International One Metre Class Europeans at Rogoznica, Croatia starts today
by GBR IOM Class 8 Apr 05:43 BST
8-13 April 2018
All set at the International One Metre Class Europeans in Rogoznica, Croatia © GBR IOM Class
Seventy-six of the world's best radio sailing skippers have descended on the Croatian, Mediterranean town of Rogoznica for the IOM Class European Championship. Competitors representing 17 countries will do battle over 6 full days to determine this years winner with a number of past champions and form skippers looking to take on the title of European Champion that was last won by GBR's Brad Gibson in Vitoria, Spain.
The IOM is a truly international class that continues to attract the best skippers and designers in the discipline of radio sailing and many names from the full size world. The class falls within the banner of World Sailing and the International Radio Sailing Association and continues to enjoy significant growth both here in the UK and abroad. International events are overseen by 'live' World Sailing umpires where any infringements are called and acted upon or taken to the room.
All eyes will be on a number of top skippers from across Europe and the globe including 2017 World Champion Zvonko Jelacic – CRO, Guillermo Beltri – ESP, Soren Andresen – DEN, Olivier Cohen and Alexis Carre - FRA, Gary Boell and Mark Gollison – USA.
Our own 10-member GBR team is again a formidable one that includes no less than three past World Champions led by Graham Bantock, Rob Walsh and Trevor Binks who are keen to replicate the good form of recent years.
Interest will also be focussed again on design with the IOM being a restricted development class that attracts attention from the home designer through to the professionals of the big boat world.
Since 2011 the Britpop design of GBR's Brad Gibson has set the standard holding all International trophies competed for until victory by Zvonko Jelacic at the 2017 worlds, however with Croatia due to throw up a different combination of conditions it would be hard to bet against a Britpop once again taking the title.
Designs to watch include the V10 from New Zealand's Ian Vickers, Zvonko Jelacic's Kantun 2 from Croatia, Graham Bantock's Akziom from GBR, Jeff Byerley's Maxim from Australia and the Sedici from Italian Americas Cup designer Giovani Ceccarelli.
With the above known factors, this year's event is wide open.
Good luck to all skippers from the GBR IOM Class.