Funktion (www.europeclass.org)


HOME

NEXT MAJOR EVENTS

E-NEWS GALLERY

E-News 1-4/2007

2005-2006 E-News

3-4/2006

4/2005, 1-2/2006

E-News 3/2005

E-News 2/2005

E-News 1/2005

< 2005 E-News

ARCHIVE

OUR CHAMPIONS

DOWNLOADS

RANKING

HISTORY

PHOTOGALLERY

LINKS

DATABASE


IECU
WB-Sails
Winner Boats
Toni Tio



 Hem » E-NEWS GALLERY » 2005-2006 E-News » E-News 2/2005

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Just now is a very important period in the Europe Class history. Not being Olympic Class anymore allows us to look for changes in profit of all the Class. I think it is very, very important that the Class moves in the direction the sailors want, and not only in the direction the federations and leaders want. For this reason the Europe Class board had a meeting in March. We succeeded in creating some ideas for the future. These ideas have been sent to your national Chairmen. They have been asked, together with you sailors, to discuss the results the IECU board recommended, and to discuss other plans for the future. During the European Championship in Helsinki, there will be a meeting where I expect as many national Chairmen as possible to be present, and the IECU board. They will sit together and find out in what directions you sailors want the IECU board to work. I am as usual looking forward to visit the Worlds, Europeans and Youth. I hope you all will have a fantastic sailing period.
Best regards. Jan Abrahamsen, IECU President

WORKING HARD IN THE UK

Given the dramatic decision by ISAF regarding the Europe, it was felt by the UK Class Association that we should have a presence at this year’s Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace, and show that there is life outside of the Olympics! With 10,000 people passing through the doors we could not miss this opportunity, and indeed the International Europe Class Union helped by lending us their professional display stand, together with bundles of leaflets and information packs. I was amazed at the number of people who stopped at the stand to commiserate, and said ISAF’s decision was wrong. We had a lot of enquiries from potential new Europe sailors, and saw a lot of old faces who are hopefully going to get their boats back out on the water. The general feeling was the class will no longer appear elitist (was it really?), and therefore attract more club sailors - we shall see! During the show a number of the Class Chairman of single-handers got together, and discussed how we could all work more closely. It is early days but class associations are starting to talk and agreeing joint events, but we have already held a joint event with the Splash Class. The UK has been hit hard by the number of ladies leaving to sail the Laser Radial, but we are trying new ideas, conducted a questionnaire from members about what they want, and are publicising events harder than before. We hope that over time we can rebuild the number of Europe sailors in the UK.
Robert Laurie UK Class Chairman

TROFEO PRINCESA SOFÍA

– Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa
March 05 A total of 96 sailors participated in this 36th edition of the Princesa Sofía Trophy representing 7 countries: ESP, FIN, GBR, GER, NOR, POR and SWE. 31 Women, 40 Men, 9 Women Junior, and 16 Men Junior were there to enjoy the traditional trophy.

Final Results:

1. ESP666 Jesús Rogel Sanchez 47
2. SWE6 Sebastian Östling 52
3. POR208 Hugo Verissimo 62
4. ESP470 Eduardo Zalvide Borrero 69
5. FIN77 Jouni Kokko 74
6. ESP645 Ignacio Calabria 74
7. SWE3485 Emil Cedergardh 90
8. SWE85 Christian Harding 90
9. ESP561 Ivan Moreno 94
10 .SWE16 Sandra Sandqvist 97
11. NOR391 Stian Tuv 98
12. ESP384 Marc Paris Gilbert 100
13. POR229 Davide Gonçalves 101
14. SWE5 Tobias Östling 103
15. FIN800 Nina Ramm-Schmidt 114


FROM FRANCE

After our Christmas race, most of us took a pause due mainly to the lack of good conditions (too much wind, cold weather...) and a lack of races during the winter period. The come back to race was, for the majority of us, on March 26th for an inter-regional race held in 4 places around France. The conditions were quitly different from one place to another as some of us didn’t sail at all while other had too much wind. Then, after a quick come back to serious training for some of us, there was our National Spring Cup held in La Rochelle (place for the sailing part of the Olympic Games if they are in Paris in 2012). From April 17th to 21st, 78 sailors met in difficult conditions. There have been strong winds as well as light winds. No surprisingly, our veteran Peter Van Lear won, followed by two young sailors, Sébastian Scotto and Loic Baizez (Brice’s brother). There were some places for the first to qualify the European. Less than 3 weeks later, it was the turn of the French Senior Championship held on the Maubuisson Lake in the south west of France, near Bordeaux. The conditions were nearly the same as in La Rochelle. There were 25 women and 43 men. It is also to notice that about 15 of our former sailors are now on other Olympic support. They are on 470 (Brice Baizez, Blandine Rouille and Manon Borsi), Tornado (Mathieu Derand and Jean Christophe Gache), Laser Radial (Solène Brain, Sophie de Turckheim, Mathilde Geron and Sarah Steyaert) or Laser (Emmanuel Taine). We can also notice that the Europe dinghy is a very good boat because at the last French Senior Championship, the podium was full of former Europe Sailors (Solène, Mathilde and Sarah) on the Laser Radial dinghy. Last I would like to invite you to our summer National Cup which will be held in Pareloup (South) from August 13rd to 18th. It is open to everyone wanting to do it and will be preceeded by a franco-german training period of one week.
Antoine FRA 5579 (El Pécador)

GREETINGS FROM FINLAND

When writing this the sailing season has recently started in Finland. We have had a "late" winter with quite a lot of snow, and in the North we still get snow showers. The most eager Europe dinghy sailors have been practising during the spring in Mallorca or in Sweden, but the majority of the Finnish sailors have been out sailing only on home waters for a few weeks. Our first ranking-regatta, the Cottonfield Cup, was held this weekend in Helsinki. On the first day we had a nice sunny day but difficult winds around 4-6 m/s circling 180 degrees during the regatta. On Sunday the Southwesterly wind was blowing strongly, up to 17 m/s in the gusts, from the open sea and creating quite difficult conditions with a water temperature of only +8 degrees. Most sailors were swimming frequently. Only one race was sailed that day. In the final results Sari Multala was 1, Jouni Kokko 2 and Nina Ramm-Schmidt 3. The regatta was not only the first ranking regatta for this season, it was also the first qualifying regatta for the Finnish team to the European Championship and will be followed by two more qualifying regattas during the next few weeks. Following these qualifying regattas the Finnish Championship will take place in Helsinki June 17-19 only a little more than a week prior to Open Week. Preparations for the European Championship are going into the final stage, and NJK has been quite busy making sure that everybody will have a fair race and a nice stay in Helsinki. The water temperature will have gone up quite a bit by then, so you don’t need to worry about any icebergs in July... We have sent an order for sunshine to the weather gods for the whole period. There will also be lots of activities for the sailors’ supporters during the days. Europe Class Finland wishes you all welcome to Finland, and we look very much forward to see you all in Helsinki from the end of June till July 11 or later.
ECF – Kathe Ramm-Schmidt

FROM ITALY

After the selection regattas, the Asseuropa in agreement with the Italian Sailing Federation is working to form the national team which will participate abroad and represent Italy. Out of the 6 scheduled regattas, five have been sailed with a total of 22 races in Napoli, Pesaro (Adriatico), Torbole (Garda), Livorno and Gravedona (Como). The regattas’ development and the state of the adverse meteorological conditions made difficult respecting the security norms and run the regatta. The international events, European and World Championships are always more "impegnativi" due to the expenses that the sailors have to support for the trip charges or to realise the strategy engaged by the Europe Class, specially this year. Special strategy for the choice of the event which will have to take into account the National Authority’s request. The Class image however has priority and has to demonstrate that it is alive and present in each occasion. The constant presence is the best publicity and avoid to let the Class in the shadow of the national sailing activities. In this line, the Europe Class will participate, this year, to the Italian Championship - Olympic Classes where the Europe Class National Championship will take place and titles for women, men and youth will be granted. This confrontation with other similar classes in the same course, is a dignified participation and our sailors will have again the possibility to demonstrate on site the technical and athletic qualities of the Europe dinghy. The Asseuropa has the intention to intensify the activities in Italy and abroad through an important participation as the goal is to be always present and keep the attention of the sailing world, despite the onerous charges. We find it essential to demonstrate the Europe Class vitality, surpassing readily the "incident" of the Olympic status exclusion and taking care of our youngsters, their formation and preparation In such prospect renewing with training meetings at top level is as well an integral part of these actual and future programs.
Claudio Morana President ASSEUROPA

FROM LATVIA

Unfortunately I must say that the Europe Class in our country has stopped developing after the 2000 Olympic Games. There are 7 boats (all around 10 years old), all located in Riga and they are used more or less for fun racing. Last season the class was included in the National Championships. No sailors are going out of the country to compete. The young sailors finishing Optimist Class choose Laser or Laser Radial because the competition in this class is much stronger in our country. For the time being thats all news.
Zaklina Litauniece

FROM NEW ZEALAND 

NZ is divided into two main islands with a strait between them, that costs a couple of hundred dollars to transport boats and trailers accross on the ferries, this tends to isolate the islands as far as getting the fleets from both islands sailing together. In the past all the Olympic Europe sailors have centred in the North Island, and in the South Island, for the past 15 years, Peter Andrews has been quietly building up the Europe fleet to his goal of 30 boats which he has now achieved, plus 2.
In the 4 years I have been involved with the class there has been little or no communication between the NZ Owners Assoc in Auckland, and the S.I. fleet, it seems the Olympics have been the focus for Auckland, while in the S.I. none of us are anywhere near that level, so “never the ‘twain shall meet”.
In the S.I. we have a fleet of 32 boats, of which 7 are women, the main concentration being in the city of Christchurch, also where the Europe Class S.I. Owners Assoc is based. We have newsletters going out every 2 months to all the S.I. owners, we have S.I. championships, Canterbury championships (this is the province Christchurch is in)  and line honours and handicap trophies for “Special Events”.
This is where we might travel as a fleet to some open regatta somewhere in the S.I. and sail together. At our last AGM (this May) we decided to introduce a special trophy for our women, which they can compete for within all our events.
The competition is very strong in the S.I. and we take our racing seriously, we just don’t want to get bogged down with the politics and bureaucracy  of Olympic and our national yachting administration (YNZ) matters.
At our last AGM we determined to try and get a mini website on the YNZ website to promote the class in the S.I. but this involved becoming an Incorporated Society, and affiliated to YNZ, which we aren’t interested in doing, so I have been in contact with the NZ Europe Class to see if we can negotiate part of their website as they have met all the criteria and have a site, but their site is out of date because of the recession of the class in Auckland.
This has led to dialogue between us which has not happened in the 4 years I have been involved, so I am hopeful that may be some good for the class will come out of it, and a closer co-operation between the north and south island fleets. So. It is not all bad news about losing Olympic status.
We are in the winter time here, so it is the time to set up next seasons program of events, and currently we are enquiring with the N.I. fleets to see if we can hold a regatta together next summer, if it happens that will be another first for a long time.
In the S.I. we have had a core of about 3 or 4 sailors who have been active in the class for ages, but recently there has been a lot of new blood joined which has given a new impetus and fresh ideas which has been great, in fact in the last month we have had 4 boats change hands from folks who weren’t using them anymore to people who hopefully will, in fact some of us intend sailing through the winter.
One of the bonuses I have found with the Europe here in NZ, is that I can go to any of the local yacht clubs and sail against a lot of different classes and have good racing. Europes seem to be
able to hold their own in all conditions with most of the classes of similar type sailing in NZ.
Well, that’s what happening over here in NZ, if I can be of any help please let me know.
Regards.
Tom Arthur
S.I. Owners Group secretary.

FROM CROATIA

As all countries, we have the same problem with the Europe Class. Many girls want to sail in Laser R now. But we are trying to keep as many boys and girls in this class and now we have around 20-25 sailors.
We do not have a full 2005 calendar for the Europe Class in Croatia, many regattas are changed and will be changed for our class.
Our sailors will go to the Europeans in Finland and to the Youth Europeans in Norway. We will have the same good trainings  in June but I do not know exactly the date.  Sailors from Slovenia and Italy will come to this training. If you need information you are welcome, please take contact.
Theo Pizzul
theo.pizull@ri.htnet.hr

TAKE NOTE
New secretary for the Croatian Europe Class
Theo Pizzul
Theo.pizzul@ri.htnet.hr

The Europe Class European Championships and Open Week 2005 in Helsinki, Finland 

The Europe Class European Championships and Open Week will be organized in Helsinki, Finland between June 29th and July 11th 2005. The Championships will be organised by the yacht club Nyländska Jaktklubben (NJK) in co-operation with Europe Class Finland ry.
NJK has a vast experience in organizing large scale sailing events. In 2003 it hosted the Womens Match Race European Championships and in 2002 the 8mR-class World Championships.
NJK has two home harbours in Helsinki, Blekholmen and Björkholmen. The Europe Class European Championships and Open Week will be held at Björkholmen, which is located in the western part of Drumsö island, less than five kilometers from the city center. With berths for 210 boats Björkholmen is one of the busiest sailing centres in the Helsinki region.
Several world class sailors have confirmed their participation in the Europe Class European Championships, among others Siren Sundby who won the Olympic Gold Medal in Athens in 2004 and Sari Multala who came 2nd in the Europe Class World Championships in 2004.  For Sari Multala the European Championships in July will be her last in this class before she switches over to Laser Radial.
The Europe Class European Championships will start on July 4th and the Prize giving and closing ceremony will take place on July 11th at NJK´s Blekholmen harbour.
The Open Week is held during the week prior to the Championships (29th June – 3rd July). All daily races will be held on the waters SW of Helsinki, at race areas south of Melkö island.
NJK is proud to host the Europe Class European Championships 2005 and the organizing committee is looking forward to welcoming international sailors to beautiful Helsinki.

Additional information:
www.njk.fi/ecec2005
Johanna Backas,   Press contact person / ECEC,  phone: +358 40 7231434
Tiina Kujala, Race secretary , phone: +358 40 576 2497
Kathe Ramm-Schmidt, Europe Class Finland ry, phone: +358 40 7341473

FROM AUSTRIA

The Austrian Europe Class Association just had the first regatta in Austria at lake Neusiedl. Wind was strong. For some of our new sailors a little bit too strong.. It is good to have the first regattas to check the Austrian scene. As far as I can tell now the fleet decreased a little bit, but not as much as I thought in the beginning of the season. There are a lot of young sailors that switched from Optimist and the boys enjoy to be back in the Top 3 again. In May and June we have got 2 regattas. One of these is the Omega Sailing Week at Lake Traunsee. To make some advertisement Ellen Mac Arthur will be guest of this event ! For the pricegiving all competitors have the chance to win an Omega-clock ! And we hope that there will come a lot of Europe sailors from abroad ! For more information look at www.traunseewoche.at
The Austrian Europe Class Association wishes all of you a great season and I hope to meet some of you one time !
Blue Sky Racing Days results, Greetings  Alice Fritsch
 
YC Breivenbrunn
1. 131 Martin Gisch
2. 124 Alice Fritsch
3. 150 Lukas Hobinger
4. 113 Franz Steiner
5. 107 Benjamin Politor

Spring Cup Regatta
1. AUT124 Alice Fritsch
2. AUT17 Peter Styblo
3. AUT150 Lukas Hobinger
4. AUT131 Martin Gisch
5. GER1422 Christoph Tittes

SOLIDARITY PROGRAM
– EASIER TO START A EUROPE FLEET


Back to our  Solidarity Program (installed in 2003)  and which aim is to support countries willing to start a Europe fleet, the program offers a free boat for each five  bought. These countries (an association, club or other “non for profit” organisation) interested in starting a Europe fleet can apply to IECU Secretariat info@europeclass.org.
The IECU is supported  by various approved boatbuilders, masts, booms, sails and foil makers to realise this project.
BUT NOW,  if it is a problem for you to find 5 fellows to sail the Europe with you we made it easier:
BUY 3, GET THE 4TH AT HALF PRICE.
Hope this new option will help you!


THE EUROPE IN COUNTRIES IN PROGRESS

The number of sailors is reduced to few in most of the undeveloped countries and nonexistent  in some of them. I start sailing in the Europe Class in 1997, as soon as I stopped sailing Optimist. When I was sailing in Optimist, around 94-95 the national economy was good for the Argentinians as the money change was $1=1U$S and to day is at $2,9=1U$S and now to import merchandize results a lot more complicated. We had at this time a big fleet and in a local championship we could see sailing together 40 Europes. Nowadays in that type of championship we hardly get to 15 boats. The economic situation has been the major reason for this decline.
My country and most of the Latin America countries suffered big changes to enter in the world market. This caused us important “economical sacrifices” as we were not prepared to compete with developed countries. These facts and others made that a great number of people got unemployed and people who were sailing before nowadays cannot do it. As a result a lot of people had to abandon the sport and equally our class has been affected.
In Brazil there is an important Europe fleet (I do not know how is doing the fleet right now), Chile, Uruguay and Ecuador have some few boats, but very little activity.
Nevertheless, I am convinced that people of these countries will sail the Europe for its outstanding performances, more or less depending on the local economy.
Best regards from Argentina.
Alfredo Bafico Trench
Presidente AACIE




Print page | Funktion