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Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay

Europe class UK National Championship at the WPNSA

by Jennie Clark 18 Jun 2019 22:23 PDT 15-16 June 2019

The Europe class held their 2019 National Championships at WPNSA over the weekend of 15 and 16 June, and welcomed a record entry of 31 boats.

Recent activity by the UK Class Association has seen a real resurgence in interest in the class with a number of boats finding new owners after work by the class 'Cupid' Jon Tweedle, who has spent time encouraging people to sell on boats that are no longer wanted and matching those sales with people interested in either joining the class or upgrading an existing boat and freeing up an older one to move on to a new home. Class membership has also grown and the weekend provided a fantastic opportunity to come together and enjoy not only some first class racing but some first class training and socializing too!

A coaching day was held on Friday 14 June, with Laura Baldwin (2004 Europe Class UK Olympic rep) sharing hints and tips from her time in the class. Aided by Spanish Sail maker Alejandro Pareja Gonzalez the fleet gained much insight into the use of the sail controls and sail settings. It was interesting to note that at least half the sails used this weekend were made by Alejandro, who has had a huge impact on the class in the UK through his enthusiasm and willingness to cut sails to suit the smallest to the largest helms.

The first of 2 social events took place on Friday night, with a BBQ hosted by Jon and Hattie Tweedle. It set the scene nicely for friendly boat park banter on Saturday morning before the fleet set out for some pretty windy racing. Alejandro took line honours in race 1, closely followed by Graham Hutchins. Chris Gill showed super speed to take race 2 with Graham again in second. Alejandro ended the day with another win, with Chris hard on his heels. And so ended day one on the water, with lots of helms grinning at the great sailing they'd had but grimacing with aching leg muscles from some pretty extreme hiking!

On Saturday night over 50 sailors and their families enjoyed a meal and social at a local restaurant, and with the sun shining over the bay it was a lovely end to a great day of friendship and good racing.

Sunday morning dawned wet and windy and those aching muscles were really beginning to tell by now, but by 10.30 racing was under way and Laura Baldwin - back in the Europe after 15 years away - was a very delighted winner of race 4. With the placings still wide open Chris took race 5 guaranteeing him a good result overall, but the last race was to be Alejandro's and that gave him first overall and the title of Open Champion, with Chris in second becoming our new National Champion. Graham finished third overall and took the Roaring Forties title, Laura was first Lady in fourth place, Richard Eagleton is the new 'Swinging Sixties champion and was 9th overall and Ben Harris is the new Junior Champion having finished 17th.

Looking at the fleet there are some interesting statistics. 40% of the fleet were female, with 50% of the fleet under 40 years of age. Ages ranged from 15 to 70+ with helm weights between 50 and 83kg. Pretty impressive stuff.

Following the success of the event we now have more helms looking for boats than we currently have boats available for. If you know of a Europe that might be available for sale please get in touch with the class association.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Europe nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

PosNatSail NoHelmClubBoat NameAge GroupR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1ESP698Alejandro Pareja GonzalezReal Club Nautico TorreviejaSAILTECH 1‑412217
2GBR352Chris GillPortishead Y&SC  ‑41241210
3BEL986Graham HutchinsRoyal Belgium SC Roaring 40's2233‑4313
4GBR383Laura BaldwinCastle Cove SC  3341‑5415
5GBR381Adam MayWPSNA Roaring 40's55553(RET)23
6GBR407Tim LawesStarcross SC Roaring 40's(UFD)8687534
7GBR317Terry CurtisWeymouth SCIris 13(RET)1166642
8GBR355Lucy BorehamChichester YC Roaring 40's109878(RET)42
9GBR377Richard EagletonBexhill SCSlushfunSwinging 60's8710914(DNC)48
10GBR361Olly HarrisWeston SC/Rock SCERPLERoaring 40's6691615(DNC)52
11GBR351Mandy SweetGrafham Water SCMilou 1112‑151113855
12GBR332Emma PearsonStokes Bay SCFab 1 915‑1910121056
13GBR397Malcolm MorleyOvery Staite SC Roaring 40's161371310(RET)59
14USA111Kathy SherrattWeston SCMEEDYRoaring 40's18‑22171491169
15GBR1348Kahla Delahay   1910121216(DNC)69
16GBR213Dan OsborneLlandegfedd SCStrictly Business 71914‑22201272
17GBR279Ben HarrisWeston SC/Rock SCEurotrashJunior(UFD)18211511974
18GBR333Kim ClarkLee on Solent SC  ‑20142018171382
19GBR401Hamish MorleyOvery Staite SC Junior12111620(RET)DNC92
20GBR406Gareth TweedleEmsworth SC Roaring 40's17231817(RET)DNC108
21ESP680Jack OsborneLlandegfedd SCBusiness Class 24‑2625252114109
22GBR330Peter BellRoyal Lymington YC/Highcliffe SCSno Joke (DNC)DNCDNC19187110
23GBR348Adrian CudmoreChew Valley Lake SCPeter PanRoaring 40's141713(DNC)DNCDNC110
24GBR252Jon TweedleOxford SC/RAFSAFizzerRoaring 40's151622(DNC)DNCDNC119
25GBR52George CormackDale YC Swinging 60's2525272419(DNC)120
26GBR95Clare GilesGunfleet SC  2627282322(DNC)126
27GBR400Ellie ClarkRipon SC/Overy Staite SC Junior(DNC)202321RETDNC130
28GBR207Caitlin TweedleOxford SC/RAFSA  222124(DNC)DNCDNC133
29GBR404Fiona Taylor BullmoreFrensham Pond SC Roaring 40's212426(RET)DNCDNC137
30GBR342Annabel Jones LaurieHarlow Blackwater SC  23(RET)DNCDNCDNCDNC155
31GBR3651Alex McFarlaneCastle Cove SC  (DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC165
31GBR393Geoff NewmanChichester YC Swinging 60's(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC165

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