Dinghy development: Int Europe CA

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Int Europe CA

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11909
Printed Date: 12 Jul 25 at 3:09am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Int Europe CA

Posted By: Rupert
Subject: Int Europe CA
Date Posted: 05 Mar 15 at 1:15pm

Anyone know what has happened to the Europe class? Their website has been down for months and I didn't see them at the Show? Mind, they could have been there and I missed them?

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Replies:

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 05 Mar 15 at 1:32pm

The Europe does't seem to be listed in my show guide.

Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 05 Mar 15 at 1:34pm

moral: if you want your class to thrive long-term, stay well away from the the Olympics.

Anyone seen any Flying Dutchmen, Solings or Tempest fleets recently?

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http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here

Posted By: gordon
Date Posted: 05 Mar 15 at 2:05pm

FD, Dragons, Stars, International 12s, Solings and even the Tempest and the Yngling are all doing well in Europe or elsewhere.

Apart from the ever popular Dragon not one of these boats ever had a large following in Britain.

Gordon

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Gordon

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 05 Mar 15 at 2:09pm

Firefly not doing too badly, either.

I'm an ex Europe sailor and like to keep up with what is happening with the boat (any vaguely play with the idea of sailing one again, one day), but all in the UK has gone very, very quiet. Mind, I've not looked on social media - maybe I should try Facebook when I get home.

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: JohnJack
Date Posted: 05 Mar 15 at 3:47pm

Originally posted by gordon

FD, Dragons, Stars, International 12s, Solings and even the Tempest and the Yngling are all doing well in Europe or elsewhere.

Apart from the ever popular Dragon not one of these boats ever had a large following in Britain.

Gordon

It's a funny phenomena the split between classes sailed here and in other relatively close countries.

Even international Classes, Enterprise, GP14 dont seem to have a huge following on other shores (other than a the odd one or two, I think the GP does OK in Ireland).

There doesn't seem to be one particular class which is big across the entirety of Europe. Fireball probably is the closest and most accessible.

470's 505's seem a little in accessible

Not counting the Laser of course

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 05 Mar 15 at 4:38pm

To crudely generalise I see European Classes, Commonwealth classes and US classes. Some classes manage to be strong in two, but very rare all 3. Its especially marked with keelboats.

I would't be altogether suprised if you could identify Northern Europe, Western Europe and Eastern Europe, but haven't really looked.

Posted By: gordon
Date Posted: 05 Mar 15 at 5:40pm

Part of the problem is that there is far more dinghy sailing in the UK than elsewhere in Europe, indeed in the world, with the possible exception of New Zealand.

Many classes exist only in UK, and can survive indeed thrive. In many European countries if you want to compete at a good level you go to the classes sailing internationally.

It is interesting to note which UK classes thrive in Ireland... not many: GP14, Fireball, Squib, Dragon, Flying Fifteen (only one active fleet in the South), some Mirrors and National 18s (in Cork Harbour only), a few SB20s. Not one of these classses except the Dragon and the Fireball exist really in Europe.

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Gordon

Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 06 Mar 15 at 8:21am

There is a UK Europe Class Facebook group. Their CA website got hacked and I don't think they have fixed it yet.

Rupert I have a sound but badly varnished hull on my drive which you would be very welcome to take away.

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the same, but different...