France Open Skiff event at Lac du Der - stage 1 of Breizhskiff series

by Pete Barton 16 Apr 2012 09:34 BST 7-9 April 2012

Situated 2 hours east of Paris on Europe’s largest man made reservoir the ‘France Open Skiff’ at Lac du Der, mixed Skiff Easter bonanza has gone from strength to strength in recent years to over 50 mixed class Skiff style boats from 8 nations in this year’s edition. This event is the 1st stage of the annual breizhskiff series.

Truly International in flavour Lac du Der’s geographical location is perfect being situated within 4 hours drive of just about everywhere! Calais, the west coast of France, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg Switzerland, Austria and much of Germany are all within easy reach. This event has become the premier International mixed fleet Skiff event in Europe and it is still gathering momentum. ‘France Open Skiff’ at Lac du Der benefits from all the vital ingredients from great racing and friendly International atmosphere to chocolate crepes etc.....!

This year competitors were graced with a full variety of conditions from 4 to 18 knots with the added bonus of 3 days solid spring sun before the stronger wind arrived on Monday.

The Musto Skiffs designated the event as the first of their Eurocup series for 2012 and a strong Swiss and Dutch contingent enjoyed meeting at the near halfway point.

The RS and Musto Skiff classes assisted in the funding of the coaching that has become the norm at this event as for many Europeans this represents the first racing of the season after a winter break enforced by their cold home winter climates. Peter Barton and 29er World Champ, Kevin Fischer-Guillou, provided the coaching with the fleet split into two on Friday and Saturday morning prior to racing.

When racing commenced on Saturday afternoon it was clear that the squad of 3 Dutch 49ers were well drilled, dominating the top of the results sheet in the medium breeze after 3 races. One race on Sunday before the fleet returned to shore to bask in the sunshine in a light dying breeze saw the French RS800 team of Laurent Thouvenin & Olivia Coindreau pull a blinder to comfortably lead the 49ers at the first mark. They went on to win with the results at the top of the fleet compressing going into the final day.

Monday belonged to the Moths with 12-18knots and 4 short sharp races fired off in quick succession. Having swapped his coaching whistle for his sailing gloves Peter Barton won the day with Germanys’ Markus Steeg close behind. The 49er of Sander de Kok & Pieler Nijsse from Holland dominated behind the Moths and comfortably took the overall title. 2nd overall went to Swiss Musto Skiff veteran Roger Oswald with Hollands Paul Dijkstra in 3rd, also in a Musto Skiff. The 1st ‘mixed team’ prize went to RS800 sailors David Holenweg & Laureline Chevalley from Switzerland in 10th.

If you own a Skiff type boat and enjoy some competitive mixed fleet racing with International flavour be sure to get this into your calendar for 2013. For the Brits this quite accessible without extra time off work or would make a great week abroad combined with some late season skiing being half way to the Alps. Particularly, the single entries in the RS500 and RS100 classes from Holland and Germany would enjoy the addition of visiting UK fleets.

Many congratulations to Andre, Maikol and Francois for their hard work and success in developing this increasingly popular event. And a thank you to the sponsors for their assistance; Schuco, Wanaboat!, Musto Skiff and RS Sailing.

The next event in the Breizhskiff series is the Teignouse’s Cup at Quiberon, 29 April – 1 May which also includes the French International Moth Championship.

See also www.franceopenskiff.fr/en/the-race/ and www.breizhskiff.com/

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm / Crew	Country	Class	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Pts
1	DE KOK Sander/ NIJSSE Pieter	NED	49ER	8	1	3	3	3	3	3	3	18
2	OSWALD Roger	SUI	MUSTO SKIFF	3	16	6	10	5	4	10	4	42
3	DIJKSTRA Paul	NED	MUSTO SKIFF	4	6	14	27	6	5	5	8	48
4	STEEG Markus	GER	INT MOT + Foil	2	2	41	47	2	2	2	2	53
5	BUIS Jjeerd/ DE BLOCH Yves	NED	49ER	16	4	20	5	12	7	7	9	60
6	DUCHOUD Nicolas	SUI	MUSTO SKIFF	5	21	9	7	14	8	9	13	65
7	VAN DER VEN Joris/HONIG Jeroen	NED	49ER	1	OCS	1	4	4	DNS	4	6	74
8	PEETERS Gilles	FRA	MUSTO SKIFF	7	15	28	23	7	12	12	7	83
9	TAQUE Émilien	FRA	MUSTO SKIFF	11	7	OCS	12	8	16	8	25	87
10	HOLENWEG David/ CHEVALLEY Laureline	SUI	RS800	15	3	15	16	16	14	15	10	88
11	WALBANK Nigel	GBR	MUSTO SKIFF	30	8	2	6	26	23	6	19	90
12	OSWALD Marek	SUI	MUSTO SKIFF	6	5	8	24	9	24	31	16	92
13	GREIL Alexander	SUI	MUSTO SKIFF	37	17	10	9	10	10	21	23	100
14	MUELLER Fabio	SUI	MUSTO SKIFF	12	13	23	26	13	9	11	20	101
15	KUIPERS Jelmer	NED	MUSTO SKIFF	22	11	25	3	22	17	14	14	103
16	FRABOULET Cédric	FRA	RS700	14	9	21	8	25	15	28	DNS	120
17	MEE Antony/PENTY James	GBR	RS800	17	24	17	31	17	21	16	11	123
18	THOUVENIN Laurent/ COINDREAU Olivia	FRA	RS800	32	29	24	1	23	6	30	12	125
19	BRUNNER Dieter	SUI	MUSTO SKIFF	10	10	11	17	15	13	DNS	DNS	130
20	ANTIER Julien /MAGNE Philippe	FRA	RS800	18	19	31	37	18	11	13	22	132
21	TREGUIER Jean‑Louis / WACOGNE Stéphane	FRA	RS800	28	26	13	18	11	20	26	21	135
22	FRITSCH Boris/ SEMINATORE Michael	FRA	29ER	13	38	26	36	19	19	18	5	136
23	MAILLARD François	FRA	RS700	20	18	19	32	27	18	19	28	149
24	GUIHOT Mathieu	FRA	RS700	35	12	12	11	29	29	22	35	150
25	WILLIAMS Tristan/STAATS Laura	LUX	RS800	23	31	34	19	21	22	23	17	156
26	WEGNER Lars	GER	RS100 (10m2)	24	28	5	20	31	28	25	30	160
27	BARTON Peter	GBR	INT MOT + Foil	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	1	1	1	1	166
28	STOCK Christian	FRA	29ER	26	34	7	34	28	25	35	15	169
29	ARCHER John	SUI	MUSTO SKIFF	19	14	DNF	14	43	31	17	31	169
30	GUEUNING Nicolas	BEL	MUSTO SKIFF	25	25	29	25	34	32	24	26	186
31	BLOMSMA Marleen	FRA	RS500 MYLAR	9	32	4	15	20	DNS	DNS	DNS	188
32	LECAM Sébastien / LE CAM Sophie	FRA	B14	34	33	16	21	33	27	29	29	188
33	KUIPERS Roelof	NED	MUSTO SKIFF	21	23	OCS	28	24	DNS	20	18	188
34	MORGAN Matthew/ VERHEULPEN Joris	NED	49ER	DNF	22	18	13	30	26	41	DNS	204
35	DECLERCQ Laurent	BEL	RS700	43	20	34	29	32	34	33	32	214
36	SHAW Fred/ VAGNER Philippe	FRA	INT 14	31	35	35	43	DNS	35	27	36	242
37	FULLERTON John/ FULLERTON Sarah	SUI	RS800	38	36	30	38	44	33	38	33	246
38	DUCARROIR Christophe/ PAUL Noel	FRA	B14	40	41	40	30	41	36	39	37	263
39	ZÜHLKE Nina	GER	INT MOT + Foil	42	46	43	49	37	40	32	24	264
40	VAUVRAY François / BALAY Dominique	FRA	RS800	36	39	39	39	36	39	40	DNS	268
41	RUDOLPH Nik / RUDOLPH Jan Peer	GER	ISO	DNF	DNS	DNS	35	35	30	34	27	269
42	VUILLEUMIER Mathieu/ GILLIOZ Anne	SUI	RS800	27	30	36	33	38	DNS	DNS	DNS	272
43	OGER Jean‑François/ ERTZSCHEID Barbara	FRA	RS800	45	44	42	44	39	37	37	34	277
44	FRIEDERICH André	LUX	RS700	DNF	42	38	42	40	38	36	DNS	290
45	POTIE Gil / BREMOND David	FRA	LASER 4000	44	40	27	22	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	295
46	KOCH Philipp	SUI	MUSTO SKIFF	29	27	33	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	305
47	KIEFFER Pierre/ VELTER Paul	LUX	49ER	33	37	22	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	308
48	FROTTIER Benoît	FRA	RS700	41	43	37	41	42	DNS	DNS	DNS	312
49	DUEHRSEN Thomas	SUI	MUSTO SKIFF	39	45	DNS	40	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	340
50	DEMARQUETTE Philippe/ Achille	FRA	B14	DNS	DNS	44	46	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	360
51	THIBAUD Mathilda/ THIBAUD Richard	FRA	INT 14	DNS	DNS	DNS	45	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	369
52	SCHÖNBERG Jens	GER	INT MOT + Foil	DNS	DNS	DNS	48	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	372
DNA	LOEFF Erik	NED	MUSTO SKIFF	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	378