RS800 European Championships at Circolo Vela Torbole - Form Guide

RS800 Eurocup moves to Circolo Vela Torbole for 2016 © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

The RS800 fleet will contest their Euro Cup on the World Famous Lake Garda from the 25th to the 29th of July. The class has enjoyed many visits to this venue but this time it will be hosted by Circolo Vela Torbole, giving both a change in scenery and a more challenging middle to East side race area, than the rush to the Western cliffs of the more traditional Garda course.

Hot favourites for the event will be reigning National Champions Tim Saxon and Fiona Hampshire. Tim has form at this venue, winning the SB20 Worlds here and showing the fleet some of the course secrets, when the class visited 2 years ago. Looking to challenge them for the title will be a combination of experienced crews and some new raw talent.

UK Magic Marine Grand Prix leaders Luke and Emma McEwen will be hoping for some tricky weather, where they can deploy their experience, team work and brain power to work out what's going on. They probably possess the best all-weather condition skills. The past few events at Garda have shown that to win you need to be able to deal with the unexpected and sometimes light wind moments.

If the conditions are stable and require some blasting, bow-down action, class veterans Andy and Allyson Jeffries will be there in the mix. They have seen a return to form in the last couple of rounds of the UK Magic Marine Grand Prix pushing Luke and Emma hard and finishing 2nd at the Southern Championships in rough weather, last month. There are not many teams in the fleet with quite some much Garda history and experience as these two.

Winners of the Southern Championship and new to the fleet, are budding 49er development squad sailors Jack Hawkins and Rory Hunter. They will be hoping for some big days on lake Garda so they can show off their boat handling and youthful ability to push the RS800 to its very limit. Can youthful testosterone and raw talent put their name on the trophy alongside some previous 49er talent, such as Alain Sign?

In the mix to challenge these 4 teams will be some new and previous event podium teams. Making a return to competitive RS800 sailing are Dave Pike and Nick Jerkins. Their previous results at this venue have included a 2nd place so if the conditions are right we should expect some fireworks from these two Eastbourne Army prize fighters! Chris Feibusch, class Chairman, will be steering at this event, while his normal partner in crime, Peter Barton, tries to win the RS Aero Worlds in Germany. Chris will team up with Jeremy Williamson. Chris has crewed for some of sailings greatest helms on this lake. Can he convert this crewing experience into a good series?

The entry list also includes some interesting European entries, as RS800 fleets are developing across the continent. Will these teams upset the form book and mix it with the UK regulars?

So the stage is set. Today, Saturday, we have full wet conditions. Will this clear the humidity and set up a classic week of windy conditions? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure, the RS800 fleet will be enjoying one of the most iconic Skiff venues in the world with great sailing, warm weather and a few glasses of Vinoclappsio.