBB	331,0	(dnf)	45	48	40	46	(52)	56	49	47
53	SWE 31031	Tobias Chroneer WSSW	Charlotta Chroneer WSSW	332,0	(dnc)	52	45	(dnc)	48	46	51	47	43
54	ITA 27130	Silvano Zuanelli ASSOCIAZIONE VELICA TRENTINA	Flavio Rossi C.U.S. TRENTO	333,0	(dnc)	44	46	48	45	50	50	50	(52)
55	POL 22273	Jacek Baryła MKŻ OPTI KAMIEŃ POMORSKI	Krzysztof Sulejewski ŻLKS POZNAŃ	339,0	37	(56)	51	(57)	49	51	49	53	49
56	BEL 31225	Callot Andre RYCB	Callot Eric RYCB	365,0	(dnc)	46	44	52	52	47	(dnf)	dnc	dnc
57	FIN 29642	Anni Toija YACHT CLUB OF TURKU (TPS)	Pekka Toija YACHT CLUB OF TURKU (TPS)	368,0	(dnc)	53	(58)	56	51	48	55	54	51
58	POL 29531	Andrzej Grocholewski AZS POZNAN	Joanna Grocholewska AZS POZNAN	382,0	(dnc)	57	54	53	(dnc)	55	58	51	54
59	POL 29650	Jaroslaw Klimczyk PKM LOK POZNAN	Marek Berkau PKM LOK POZNAN	385,0	(dnc)	54	55	(59)	56	56	57	52	55
60	SWE 30637	Lars Hylander JOLLESEGLARNA UPPLANDS VASBY BS	Magnus Westman JOLLESEGLARNA UPPLANDS VASBY BS	386,0	(dnc)	55	56	55	50	53	(dnc)	55	dnc
61	POL 30655	Andrzej Neyman JKW POZNAŃ	Alicja Neyman JKW POZNAŃ	391,0	(dnc)	51	57	58	55	54	54	(dnc)	dnc