Silver Medal for Styles and Crawford at F18 Europeans
July 19, 2007 0 comments
Dervio on the edge of Lake Como in North Eastern Italy was the location for the best Formula 18 regatta in its history to date. Some 150 Formula 18 teams competed in the regatta, which was held from the 9th to the 13th july.
Dervio on the edge of Lake Como in North Eastern Italy was the location for the best Formula 18 regatta in its history to date. Some 150 Formula 18 teams competed in the regatta, which was held from the 9th to the 13th july.
The size of the fleet necessitated a qualification and then finals fleet racing. Monday the 9th was scheduled to be the first day of the two-day qualification series of six races. The Monday was a very fickle affair as a result of a storm hanging over the mountain ranges around the lake. Eventually after a lengthy postponement racing was abandoned for the day.
Racing began on Tuesday in a fickle northerly wind which was associated with the storms of the day before. The days racing was close faught with different crews having moments of glory in the changing pressure. The wind died through the afternoon and gave way to some 180 degree wind shifts at times. It was the Nacra Infusion teams of Mischa Heemskerk (NED) and Hugh Styles (GBR) towards the top of the fleet after the three races of the day. Heemskerk 1st, John Christoph Mourniac 2nd and Styles very close in 3rd.
Wednesday dawned with more standard conditions for the last 3 races of the qualification series. Styles stepped up best to the task with individual race results of 1, 2, 2 which confirmed Styles leading going into the final series. Heemskerk only a point behind in second overall and Mourniac in third but with several points gap to the leading two boats.
Finals racing began Thursday with 4 races in the normal southerly breeze. The racecourse in the southerly wind became a right hand side dominated affair with the wind compressed along the western shore of the lake. This made for very tactical racing short tacking up the beach. Again it was Styles who mastered the conditions the best on this the first day of the finals scoring (7, 4, 2, 2) with Heemskerk (1, 2, 3, 16), in the overalls it was nip and tuck between these two. Mourniac still in third with (2, 3, 1, 17) and in fourth Remko Kenbeek a distance back from the top 3.
All to play for going into the last day, Heemskerk leading one point in front of Styles and then Mourniac third. The day was a windier affair from the south again but direction slightly more down the middle of the lake. This presented opportunities for some of the other British teams to shine in individual races, with Leo Farrow (GBR) and Stuart Gummer (GBR) both winning a race each.
Heemskerk really showed the way home on the last day with all results in the top 4 confirming the overall victory. For Styles it was a tougher day, finding the windier conditions more difficult. However they sailed solidly and secured 2nd overall in front of Mourniac’s French team who had a similarly tough day.
The final standings ended:
1st Heemskerk and Tentij – Nacra Infusion
2nd Styles and Crawford – Nacra Infusion
3rd Mourniac and Citeau – Hobie Tiger
4th Goodall and Goodall – Capricorn
5th Vaireaux and Petit – Hobie Tiger
The regatta was an excellent event for the sailing conditions and the organisation fantastic. Each evening we were provided with food after racing and social events too.
For Team Styles and Crawford the regatta has been the highlight of the year to date, a great result in a fantastic venue and with good competition. The team would like to thank their sponsors for their great support. To Nacra Europe and Nacra UK for making it all possible. To Fat Face, Mardon Marine, Gill and Marlow Ropes, Tacktick, and Holt for their equipment and service provision. Finally to friends and family for helping make it all happen.
