Please select your home edition
Edition
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

Related Articles

Exciting updates for UK Europe Class Association
Working hard behind the scenes to enhance its online presence The UK Europe Class Association has been working hard behind the scenes to enhance its online presence, providing valuable resources and information to Europe sailors past, present and future. Posted on 17 Oct
Europe class UK Open and Youth Championships
The forecast, showing a weekend of two halves, did not disappoint 20 sailors 20 Europe sailors made the trip to Stokes Bay SC, with the class' usual diverse range of sailors complemented by a strong youth contingent, competing for the inaugural Synergy Marine UK Europe Youth Championship title! Posted on 30 Sep
Europes at Rutland
Sailing alongside the OKs and Finns Rutland's excellent facilities and wide open waters are a great venue for the three bendy-rig singlehanders that offer between them excellent racing for all shapes and sizes. Posted on 9 Sep
Europe class UK Nationals at Hayling overall
A light wind conclusion to a fantastic event Day 3 of the Allen Synergy Europe Nationals dawned with sunshine and little wind. A bit of a head scratcher for the race team. The fleet launched to have for the first time a gentle downwind to the start. Posted on 3 Jun
Europe class UK Nationals at Hayling Day 2
The fleet was greeted by wall-to-wall sunshine with a 15 - 20 knot northerly breeze After a breezy first day, the fleet was greeted by wall-to-wall sunshine with a 15 - 20 knot northerly breeze still blowing ahead of the second day of racing for the 2024 UK Europe National Championships! Posted on 2 Jun
Europe class UK Nationals at Hayling Day 1
A big start to the event for the 48 helms 48 Europes descended on Hayling Island Sailing Club for the UK National Championships sponsored by Allen & Synergy Marine. A new champion will be crowned and with lots of new sailors in the fleet the anticipation was building, along with the wind. Posted on 1 Jun
Youth and Women's fleet support
For the 2024 Europe Nationals It's less than two until racing kicks off at Hayling Island SC for the 2024 UK Europe Nationals! As well as the overall UK Europe National title, sailors will also be racing for the UK Europe Women's and Youth (U19) National Championship trophies! Posted on 21 May
Europe class UK Nationals runners and riders
Who might be on top of the podium at Hayling Island? With only a couple of weeks to go, and with the second guillotine about to descend on the second early entry discount over the coming weekend, time to have a look at who has thrown their hats in the ring. Posted on 15 May
Europes at Grafham
Local knowledge paid off Sunshine and a light breeze were the order of the weekend at Grafham Water for the 1st National ranking event of the year, with the added bonus of prizes courtesy of Gill. Posted on 13 May
Rock Lark, Phantom, Europe and Tasar Open Preview
Combined open meeting taking place over the early May Bank Holiday weekend Rock Sailing and Waterski Club is delighted to welcome the Lark, Phantom, Europe and Tasar fleets to the annual May Day Bank Holiday Open Meeting to be held from 4th to 6th May. Posted on 18 Apr
Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTERTrinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay