Dart 18 European Championships at Scharbeutz Germany

For the first time in the 25 year history of the Dart 18 the European title was retained by the previous winner. The event in Scharbeutz was run with a very efficent race team who had no undue delays and fitted 10 races into 4 days.

Race 1 got away at the third attempt in a NW 4 -5 with last years bronze medalists Hans & Jacqueline van den drift (NED) taking an early lead from TYPHOON (David Lloyd & Samantha-Jayne May). At the bottom gate the fleet split and and it was Stuart & Sandie Sly and Dan Norman & Sally Atkinson who sailed into places 2 and 3 as the left side paid which they held to the finish. Race 2 and the wind had increased to a force 5 and last years champions Vincent Bouvier & Fanny Merelle (FRA) showed through with their excellent downwind speed after a bad capsize put them out of race 1 with 98 champs Matthias Huber & John Guido (GER) and Norman & Atkinson just behind. For race three the wind increased still further and was now blowing a steady force 6-7. Bouvier took the lead with TYPHOON chasing hard. On the final beat as TYPHOON had caught Bouvier their mast bent severely and Huber also took them downwind as they limped to the finish. Jamie Lynch & Jamie Ferguson also put in a goog showing with two 4ths.

The next day dawned with an identical forecast and it was Norman taking the lead on lap two who looked ready to win until a capsize 50 metres from the line left him with a 23rd. Huber won from FRANCE CATAMARAN (Thierry & Christine Wibeaux) and early leaders Niels Oostenburg & Beartrice van der pool.

The race committee then sent the fleet ashore in the rising wind but only for an hour and race 5 was started again in a force 6. TYPHOON won the start and had a 200 metre lead at mark one. At the end of the run at least 10 boats pitchpoled , but TYPHOON extended their lead as the wind continued to increase with Norman second and Bouvier third. The leaders were then on their final downwind leg when the race committee abandoned the race as there were in excess of one third of the fleet upside down .Racing resumed the next day with the wind now down to a force 1. For a second time race 5 was abandoned as the wind dropped to nothing but this time after less than a lap had been sailed.

An hour later and the wind had filled in as a force 2 Easterly and a current was evident as the water returned to the Southern side of the Baltic, after being blown away for the previou couple of days. The left side paid with Huber taking the lead and holding it to the finish. There was a lot of place changing further down the fleet as first the middle then the right side of the course seemed to pay.

Race 6 followed and this time it was 'CIC' Herve LeMaux & Joanna Jones-Pierce who led from start to finish.

Race 7 saw a battle between Bouvier and Arend Prins & Ray Croad (NED) with the defending champion coming out on top at the finish forcing a penalty out of Prins and letting 'TYPHOON' into second. This left Huber leading from 'TYPHOON' and Bouvier overall.

The next morning and a force 3 again settled from the East and again a slight current kept the fleet back from the line but at the pin end Huber was the victim of a black flag. 'FRANCE CATAMARAN' came back to form after a disasterous day had dropped them well down the overall standings. Robby Vogelenzang & Nikki Emmer (NED) held second with 'CIC' pinching the third spot from 'TYPHOON' by gambling hard right on the final beat. Bouvier, was in approximately 40th at the leeward mark however banged the left hand corner and pulled through to 6th at the finish.

Race 9 and Huber was buried. 'TYPHOON' led but Bouvier showed superior downwind speed to take another bullet. Race 10 again saw these two battling it out but 'TYPHOON' lost out to the Slys and 'CIC' as the looked to pass Bouvier by going right on the final beat. This left Bouvier with a 7 point lead over 'TYPHOON' but with an inferior pair of discards. Huber was a further 5 points behind and 'CIC' needed a miracle to win.

The final day with 2 races to sail but alas no wind. After a couple of hours wait on the beach racing was abandoned and the title had been retained. Next year the Europeans is combined with the Worlds at Bouvier & Merelles home club, Club La Pelle in Marseille.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Dart 18 Page