Iain Percy and Steven Mitchell are the 2005 European Champions.
Reports by Lars Lantz and Jan Walker
Photos by Jan Walker of Regatta Active Images: Preview day, Day 1, Day 2, lay day, Day 4, Day 5.
Report from Per Ekborg
Sunday August 7, opening.
67 teams from 21 countries have arrived to compete in the 2005 Ringhals Star Class European Championship in Varberg, Sweden. The measurement process went well. No Tune Up race was held due to risk for thunderstorms.
The Opening Ceremony was well attended, and the ISAF President Göran Pettersson was one of many well known sailors you saw there.
Monday August 8, day 1.
The first racing day of the 2005 Ringhals Star Class European Championships in Varberg, Sweden, were held in light and shifty wind conditions, SW 4-8 knots and some current.
Race 1, course 3.
The Americans Mendelblatt / Strube dominated the race and won it with a good margin, with the French team Rohart / Rambeau in second place and Lööf / Ekström third.
Percy / Mitchell went from 30 in the first rounding to finish 5.
Race 2, course 3.
The second race was held in lighter wind than the first race. Hagen / Falkentahl were leading the fleet at the first mark, but the lead was constantly changing during the rest of the race. The Portuguese Afonso / Santos won the race with only 6 minutes left to the time limit (3,5h), with Schiffer / Heutschell in second and Hagen / Falkentahl third.
A long day at sea and the competitors did not come back to the yacht club until 8 in the evening.
Tuesday August 9, day 2.
Light wind this morning, but it rapidly became stronger in time for the first start.
Race 3, course 3.
Race 3 started in 12 knots of wind, increasing to 18 knots during the race. The race was dominated from start to finish by the British team Percy / Mitchell, they won by a huge margin. The achievement of the day was how the French team Rohart / Rambeau managed to repair a sail that was torn apart during the start. They started the race 5 minutes behind the rest of the fleet and sailed a fantastic race to finish 14.
Race 4, course 0.
Race 4 started in 18 knots of wind under a black flag after several attempts to get the fleet going. After the first beat 2 wild reaches followed in 20 knots of wind, lots of waves and lots of fun! Once again the race was won by Percy / Mitchell, who dominated the day.
Another long day at sea, and the fleet docked 6 o’clock in the evening. Some accident occurred during the day, which resulted in damage and protests. Mid series party followed, and the layday tomorrow is well needed by the fleet.
Wednesday August 10, day 3.
Today is a well needed layday before racing resumes tomorrow with race 5. Percy / Mitchell seems to have an advantage before the conclusion of the regatta, but the results are still open.
Thursday August 11, day 4.
The new 2005 European Champions are Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell. The British team managed to win the Championships with one race to spare. Congratulations!
The fleet left the dock in light wind from west, 6 knots, cloudy. Reports from the starting area indicated west 10 knots, waves, some current. Nice conditions.
Race 5, course 3.
It took 4 starting attempts to get the fleet going, 2 under the black flag. The Swiss team Daniel Stegmeier/Beat Stegmeier went to the right side of the course, and a 10 degree shift took them to a huge lead, which they enabled to keep to the finish, good sailing! The French team Xavier Rohart/Pascal Rambeau were second and the Polish team Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Dominik Zycki third.
Friday August 12, day 5.
The boats left the dock in wind W to SW 14 knots, rain. The wind decreased to 10 knots at time for start.
Race 6, course 3.
The boats started after 4 attempts, 10 boats were black flag disqualified (BFD). Hagen / Falkenthal took the lead at the first beat and kept it to the finish. The wind was 6-12 knots with shifts.
The price giving dinner followed in the evening and it was well attended.