Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 M600 LEADERBOARD

K6 EuroCup 2024 at Centro Vela Alto Lario

by John Tabor 10 Jul 02:34 PDT 24-28 June 2024
K6 EuroCup on Lake Como © John Bennett / AVAL-CDV, Gravedona ed Uniti

It had been a Covid-delayed return to glorious Lake Como for the K6 fleet, competing over five days for the EuroCup trophy, hosted by the delightful and efficient team at AVAL-CDV, Gravedona ed Uniti.

Monday and the 14 K6s entered had what was scheduled to be a relaxed afternoon start for two races. Contrary to predictions the thermal wind came in strongly giving competitors a challenging racing with quite a swell down the Lake. As the fleet gathered for the first start Lawrence and Luka Crispin (K6 222) suffered a jib sheet block breakage and did not start.

The remainder of the fleet raced over a long windward/leeward course with Neil Fulcher/Jim Hunt (K6 201) coming home in first place following in by Mike Trueman/James Bennett/Paul Owen (K6 172) and Toby and Mark Woodings (K6 165) in third.

For race two the Italian race officer slightly shortened the course to keep within the 45 minute race time. Clean start by the fleet, which now included Lawrence and Luka. It didn't take them long to make their mark coming home in 1st, closely followed by Neil and Jim in second and Steve Bales, Jon Rigby and Samuel Webb (K6 195) in third.

Close racing is the hallmark of K6 racing and never more so between George Barker and Martin Gibson (K6 209) and Peter Kirkby and Richard Barker (K6 216) with George and Martin coming home seventh by a very short head. Ian Robson and Sandy Johnson (K6 162) suffered new kite failure, which knocked them down the fleet. Thankfully, they were able to find a local repairer who overnight stitched the tear together.

Tuesday saw a change in the weather, humid and cloudy conditions with a forecast of a storm late in the day. Whilst the fleet waited in hope for some wind and racing, it came as no surprise that racing was eventually cancelled for the day.

The forecast for Wednesday was similarly poor and despite some brighter weather, the wind failed to materialise and by 3pm racing was cancelled. Two days onshore so lots of time for that all important boat maintenance, adjustments and tuning, not forgetting the occasional informal get together over a beer at the Club bar.

Making up for lost racing, four races were arranged for Thursday in bright sunshine and lightish wind. Different course, off the Lake's eastern shore opposite the Club, saw a short but challenging beat and downwind, with clear advantage in short tacking up and gybing down the shoreline between the windward and leeward marks.

Lawrence and Luka came home in first place followed by Neil and Jim in hot pursuit. Third home was Ian and Sandy. Quick turnaround for race two, George and Martin and John Tabor and Nico Perzo (K6 122) were both deemed over the line at the start. Same course, same challenges, same top three. The third race saw a change in order with Ian and Sandy in first place followed in by Toby and Mark and the improving George and Martin in third.

Final race of the day, still in good weather, had Lawrence and Luka back in first place, Toby and Mark second and George and Martin third.

Thursday evening and a wonderful Championship diner at the Club. Open air, in true Italian style, catering so ably for everyone.

Friday, final days racing, good forecast with a building breeze and sunshine, perfect conditions! Overnight Lawrence and Luka held a slim lead from Neil and Jim, with Ian and Sandy having a battle for third with George and Martin. Another regatta was being held on the western side of the Lake, so a course on the opposite side was laid in the bay offshore from Dorio village.

It was clear that the left side of the beat held advantage in the first of three races scheduled with a tack onto port towards the windward mark. In their battle for third overall George and Martin started well coming home in first place pushing Lawrence and Luka into second and Ian and Sandy in third.

Things became tighter at the top with Neil and Jim winning the second race of the day from Mike, James and Paul in second and Lawrence and Luka third; George and Martin managed fourth. Final race of the Championship, did Lawrence and Luka have enough to maintain top spot? Yes they did, coming home in first place chased in by Neil and Jim with George and Martin third and Ian and Sandy fourth, just enough to retain their third place overall and left George and Martin rooing their earlier over the line start.

Notables in the fleet were the team of Mike Deane, Mark Fernley and Eddie Waring (K6 119) who had travelled from South Windermere to attend. It was also great to see Michel Guglieri, Morgane Besoli and Yann Guglieri (K6 194) from their base on the French Mediterranean.

Great credit for the success of the event must go to the Club and race team for succeeding in challenging conditions and making the right call to cancel racing on the Tuesday well before the storm came in. The Club was so very welcoming, it was a real delight.

As for the location, well it is not often you can sail in bright warm sunshine set against a backdrop of snow on the not so distant Alps, it is a real treat, can't wait to return.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9Pts
1K6 222Lawrence CrispinLuka Crispindns1114123110
2K6 201Neil FulcherJim Hunt12225441214
3K6 162Ian RobsonSandy Johnson79331339424
4K6 209George BarkerMartin Gibson577ocs3214325
5K6 165Toby WoodingsMark Woodings36842868736
6K6 195Steve BalesJon Rigby Samuel Webb43567596dnf36
7K6 172Mike TruemanJames Bennett Paul Owen24108912112641
8K6 216Peter KirkbyRichard Barker684567105dnf41
9K6 194Michel GuglieriMorgane Besoli Yann Guglieri859789810550
10K6 204Steven LiddellBryce Punchard10116910105121060
11K6 161Jeff Vander BorghtDavid Guthrie9dns1210dnf6137865
12K6 122John TaborNicolas Perzo111011ocs1113711972
13K6 119Mark FearnleyEddie Waring Mike Deanednfdns1311dnf1112131186
14K6 142John AdcroftDavid Adcroftdncdns141212dnsdncdncdnc98

Related Articles

Craftinsure K6 Nationals at Lymington
Three days of racing in the western Solent The western Solent and Royal Lymington YC were the fine venues for this year's K6 Nationals, sponsored by Craftinsure. Nine races were held over three days in what was forecast to be light wind. Posted on 21 Sep
Craftinsure K6 Inland Championship at Carsington
With a glorious evening, perfect for enjoying drinks and a good chat on the club balcony Seven boats competed in this year's Craftinsure K6 Inland Championships at Carsington SC. The low turnout of boats however did not stop the event from being hotly contested with previous national and inland champions attending. Posted on 7 Jun
K6 John Hall Trophy at Oxford
It didn't look promising It didn't look promising. The forecast predicted very light winds over the two days which may have been why visiting competitors stayed away. However the gloomy forecast did not deter eight Oxford based K6s from entering. Posted on 9 May
Successful Keelboat Endeavour in Burnham
Ben McGrane, representing the Flying Fifteen class, wins the title Ben McGrane, crewed by Russ Clark, Jamie Stewart and James Ross, representing the Flying Fifteen class, won the Keelboat Endeavour 2024, hosted by Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, after 30 races sailed in perfect conditions over the weekend. Posted on 22 Apr
K6 Champion set for Keelboat Endeavour Trophy
Inaugural event to be held at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in April The K6 Class will be represented at the prestigious Keelboat Endeavour Trophy in April, organised by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. Posted on 19 Jan
Craftinsure to Sponsor K6 UK Nationals and Inlands
2024 will also include a EuroCup event on Lake Como Craftinsure, the UK's foremost specialist marine insurers, has partnered with the K6 Class to sponsor its Inland and National Championships in 2024. Posted on 8 Dec 2023
Sailing Chandlery K6 Nationals 2023
Sharing their championship in the wonderful Torbay with the SB20s This year the K6 fleet shared their championship in the wonderful Torbay with the SB20s who were also holding their championship. For the first day of the event there was a change of format consisting of a sprint series. Posted on 4 Oct 2023
Sailing Chandlery sponsor SB20 and K6 UK Nationals
Taking place at the Royal Torbay Yacht Club in September Entries are now open to the K6 Nationals and SB20 UK Nationals and Sprint Championship, 20th - 24th September, at Royal Torbay Yacht Club. Enter now via the Royal Torbay YC website. Posted on 29 Jul 2023
Aldeburgh K6 Open
All competitors plus family enjoy the renowned fish & chips at a member's home Aldeburgh Yacht Club hosted the second open meeting of the season for the K6 class on 20/21 May following the well-attended open meeting at Oxford in April. Posted on 25 May 2023
K6 Inland Championships at Oxford
Fleet of 14 enjoy good race management Fourteen K6s took part in the inland championships. Three races were run on the Saturday over a windward-leeward course in 10 gusting 15 knots of breeze. Posted on 4 Apr 2023
Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service StayMaritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTER