Marlin Spike Rum John Broughton European Cup and UK Snipe Nationals at Stone Sailing Club

Marlin Spike Rum Snipe European Cup and UK Nationals at Stone © AJ Barrett / BR Sailing Photography

Stone Sailing Club on the Blackwater Estuary hosted the Snipe Nationals and European Cup. 31 UK teams competed over the first 7 races to be National Champions, these included 3 teams from Orkney. Teams from around the world boosted the competitors to 49 for the 8 race European Cup series, these countries included France, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Poland, Norway, Brazil, USA and Japan.

A briefing was held on Thursday morning for the fleet to get acquainted with the race officer, we were informed we would attempt 3 races rather than the scheduled 2 because of light conditions forecast over the next couple of days. We launched off the beach in a Force 4 with some very big gusts coming through, one of which made Richard & Debbie Marshall's spreader bracket decide it no longer wanted to be connected to the mast, inverting the mast in spectacular fashion on their way to the start line! (luckily, they managed to get another mast up for the next day).

Marlin Spike Rum Snipe European Cup and UK Nationals at Stone - photo © AJ Barrett / BR Sailing Photography

The first race started in 17 knots. Manu Hens & Alexandre Tinoco led from the first mark to the finish followed by Herman & Daan Vandormael, Peter Wolstenholme & Lloyd Roberts had moved into 3rd after a flying reach passing 4 boats before inverting their mast just before the gybe at the wing mark! This left Jose Valderrama & Juan Carlos Pascual 3rd and Matt Wolstenholme & Will Maguire 4th and the 1st British boat until John Reed & Dan Pearson passed them up the beat, but they managed to reclaim 4th down the reach to the finish.

The wind built for the start of the second race to 19 knots with a couple of big gusts, some well over 25 during the race. Manu & Alex once again led from the first mark but this time they were chased by Jose & Juan Carlos. Herman & Daan rounded the top mark outside the top 10 but fought through the fleet superbly to pass the Spaniards up the second beat after flying down the reaches, achieving the fastest speed of the day at 12.8 knots. Joe Warwicker and Riku Vaariskoski were the first Brits in 4th after passing Matt & Will at the gybe mark while they were sorting a pole tangle. The third race wasn't started because the race committee were recording wind strengths regularly and sustained over the Snipe wind limit of 23 knots.

Jerome Thomas and crew Gabin Thomas (youngest sailor competing at 11 yrs old) during the Marlin Spike Rum Snipe European Cup and UK Nationals at Stone - photo © AJ Barrett / BR Sailing Photography

That evening games night brought international teams together competing for glory. The Sponsor, Marlin Spike Rum provided cocktails to ensure no rules were strictly adhered to. Standout performances were shown by team One in the 4 in a sack race, leaving the second placed team to just jump on the spot, whilst team Five were superior in height and longevity with their spaghetti tower.

As forecast, Friday morning was very light winds, and the Race officer kept us ashore until 2pm when the wind started to fill. The sea breeze from the east was battling the forecast wind from the south throughout the first race leading to very tricky conditions with almost no wind at times and puffs filling in from both directions. Yohei Koso and Haruna Egawa this time led off the line after an excellent start near the committee boat to get their title fight off to a start after a difficult first day. Peter Wolstenholme and Lloyd Roberts were the first British boat in 3rd after having been 2nd for most of the race until Manu & Alex passed them right at the end of the last run, with, in Peter's words, a "lucky" gust. Charlotte Martot and Katia Royer were an excellent 4th.

The Committee moved the course for the second race further to the east downriver and into the more consistent sea breeze of around 5 knots. Manu & Alex got back to their winning ways, this time with Joe & Riku their nearest challenger after an excellent start off the pin end of the line. Herman & Daan were 3rd with Yohei & Haruna 4th.

Marlin Spike Rum Snipe European Cup and UK Nationals at Stone - photo © AJ Barrett / BR Sailing Photography

Following another great dinner prepared at the club, the Commodore's Cheese and Wine Reception was used to draw a competitor to win the PL sails. The winner, Sonia (from Motril, Spain) could not have been more pleased.

The first start was scheduled for 11am on Saturday and the committee got us together for a briefing at 10 to let us know he wouldn't wait as the forecast was for the wind to drop throughout the day. As promised the race was started on time but promptly postponed as the fickle wind dropped and shifted with a couple of minutes to go to the starting gun. The course was re-laid but no more attempts to start were made as the wind disappeared and the fleet were towed in to end the morning. Although there was no wind forecast, the committee and locals expected a sea breeze to fill in during the afternoon and it started to show signs of it from 2pm. To fill the time, Ben Harden from Allen Brothers provided a fitting out workshop on the beach around a new boat. The committee informed us they would attempt a start at 3pm.

Local knowledge was correct, and the sea breeze filled enough (7 knots) to get racing under way on time although the wind remained fickle throughout. With the tide pushing the fleet over the line, it took 4 attempts to start a race but eventually under black flag we were under way. Manu & Alex once again led from the front, this time chased by Martin Bermudez & Beatriz Diaz Norris who seemed to have the advantage downwind passing them on the way to the leeward gate, but Manu & Alex repassed and opened a large gap which they held to the finish up the subsequent beat. Yohei & Haruna were 3rd, enjoying the lighter conditions, with Peter & Lloyd just holding off Joe & Riku to be the first Brit after the latter had excellently fought back from multiple 720s. No further races were started on Saturday.

First Womens Team Charlotte Martot and Katia Royer during the Marlin Spike Rum Snipe European Cup and UK Nationals at Stone - photo © AJ Barrett / BR Sailing Photography

With bow ties, jackets and elegant dresses the order for the more formal evening meal, there was great anticipation over what was the mystery raffle prize, unlikely anyone guessed a trombone! The evening progressed with the band initially filling the dance floor with some ska and reggae and by the end leaving the audience wanting more.

We awoke on Sunday morning to a much more consistent breeze and the race committee promptly let us know they would attempt to sail 3 races to get us to 8 total to allow for the second discard to come into play. Race 6 began in 11 knots of breeze and a reasonable chop with the wind against tide. Manu & Alex again led from the first mark, but this time were closely pursued by Jose & Juan Carlos before they overstood the second windward mark dropping them into the fleet behind, allowing Angel Ballesteros & Sonia Hidalgo to claim 2nd. Matt & Will were the first Brit in 3rd having held the position for most of the race before losing a few places down the run but gained them back by avoiding the battle that evolved at the leeward mark and sailing around the outside.

The wind fell slightly for the second race of the day to 9 knots. Manu & Alex once again won this one comfortably with Martin & Bea 2nd and Angel & Sonia 3rd. Joe & Riku were first Brits in 4th, sealing the National championship. The wind again fell for the last race, which started in 6 knots and continued to fall throughout. Matt & Will, and Peter & Lloyd gambled on sailing hard left to get out of the now rapidly falling tide, but it didn't pay as the wind seemed to fill down the middle of the course. Manu & Alex again led from the start, this time chased by Neil Martyn & Randi Stray who made an excellent call down the final run to predict a shift and pass the leaders becoming only the second boat to beat Manu & Alex during the event. Yohei & Haruna were 3rd and Joe & Riku 4th.

Overall winners Manu Hens and Alex Tinoco during the Marlin Spike Rum Snipe European Cup and UK Nationals at Stone - photo © AJ Barrett / BR Sailing Photography

Stone Sailing Club did an amazing job getting in 8 of the 9 scheduled races, given the fickle conditions, as well as catering and entertaining us to a high standard. Our sponsors Marlin Spike Rum, Superspar, PLsails, Allen Brothers, Maldon Sea Salt, Tiptree Jam and Ramsey Island Brewery provided us some excellent gifts and prizes. Antonellis supplies on-tap ice cream throughout the event.

None of this would have happened without Sue Roberts pulling it and everyone together; we are all very grateful she did.

Full photo gallery at brsailingphotography.pixieset.com/snipeeuropeancup

European Cup

First overall Manu Hens (BEL) and Alexandre Tinoco (NED)
Second overall Herman Vandormael (BEL) and Daan Vandormael (BEL)
Third Overall Yohei Koso (JPN) and Haruna Egawa (JPN)
First British Boat Joe Warwicker (GBR) and Riku Vaariskoski (FIN)
First Under 30 Jose Valderrama (ESP) and Juan Carlos Pasual (ESP)
First Women's team Charlotte Martot (BEL) and Katia Royer (BEL)

UK Nationals

First Overall Joe Warwicker and Riku Vaariskoski
Second Overall Matthew Wolstenholme and Will Maguire
Third Overall Ben Harden and Lucy Ellery
First Junior Team Connor Line and Toby Bush
First Master team Peter Wolstenholme and Lloyd Roberts

Overall Results: