Folkboat Team Racing Champs at the Royal Solent Yacht Club

by Sarah Reed 2 Sep 2002 10:03 BST

International Walcon Cup Folkboat Team Racing Championships 2002

22-25 August 2002

Photo © Sarah Reed

Sponsored by Walcon Marine and hosted by the Royal Solent Yacht Club this biannual event attracted 6 teams, 2 from Denmark including Erik Andreasen (the class builder) and Poul Andersen (the class sailmaker), 1 from Sweden, 1 from the USA (San Francisco) and 2 British teams including current National Champion John Stork and Folkboat Week overall winner Nick Burgin.

3 days of sunshine, but light airs and strong tides made for very pleasurable spectating, but rather tricky team racing conditions. With two round robins to complete, windward leeward courses were set and the first day saw Denmark I achieve their first win which then put pressure on Denmark II who went out and beat Denmark I, much to their dismay, and then went on to beat Great Britain II. However GB I regained British pride by beating the USA. Then Denmark I beat USA whilst Denmark II managed a win over GBII, but could not manage to beat Sweden in the last race on Friday.

Saturday saw a postponement until about 1pm, due to lack of wind, but once racing commenced, USA secured a win against Sweden. Then GB I beat GB II but Denmark I was appearing invincible with 4 wins during the day, giving them the overall win of the event after two days. However GB I had a great day managing to beat Denmark II, a team which in past events have proved impossible to touch, but which Stork and Webb of GB I managed to team race out on the finish line to a well earned victory against Andreasen and Olesen. GB I also managed to beat Sweden who were also beaten by GB II. Not a good day for the Swedes who decided to make up for it with their singing in the evening.

Sunday’s racing was plaqued by light northerly breezes and very strong tides. Sideways and backwards appeared to work better forwards, however GB II managed two wins, one against the USA and the other, rather unfortunately against GB I which ruined their chances of catching up with the Danish teams. GB I had a bad race against Denmark II which really put an end to any hopes of beating the Danes.

With the tide becoming stronger and the wind fading hopes of getting the second round robin completed were looking slim and after race 29 was started and none of the boats could make the start line, Rachel Nuding, the race officer, sensibly abandoned the last two races, giving Denmark I the Walcon Cup trophy after only losing one race to Denmark II.

Events like this cannot happen without the generosity of those who lend their boats for this competition. Thanks goes to Robin Walters, Jim Tennant, Richard Webb, John Stork, Bernard Turner, Christine Webster, Nick Burgin and Dirk Kaylis for lending their pride and joys!!! Thanks also goes to Rachel Nuding and the team from Royal Solent Yacht Club for their efforts during the weekend’s events and also to the boat minders who have a rather thankless task of minding the boats!!! Thanks also to the on the water umpires – Jack Edwards, Robin Richardson, Bryan Smith and Penny Carter whose decisions although often unpopular, saved hours in the protest room and made the event run much smoother.

For further details on the folkboat, why not visit this year’s Southampton Boat Show where a model will be on display on stand C37. Contact Peter Ament for further details 01983 760621 or visit: www.zyworld.com/folkboats.

Overall Results: