  Europeans/UK
Nationals - Paignton, UK
Sponsored by GreatKit.com/Gerber.
The Musto Skiff fleet gathered at Paignton
2 days early to receive the benefit of a two day training
camp lead by Mark Rushall. each days training was split
up into groups allowing sailors of similar standard
to work on their respective challenges. Also each day
practice races were run to allow the students to put
their new skills to test. At the end of each day a video
debrief was conducted with a few beers.
At the end of the training a draw was
made for the Hyde sponsored new mainsail which was won
by Hein-Pieter Okker, he was easy
to spot for the rest of the week ...
 Races
1 and 2 of the Musto Performance Skiff European Championships
got under way in 12 to 18 knots of wind and brilliant
blue sky. Racing was close throughout the fleet with
places changing mainly when boats sailed into more pressure.
Richard Stenhouse, Ian Trotter, Rick Perkins, Graeme
Oliver, Ian Renilson and Martin Boatman all vying for
the top positions.
Both races finally went to Stenhouse with
Trotter second in the first race and Oliver second in
the second race.
Day 2 saw an eventful day of close racing
in light to medium conditions.
Race 3 got underway after a postponement
for the wind to stabilise and saw a new face at the
front. Mark Addison swapped places with Ian Trotter
and Martin Boatman. However, Mark showed good tactics
and speed to hold off the challenges to take the win.
 Race
4 saw the wind swing left and then stabilise. Richard
Stenhouse led around the windward mark, closely followed
by Ian Trotter. Stenhouse and Trotter had a hard fought
race finally seeing Trotter take the win from Stenhouse
with a group including Dave Poston, Graeme Oliver, Martin
Boatman and Ian Renilson close behind.
Daily prizes for day 1 were handed out
before the start of racing, courtesy of Great Kit /
Gerber.
The earlier coaching has showed
results with class newcomers including Charlie Baker,
Steve Lowe and Richard Purdy finishing all races even
if there were a few mishaps on the way ...
 Day
3 was sailed in near perfect skiff conditions. The sun
was out and the 3 races were sailed in a steadily building
15 to 23 knot breeze and a short chop.
Race 5saw the majority of the fleet heading
left up the first beat, with the fleet reveling in the
conditions. Rick Perkins showed good speed to lead and
then consolidate on the downwind leg, however and incident
at the top mark (with a B14 from his home club) third
time around saw him lose position to Ian Trotter and
Richard Stenhouse, and this is how it finished.
The wind had built for race 6 and there
was some dramatic downwind action which culminated in
Richard Stenhouse capsizing just short of the finish
to leave the win open to Martin Boatman. A desperate
recovery by Stenhouse could not prevent Ian Trotter
from narrowly taking second place.
The wind was up to a consistent 20 knots
plus for race 7 and the skiffs showed how robust they
are with a number of capsizes and a notable pitch-pole
by Martin Boatman not stopping the sailors from enjoying
their sailing.
Great Kit / Gerber day prizes were
gratefully received be their winners after racing and
many commented on today being one of the most memorable
skiff days.
The final day of the Great Kit /
Gerber sponsored Musto Performance Skiff European Championships
was sailed in a light breeze throughout the day. Credit
must be given to the top performers, with Rick Perkins
and Pablo Arandia winning races, but most of the fleet
were watching with interest the battle between Richard
Stenhouse and Ian Trotter.
Race 8 saw Rick lead from the gun, slowly
extending on the fleet to win in relative comfort. Stenhouse
and Trotter had a private battle which saw them drop
down the overall positions, so that at the finish they
were both counting these results as their discard. This
meant that Stenhouse still led by 1 point.
Race 9 can be put down to a tremendous
comeback from Ian Trotter who having capsized managed
to hold his nerve to eventually take the win from Stenhouse.
Mental arithmetic or the use of fingers came to the
conclusion that Stenhouse was still winning on count
back, and so the event would be decided in the final
race.
Pablo Arandia was the eventual winner
of the final race, but on crossing the line even he
stopped to look at who was leading between Stenhouse
and Trotter. Following an epic battle between the two
which saw both take turns to lead the other Ian Trotter
crossed the line in 5th place, and with Stenhouse stuck
in the pack Ian Trotter became the well deserved European
and UK National Champion.
Ian has been sailing the skiff from the early days,
and like Richard has been at the front of the fleet
as well as on helping the newcomers to improve and the
fleet was delighted to see Ian finally win a major event.
I summary the fleet enjoyed a great event
sailing in a range of conditions that lead to a worthy
champion in Ian Trotter. The class would like to thank
all those who "made it happen" and gain to
extend it's thanks to GreatKit and Gerber for their
generous sponsorship of the event.
 Top
10 Positions
1 Ian Trotter
2 Richard Stenhouse
3 Martin Boatman
4 Graeme Oliver
5 Rick Perkins
6 Ian Renilson
7 Pablo Arandia
8 Dave Poston
9 Mark Addison
10 Martin Goodlad (1st Newcomer)
Sliver Fleet:
1 Harry Hensen
2 Tim Chapman
3 Paul Clements
Endeavour Award: John Evans
Buddie Award: Dave Poston/Paul Clements
See
the full results.
Visit
the GreatKit Website
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