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Marine Resources 2022 - LEADERBOARD

RC Laser Europeans at Valenciennes, France

by Marc Albiges, FRA305 27 May 2016 12:59 BST 14-16 May 2016
RC Laser Europeans at Valenciennes, France © Marc Albiges

The Association France RC Laser has launched the first Europeans RC Laser event at Valenciennes in Northern France, a favourable geographic area to bring a maximum number of skippers from neighbouring countries.

Valenciennes is already known and recognized as club organizer of several national and international sailing radio controlled and RC Laser Events.

French skippers have already attended the last two worlds 2015 in Holland and 2013 in the UK as well as the UK National and therefore missing an rc laser Europeans to allow all of the skippers from other countries join and progress in promoting the class on the national and international level.

In recent years the RC Laser in France has progressed and skippers are growing in number to form large fleets in France national events and now to compete with other nations.

33 competitors from 8 different European nations and even two competitors from Australia came to join us.

All the skippers are passed the boat inspection; CV Valenciennes had installed a podium at the edge of the water to have a better view of the water while Racing.

A team of race Committee and judges was introduced to facilitate the reading of the fleet and monitor the boats on the water, observers in turn were invited to join this team to inform of breaches the rules, an educational way to learn more about the rules.

Competitors were divided into three flights to perform the first preliminary races, to constitute 3 fleets. The first 4 could climb up a fleet and the last 4 were to descend into the lower fleet.

The Championship is launched. The race of the first day was made in fairly strong winds, with competitors using C and D sails. And already the first places to play for, and each doing his best on a windy course. With 6 races completed (18 flights),Dave Fowler (GBR) had gained 4 wins, Marcel Bleeker (NED) one win, and Ulf Neumann (SWE) one win.

The second day was easier because the wind is moderated, with B sails present on the water. Now the skippers are beginning to get feelings for the wind and its shifts, making the racing tighter. With only 5.33 races (16 flights) sailed, the day was brought to a close, Tjakko Keizer (NED & Current World Champion) 2 wins, Marcel Bleeker (NED) 1 win, Taco Faber (NED) 1 win, and Adrian Tomlinson (GBR) 1 win.

A meeting of the international RC Laser was Held after the days racing at the clubhouse in order to pass information and communicate about upcoming events as well as the 2017 worlds in Australia, and the 2018 Europeans in Germany. Barbecue was had, closing the day, with all the skippers' taking the glass of friendship.

The last day races were in a very light and changing wind, with the top 3 places separated by 1 point and countback the pressure was on. Some skippers reveled in the light winds but had others struggling to navigate a capricious wind. Points between competitors are very close and it is only in the last race that everything plays out. Being attentive to the slightest changes in wind, a few helms reveled in the conditions. But with the wind faltering, the race Committee called it a day, with only 2 races sailed(6 flights), with wins going to Christel Cracco (BEL) and Dave Fowler(GBR).

The Championship ends, all the competitors take a look on the Bulletin Board to analyze their final position, some satisfied with their performance and others have simply attend their first RC Laser Europeans.

A beautiful spectacle, for all to see, by the RC Lasers throughout this Championship pleasant sailing and friendly atmosphere surrounded by very good skippers in a positive and well framed by talented judges.

Thanks to the CV Valenciennes, volunteers, judges and partners as well as the Asso France RC Laser and the International class without forgetting all the racers and escorts who have made this Championship "the feast of the RC Laser".

The prize are presented, and everyone leaves with a "sail" signed by the skippers and some of the partners and benefactors. Beautiful podium, and thanks to all for having responded to applaud the first female, the first junior, and without forgetting the skipper voted, top for fair play.

Bravo to you.

Overall Results:

PosSailCompetitorClub/CountryR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13Pts
1 840FOWLER DaveGREAT BRITAIN11114435131463157
2 26BLEEKER MarcelTHE NETHERLANDS29531313221941266
3 180KEIZER TjakkoTHE NETHERLANDS13313556113411DNF70
4 30TOMLINSON AdrianGREAT BRITAIN21082128276415269
5 305ALBIGES MarcC V C K VITROLLES12641111444987576
6 168CRACCO ChristelAFVRC45458973128121381
7 65NEUMANN UlfSWEDEN347961583610RAF1187
8 70MOELLER GunnarSWEDEN46210321012141831018112
9 51BLAIR JamieGREAT BRITAIN5898210913527RAF20112
10 265FERON ReneS N V V4151279RAF161087568121
11 01FABER TacoTHE NETHERLANDS5161516RAF6197DNF1929133
12 11TESMER DirkGERMANY371114161581110DNF18187161
13 67HOTHO MatthiasGERMANY3121928DNF242061117294189
14 40OBERG MatsSWEDEN6RAFRAF610DNF181791220DNF17200
15 83EVEILLARD PhilippeC Y C514RAF1221201116165112028202
16 201SEARY NigelGREAT BRITAIN102725111417212517101786208
17 17RIBEAUD AlainU.N.M.DNF17RAF15151615DNSDNF25131416238
18 126DARCY MichelC V ANNEVILLE S/S72627177712181926222124233
19 46BAUMAGART RalfGERMANY925202618DNF19201811141910232
20 100GRIFFITH AlanAUSTRALIA2131819222524262316161719240
21 146SANDBERG ThomasSWEDEN8231420172117151520232222237
22 21DESTAILLEUR EricC N CANCHE ETAPLES7292623251414142219312514263
23 7VERNHES JeanC V C K VITROLLES81110DNF19DNF23DNF2621251621271
24 118YNESTA JosephSN LA CIOTAT719161820182223202330DNF26276
25 41ZMUDA AdamCZECH REPUBLIC620242526232521271521OCS23290
26 145O’GRADY PeterAUSTRALIADNF282824242628242428151515291
27 76GUILLERMET PatriceC V C K VITROLLES8181721232730302927292429312
28 36WALLENBURG RobTHE NETHERLANDS924232728DNF29192530282325324
29 163VAN DAM RubenTHE NETHERLANDS621303027192628DNF2924DNF27335
30 160HOPMAN MaartenTHE NETHERLANDSRAFRAFRAF2929282727212427DNF31357
31 50DESTAILLEUR HugoC N CANCHE ETAPLES9302931DNF2932292831262630364
32 29CROUTE PhilippeC N RELECQ‑ KERHUONDNFRAFDNFDNS30DNF31DNSDNCDNCDNCDNFDNF413
33 101COLIN PhilippeC Y CDNCDNSDNSDNSDNFDNSDNSDNSDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC420

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