Brewster third

Jon Emmett reports on the Europa Cup & Youth GP Regatta in Andorra, Italy

Approximately one hour after the end of prize giving in Lugano, Switzerland the wind filled in to force four to five which stayed for the next three days. So when travelling to Italy the British team were hoping for more than a two race series, unfortunately they where in for a disappointment.

Andorra was truly a massive event. With the top girls joining the tour there were 165 Radial sailors and nearly 400 sailors in total (including the Standard and 4.7 rigs). Registration started at 9:00am but was still going at Midday, so a 13:00 start was clearly out of the question! In fact it was 16:30 when everyone was sorted into groups and allowed to Launch.

The fleet sailed out in a solid fifteen knots of breeze that predictably began to die by the warning signal at 17:30. In the first start Elin Samdal (NOR) port tacked the fleet but was chased hard by Mark Brewster (GBR)who closed the gap upwind, before she managed to open it up again downwind.

In the second start Karin Soderstrom (SWE) won the port end but the initial leaders where on the right, where there was more breeze. However as the breeze continued to die those in the stronger favourable current on the left prevailed. On rounding the top mark the wind was so light that the leaders where still carried on upwind.

... So at approximately 19:00 the whole fleet was towed in with no racing. After eating the free pasta in the dark, the announcement was made for racing to start at 11:00 the following day.

At 11:00 on Day 2 the fleet launched and the first warning signal was made shortly after 12:00 in ten knots of breeze. In the first start John Booth (GBR) made the best start but was down to 3rd by the top mark, eventually finishing 5th, with Stephanie Rosse(SUI) gaining the lead at the top mark for the second time to lead Larissa Nevierov (ITA) home. Mark Brewster was just forced out of a top three position, into 4th, by missing the final shift on the approach to the windward mark there by allowing Dario Motto (ITA) into 3rd.

In the second start Karin Soderstrom (SWE) made the best start on the right but it was those on the left on got into the first shift and took the lead, those on the middle left of tacked off to early where buried, as those on the hard left and a better angle and more breeze. Soderstrom got over most of the fleet but Wiebecke Schroeder (GER) was already too far ahead at this stage. Behind the girls was Carlo De Paolo (ITA). As the breeze now stayed hard left there was little opportunity to overtake so the positions remained the same until the finish. Lizzie Vickers (GBR) put in a "counter" with an eighth place.

As the day warmed up the land and sea breeze continued to fight with shifts of 40 degrees and wind between 15 and 5 knots. In the first start Elin Samdal (NOR) made her mark and was the first into the strong breeze in the left. Second was Ivo Matic from Croatia, who broke his mast on the first day and was lucky not to miss a race! Third place went to Mattias Lindfors (FIN). Mark Brewster (GBR) stayed consistent with a 6th place.

The second start and the breeze was now well left, which resulted in a general recall. However when the start got away the pin end was won by Laura Baldwin, who tacked and crossed the fleet but Kararzyna Scotynska (POL) and Jon Emmett (GBR) continued left into the band of stronger breeze. This now meant they where reaching into the windward mark, with Emmett reaching over the top of Baldwin and Scotynska passing them both.

On the downwind reach Emmett grabbed the lead which he extended on the following beat, however it was not to be as on the final beat he ran out of breeze on the right, giving Scotynska, who stayed hard left, back the lead. Soderstrom and Vickers who had carried on even further left than Emmett and Scotynska on the first beat took 3rd & 4th places.

With the breeze anything but predicable the race committee gave up trying to reset the course and sent the fleet in for the official welcoming dinner, which was excellent.

Day 3 looked perfect with 17 knots of breeze on shore. However for no known reason the fleet did not launch, with the notable exception of Laura Baldwin`s training group which went out to practice. Eventually a postponement went up but still no explanation. The extremely sad news of the death of the Pope meant the Italian Sailing Committee decided to abandon the regatta meaning the results of the previous day stood. Prize giving was at 17:00 with most sailors leaving shortly afterwards.

So we had another two race series, with no discard. Overall the top girls who joined the circuit after Palma, certainly made their presence felt taking six of the top seven positions, with only Mark Brewster upsetting things in third position. The top two girls are actually Laura Baldwin's training partners, so this looks like the ones to watch! Next stop is Izola in Solvenia and the aim is to get three races or more in four days...

Overall results:

1st Karin Soderstrom SWE 5pts
2nd Elin Samdal NOR 7pts
3rd MARK BREWSTER GBR 10pts
4th Katarzyna Szotynska POL 11pts
5th Hanne Jansch GER 11pts
6th LIZZIE VICKERS GBR 12pts

Other Britsh placings:

13th Jon Emmett
17th Ben Paton
18th Laura Baldwin
30th Jon Booth