505 Euro Cup 4 and Swedish Nationals at Råå, Sweden

Full throttle during 505 Euro Cup 4 and Swedish Nationals © Hanseric Orre

Close rounding during 505 Euro Cup 4 and Swedish Nationals © Hanseric Orre

Carl-Fredrik Fock & Johan Barne take the win at Råå

The Swedish Nationals were this year also the final leg of the 505 Euro Cup series. The regatta was held 8th - 10th of August in Råå, situated on the west coast of Skåne, Sweden. 22 teams from Sweden, Denmark and Germany participated.

Light breeze, slowly increasing from 6 to 12 knots, with 1 knot of current on day 1 made everybody seek less current, close to the shore. The racing was tight and there were many shifts in the positions. Peter Bökmark/Martin Persson, SWE, managed to take a lead late in the first race and won it, with Fock/Barne second. Malin Broberg/Johan Röök, SWE, won the second race. After a great start they could dominate the fleet. Fock/Barne secured another second. In the third race Fock/Barne took control early and won quite comfortably.

Day two came with less wind, many small shifts and different pressure over the course, i.e. tricky conditions. Broberg/Röök once again came out of the gate in a good position in race 4 and kept their lead. Fock/Barne were climbing in the fleet, after a less fortunate start but had to accept a new second place. Race 5 became thrilling as the wind dropped. At the same time, the eight first boats arrived at the last rounding. The leaders just before the rounding became 8th! Fock/Barne managed to find a track, catch the wind, and win the race. Fabiola and Michael Wonterghem, DEN, were second.

Race 6 Gate Start during 505 Euro Cup 4 and Swedish Nationals - photo © Hanseric Orre

After two days with light wind, the final day was sailed in 17-25 knots and gorgeous planning conditions! Carl Fredrik Fock/Johan Barne, SWE, won race 6 and 7, but they had to fight for it. Broberg/Röök were second in race 6 and Jens Biederer/Thomas Wasilewski, GER, was second in race 7. Fock/Barne decided to finish the day after two races, since they had already won the regatta. In the last race the daughter and father-team Wonterghem showed great performance and won clearly.

Fock & Barne rounding the final mark during 505 Euro Cup 4 and Swedish Nationals - photo © Hanseric Orre

The merits of the 2025 Swedish champions and Euro Cup 4 winners are solid. Carl-Fredrik Fock is a former 470 European Champion and was also World ranking leader in 470. Johan Barne has a second place in the 505 Worlds 2003 with Krister Bergström as well as two Swedish Nationals titles. They teamed in the 505 just before the Worlds 2024 and they try to sail 505 as often as the can, but since both are professional sailors, it is hard to get time enough together.

The Wonterghem victory in the last race lifted them to fifth place. Fourth place went to Biederer/Wasilewski, GER, while the podium was all Swedish. Barne/Fock clear winners, in second place Malin Broberg/Johan Röök and in third, Peter Bökmark/Martin Persson.

The podium at 505 Euro Cup 4 and Swedish Nationals - photo © Hanseric Orre

A well organised regatta by Råå Dinghy Club, great camaraderie ashore and very nice sailing!

Overall Results: