RS700 European Championships at Yacht Club de Carnac

It was a high quality fleet that assembled at the Yacht Club de Carnac in Brittany over the bank holiday weekend. 3 of the 17 boat fleet were either past or present National or European champions and the fleet was split equally between UK and European boats including one carrying the "national" flag of Cornwall.

The event was sailed in essentially ideal conditions. The light northern gradient breeze was dominant in the mornings to be replaced by a magnificent 12-15 knot thermal breeze in the afternoons.

Three of the nine races were held in the transitional period between the light gradient and the stronger afternoon sea breeze and that made for some tricky and nervous racing. In such conditions you might expect some fairly random scoring but it was the heaviest sailor in the fleet, Wadworths who performed best scoring a consistent 1,6,1 and fresh from hip surgery gets my man of the match award and a well deserved 3rd place overall.

The remaining races were held in the afternoon thermal breeze and 2013 National Champion Robbie Bell displayed at times that he was the fastest man upwind in these conditions. He twice led round the first mark, once after being buried at the start but a capsize and last minute gybe to avoid an RS500 (on Starboard) cost him two race wins (and a top three finish) in both races it was Jerry Wales who gratefully picked up the pieces.

The reigning European Champion Simon Letten continues to show why he won the title last year. He demonstrated good boat speed, an ability to point like a gun dog and excellent race craft to always be at the right place at the finish. He recorded a string of seconds and thirds to just pip the Able Seaman into second place.

Top the French fleet was Cedric Fraboulet from the home club. He opened his account with a second place but the found himself on the wrong side of the course (normally the favoured side) too often and was unfortunate to finish in 5th overall.

Overall the 2015 European title went to Jerry Wales. A perfect score (after discards) suggests an easy win which was not the case. Being there or there abouts most of the time helped but generally a poor tack or gybe by one of the chasing pack was the foundation for the race wins.

If there was a Silver fleet prize it would go Huw Reynolds. A proud Welshman but bearing the flag of St Piran on his sail, It was his first RS700 event and his 6th place does not do justice to his overall pace, he was regularly up with the leading boats. Expect trouble from Huw at Weymouth.

A massive thanks must go to the Yacht Club de Carnac and in particular POR Jerome Nutte who not only laid on great racing but also created the environment for everyone including non sailing families members to have great time. Those who are young enough should definitely plan to be there in two years time.

Full results available and lots of photos of the event from Phillipe Viglia and Pascaline Samson are at www.facebook.com/YachtClubCarnac