International Moth Europeans at Vela di Campioni, Lake Garda
by Simon Propper 8 Aug 2005 14:12 BST
Sam Pascoe (GB) heads Rohan Veal (Aus) during the International Moth Europeans at Lake Garda © Simon Propper
Australian foiler supremacy broken
Simon Payne and Adam May finally cracked Australian supremo Rohan Veals stranglehold on the International Moth class with a superb British one/two at the European Open Championships hosted by Vela di Campioni, Lake Garda.
Veal, the pre regatta favourite who won January's Melbourne World Championships convincingly was third overall.
Payne and May were tied on points at the start of the final day and with three races scheduled Garda lived up to all expectations and the "Ora" wind blew long and strong.
Race 7, the first of the day saw Payne, Veal and May glued together for the first lap. Veal dropped off the back on the second beat and Payne held off May by only a couple of feet to win the two lapper. Completion of this race meant the first discard was applicable and crucial Payne moved two points clear.
Race 8 saw Veal on port and out of the start early heading for the cliffs, May and Payne pulled themselves back into contention and the lead swapped several times as the worlds best on foils slugged it out. At the finish Payne crossed first with May second and Veal third only a couple of seconds back. Payne had won the European title with May guarranteed second!
Race 9, the final race and young British foiler Sam Pascoe fired his British built Mistress design up the third beat in the 18 knot breeze to lead comfortably at the windward mark. Bravely Pascoe held his lead until the second beat when Payne squeezed through. May overtook Pascoe on the top reach, and Veal sneaked through later on the downwind and they finished in that order.
"We were here to win" said Payne, "we've done over a hundred of miles of training runs in the seven days prior to the event. It couldn't have been a closer championship between Adam and I" and a British one/two is the right result, we deserve it"
Overall Results: (top ten)
1st Simon Payne GBR 4059 1,2,1,1,(3),(2),1,1,1 8 Prowler, Fastacraft foils, KA sail
2nd Adam May GBR 4073 2,1,2,2,2,1,2,(2),(2) 12 Mistress mk2, Fastacraft foils, KA sail
3rd Rohan Veal AUS 1 (4),3,3,(6),1,3,3,3,3 19 Prowler, Fastacraft foils, KA sail
4th Mark Robinson SIN 9339 5,5,4,4,4,4,(5),4,(6) 30 Prowler, Fastacraft foils, KA sail
5th Jason Belben GBR 4069 3,6,5,3,6,(6),4,(7),5 32 Mistress, Full Force foils, KA sail
6th Sam Pascoe GBR 4062 (6),4,(6),5,5,5,6,5,4 34 Mistress, Full Force foils, KA sail
7th Sven Kloppenburg GER 1040 7,8,8,(18),(10),9,9,6,9 56 Hungry Tiger, Fastacraft foils, Truflo sail
8th L Jenkins GBR 4063 (15),12,9,7,8,8,8,8,(dnc) 60 Mistress, Full Force foils, KA sail
9th Ian Forsdike GBR 4050 (dnf),(dnc),11,11,9,7,7,9,7 61 Hungry Tiger, Full Force foils, KA sail
10th Patrick Ruf SUI 607 8,7,10,8,(12),(11),11,11,11 66 Hungry Tiger, conventional (low riding)foils, Truflo sail