Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship 2021 in Sanxenxo, Spain - Day 4
by Fiona Brown 17 Sep 23:36 BST
13-18 September 2021
There are times when no matter how well a club organises a regatta and how prepared the sailors are, the weather simply refuses to allow racing to happen.
This was the case for the penultimate day of the Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship 2021 as at times torrential rain and a complete lack of stable wind put paid to any chance of running race seven of the eight race series. Conditions did improve a little in the afternoon and the race committee, led by Alejandro Martín de Pazos, took the fleet afloat as there were signs the breeze might stabilise and build, but once in the race area conditions began to deteriorate again and eventually the decision was made to send the boats home and try for two races on tomorrow's final day.
As a result, the overall standings remain unchanged. In the Open Division Rainer Mûller's Thisbe, helmed by Michel Teweles continues to lead the fleet by four points from Patrick Monteiro De Barros's Seljm with Philippe Durr's Junior two further points behind in third. Still in with a shot at a podium finish are Claes Henningsson's Notorious and Richard Göransson's Filippa who are both on 23 points, and Hugo Stenbeck's Sophie Racing on 24 points.
In the Classic Division the points are even tighter with Javier De La Gandara Alonso at the helm of the Escotet/Botas owned Aida holding a single point lead over the reigning Classic European Champion Jose Cusi's Bribon 500, helmed by Pedro Campos. There is then a three-point delta to Miguel Lago's Alibab II and Ossi Paija's Astrée who both count sixteen points with Javier Morzón's Caprice, helmed by Laureano Wizner Perales a further three points behind in fifth.
For the thirty-one strong fleet from eleven nations, it was a frustrating day, but they recognised that the race committee could do no more. Sanxenxo is normally a venue renowned for its reliable sailing conditions so to have experienced a week of generally light airs like this is rare. But the welcome the teams have received at the Real Club Nautico Sanxenxo has been exceptional and once again they were treated to delicious local wines and beers and to a wonderful variety of local foods after sailing, all thanks to the generous support of local suppliers recognised by the Galicia Calidade, the organisation that oversees the quality mark confirming a level of excellence for Galician produce and services.
International Six Metre Class President Louis Heckley is delighted with how the regatta is going and looks forward to returning to Sanxenxo next year for the Six Metre World Championship, which takes place from 10 to 18 June. "We have been so impressed with the organisation of this event. The speed with which the boats were launched and the masts stepped, the special berthing arrangements, the administration, the exceptional hospitality, and the generous sponsor support, everything has been first class. We've been particularly impressed with the race committee who have delivered great racing in difficult circumstances. We can't wait to be back again next June for the Worlds when we will have an even bigger fleet and hopefully travel restrictions will have eased to enable additional nations to join us."
The Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship 2021 concludes tomorrow, 18 September, when the Race Committee hopes to be able to complete the final two races in the eight-race series before the 15:00 final starting signal cut off time.
Provisional Results after Day 4: (top ten)
Open Division
1. SUI111 Thisbe - Rainer A Muller - 3, (5), 2, 3, 3, 1 = 12pts
2. POR4 Seljm - Patrick Monteiro De Barros - (7), 3, 3, 1, 5, 4 = 16pts
3. SUI77 Junior - Philippe Durr/Rainer Müller - 8, (10), 1, 4, 2, 3 = 18pts
4. SWE114 Notorious - Claes Henningsson - 1, 1, 7, 5, (10), 10 = 24pts
5. SWE137 Filippa - Richard Göransson - 2, 2, 4, 8, (11), 8 = 24pts
6. SUI132 Sophie Racing - Hugo Stenbeck - 4, (9), 9, 2, 4, 5 = 24pts
7. ESP16 Stella - Violeta Alvarez - 6, 11, 8, (15), 1, 2 = 28pts
8. SUI140 Ginkgo Too - Jan Eckert - 11, 6, 6, (13), 7, 6 = 36pts
9. GBR107 Valhalla - Paul Smith - 12, (15), 5, 14, 6, 7 = 44pts
10. GBR89 Battlecry - Jeremy Thorp - 5, (13), 12, 6, 13, 9 = 45pts
Classic Division
1. GER59 Aida - Escotet/Botas - 1, 1, 4, (8), 3, 3 = 12pts
2. ESP16 Bribon 500 - Jose Cusi - 6, 3, (10), 2, 1, 1 = 13pts
3. GBR50 Alibaba II - Miguel Lago Cereceda - 4, 6, 3, 1, (11), 2 = 16pts
4. FIN18 Astrée III - Ossi Paija - 2, 2, 2, 4, (8), 6 = 16pts
5. K48 Caprice - Javier Manzón - 3, 5, 1, (7), 5, 5 = 19pts
6. FRA111 Dix Août - Louis Heckly - 5, (10), 7, 5, 2, 4 = 23pts
7. ESP72 Titia - Alicia Freire Sánchez - (10), 9, 8, 3, 4, 7 = 31pts
8. GBR40 Valdai - Dirk Stolp/Tom Owen - 7, 14, 5, (15), 10, 8 = 44pts
9. KC19 Saskia II - Pierre Guex/Reiner Müller - (12), 11, 9, 6, 7, 11 = 44pts
10. ESP91 Stardust - Hermanos Campos - 8, 4, 13, 11, (14), 10 = 46pts
Further information about the event can be found at www.6mreuropeans2021.com and about the class at www.6metre.com. You can track the racing live and regular updates will be available on the ISMA Facebook page.
Full results available here.