European Laser Masters Championship at Hvar, Croatia
by Ian Gregory 20 Nov 2016 18:54 GMT
21-27 October 2017
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Between Friday 21st and Thursday 27th October 162 Laser sailors from 20 countries gathered at Hvar in Croatia for the 2016 European Laser Masters Championship. Hvar is a lovely picturesque town on the Adriatic coast 1-2 hours ferry journey from Split, depending on whether you take the catamaran or car ferry. The boat park and measurement were in the historic town square with some interesting launching and recovery down narrow floating ramps straight into the harbour, where different yachts and ferries moored up on a daily basis. We were treated to warm sunny weather all week and, whilst at the start of the event there were rumours of a sailor booking an early flight home on the basis of a light wind forecast for the week, we enjoyed an excellent week's racing in 8-20 knots across a range of conditions. The racing was split into a fleet of 74 Standard rigs and a fleet of 88 Radial rigs with two races per day starting at a civilised 1pm. The race management was first class with the familiar Inner and Outer Loop course layout being used, and backed up by excellent regatta management back on shore. Two different race course areas were used that gave us the opportunity to see and enjoy more of the picturesque coastline and islands around Hvar, with a more open sea course area to the south and a more sheltered area between islands to the north.
A good number of sailors headed out in light winds on the Friday for the practice race to enjoy the sunshine, ensure they had unpacked and rigged their boats correctly and get a feel for the venue. Some light, patchy and shifty conditions were offered up on the more open sea course area, especially near the windward mark positioned close to one of the islands, with close racing and quite a bit of position changing. On the first day of the championship racing we rigged up in sunny weather and light wind from the opposite direction from the day before. As we sailed out from between the islands towards the same race course area it soon became apparent that 15 knots and wave surfing conditions had been served up for us to enjoy. So two races in decent sea sailing conditions, and some shifts to make some gains and losses, got the championship off to a great start. There was also some current against the wind direction, which mixed with familiar start-of-the-championship enthusiasm, resulted in some predicable general recalls, starting practice and a few sailors carrying a black flag penalty after the first day. The second day's conditions were similar to the first, with a slightly more consistent breeze, and slightly better waves that could easily tempt you to sail a longer distance down the right side of the run if you followed the wave pattern. There was also less current and a drop in the number of general recalls.
Day three gave us a change in scene as reports of strong wind out to sea resulted in a long sail out to the more sheltered race course area to the north, with islands to the left and right of the course area. This turned out to be the lightest race day with quite an unstable 7-10 knot breeze, with some sizeable shifts and difference in pressure across the race course; familiar territory for inland sailors, and challenging conditions to get right in a large fleet around a large course area. Some good close racing ensued, with congested mark-rounding, plenty of place changes and a real challenge not to carry at least one or two high-scoring results back home with you. Day four and it was back out to the more sheltered race area, but with the wind a more consistent 10-12 knots in the opposite direction and running more parallel with the channel between the island. There were still a number of shifts and gust patterns to choose from, or miss, but thankfully the wind was more even across the course than the day before. This wind combined with some marginal surfing conditions meant there was plenty of distance to be gained or lost, with a mix of inland and sea sailing skills tending to reap rewards.
The starting time on the final day was brought forward by an hour which caught out quite a few sailors unawares, however with some extremely strong gusts typical of the Bora wind blowing through the start was postponed by an hour in the hope that the worst of the gusts would blow through. Thankfully this turned out to be the case and we were released to launch at the usual time with no excuses for being late to the start. The wind was a good solid 15-20 knots with some strong gusts blowing through the course from time to time, and with the wind direction being diagonally across the channel between the islands there was plenty of variation in wind direction and strength. This random variability was most acute at the approach to the windward mark, located not too far from a steep cliff shoreline. So we finished the championship with what were probably the most challenging conditions of the week, with plenty of distance to be won and lost by finding the more favourable gust lines and shifts and avoiding the large (relatively) calmer patches. Those approaching the windward mark from the more open right side at the top of the beat tended to gain significant distance over those on the left hand side sailing parallel and closer to the shore.
It was an extremely enjoyable and well-run event held in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, thanks both to the competitors and our local hosts.
2016 European Laser Master Championship Medal Winners:
Radial Apprentice (Combined Men & Women)
1st Jon Emmet (GBR)
2nd Steve Smith (GBR)
3rd Monica Azon (ESP)
Radial Master (Combined Men & Women)
1st Ian Gregory (GBR)
2nd Xavier Boluda (ESP)
3rd Thomas Buettner (GER)
Radial Grand Master (Combined Men & Women)
1st Terry Scutcher (GBR)
2nd Rob Cage (GBR)
3rd Pierrick Amizet (FRA)
Radial Great Grand Master (Combined Men & Women)
1st Kevin Pearson (GBR)
2nd Peter Whipp (GBR)
3rd Alvarez Miguel (ESP)
Legend (Combined Men & Women)
1st Peter Seidenberg (USA)
2nd Peter Dietmuller (GER)
3rd Claude Tigier (FRA)
Radial Apprentice (Women)
1st Monica Azon (ESP)
2nd Pernilla Ekelund (SWE)
3rd Cecile Venuat (FRA)
Radial Master (Women)
1st Caroline Muselet (CAN)
2nd Giovanna Lenci (ITA)
3rd Dirma Eisenga (NED)
Radial Grand Master (Women)
1st Claudine Tatibouet (FRA)
2nd Isabelle Arnoux (FRA)
3rd Lesley Hotchin (GBR)
Radial Great Grand Master (Women)
1st Hilary Thomas (GBR)
Standard Apprentice (Men)
1st Tomas Gunst (BEL)
2nd Anders Wennberg (SWE)
3rd Nico Schafferling (GER)
Standard Master (Men)
1st Thomas Mueller (GER)
2nd Martin Lehner (AUT)
3rd Stefan Nordstrom (SWE)
Standard Grand Master (Men)
1st Jose Luis Doreste Blanco (ESP)
2nd Wolfgang Gerz (GER)
3rd Tomas Nordqvist (SWE)
Standard Great Grand Master (Men)
1st Stefan Kindborg (SWE)
The full results can be found here at lasereuropeanmasters16.com/en/results
Excellent pictures of the event taken by Thom Touw can be found here.