Skiffs

The final day of the European 18ft Skiff Grand Prix in Travemunde bought with it finally some sunny skies and promise of a decent breeze - however on the horizon was the possibility of some storms so the race officer got the fleet out early to try and squeeze in the two remaining races.

Pindar Radii (GBR) having sewn up the series already were just spectators for the real battle taking place for second overall between Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics (GBR) and GE Commercial Finance (GBR). In the pre-start of the first race, a classic americas dial-up began between the two, both of them using the spectator fleet and committee boat to their full advantage in trying to get on each others tail - GE had the better discard so it was in their interest to get Gill down the fleet, however after a few minutes of duelling, it was Gill who came out on top even managing to get a penalty on GE for a simple port/starboard infringement. This left GE off the back of the start while Gill managed to get away mid fleet.

At the top mark it was the ever present Bodotex (DEN) who led the fleet, followed by Pindar Radii. On the downwind however they overhauled the Danes to take the lead and were only challenged near the end, taking their 6 th bullet of the series and re-inforcing their lead at the top of the rankings. GE raced through the field but only managed to get up to 5th, and meanwhile Gill had managed to creep up to 2nd, therefore ensuring the second place overall.

With black clouds on the horizon, the race comittee wisely decided to send everyone ashore, and sure enough 30 mins later a torrential downpour with associated lighting and thunder duly arrived. So the end of another eventful series - Pindar Radii stamping their authority on the event while the series contenders GE Commercial and Gill and to make do with runner up podium positions.

Next event starts this Thursday for Round 4 in Sonderborg, Denmark.

Results ( 7 races, 1 discard, 16 starters)

1st Pindar Radii (GBR) 6 pts

2nd Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics (GBR) 15 pts

3rd GE Commercial Finance (GBR) 19 pts

4th UTI (SUI) 25 pts

5th Bodotex (DEN) 31 pts

6th PICA (GBR) 36 pts

Day 2 of the European 18ft Skiff Grand Prix brought with sunnier conditions than day 1, with a SW gradient breeze across the course area. However with this direction of wind and the proximity to the beach spectator area, it meant the 20 storey high Hotel Maritim was going to play a big part in the shifty conditions of the day!

Three races were run in anything between 6-12knots, but it was the shifts and velocity changes of the breeze which was to sort out the rankings. Pindar Radii (GBR), read the breeze well in the first race and added to their perfect score sheet of the previous day. Ed Browne in Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics (GBR) also consolidated their second place overall holding off the ever improving UTI (SUI) who they pipped into 2nd place.

In the second race GE Commercial Finance (GBR) pulled out a huge lead from the start never to be challenged, finally finding some of their form that won them the second round of the championship in Lake Garda in June. Pindar Radii however fought back from down the fleet after a poor first beat, and with a well judged first downwind leg slipped into second place. Gill / Wet and Wild kept their title hopes alive by pulling up to third.

The third race saw again Pindar Radii pull off a perfect committee boat end start to lead the fleet round the top mark, but this race was certainly a test of nerves with the dying breeze bringing with even larger oscillations in the breeze. The lead changed half a dozen times down the first downwind leg, with eventually Bodotex (DEN) and GE Commercial Finance leading the fleet at the bottom mark. Pindar Radii managed to squeeze round in third, but after a well judged second beat managed to claw back into first place, this time not conceding the lead. The others held their places, with a surprise finish form the German team of GER5 popping in a championship best 4th place.

This now leaves Pindar Radii with a unassailable lead with two races to go, and gives them the German Grand Prix title. The fight for second place is a tight one with all to play for between GE Commercial Finance and Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics.

Results (6 races, 1 discard, 16 starters)

1st Pindar Radii (GBR) 5pts

2nd Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics (GBR) 13pts

3rd GE Commercial Finance (GBR) 14pts

4th UTI (SUI) 22pts

5th Bodotex (DEN) 25pts

6th GP Covers (DEN) 30 pts