Surviving to the finish

Only four boats finished the final big wind race at the European 18ft Skiff GP

As with the rest of the event, the last day of the European 18ft Skiff Grand Prix in Sonderborg dawned cloudy with rain showers. However the day promised much better conditions, with a breeze not forecast to get above 20 knots and sunshine even making an appearance later on. After the previous day's cancellation due to 30 knot breeze, all the teams were eager to get out and finish the series.

The first two races were sailed with the big rigs in the building 12-14 knot breeze. First out of the blocks were Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics (GBR) who shot off into the lead chased by GP Covers (DEN) . These two held their positions and stretched out their lead. Pindar Radii (GBR) was having a ding-dong battle with the ever improving PICA (GBR), however in the end these positions held to the end. The second race started in 16 knots, getting near to the top end of the wind range for the number one rigs. Local boys GP Covers got straight into the lead looking to consolidate their position at the top of the leader board, but then disaster struck when one of the cap shrouds came apart bringing their racing to an abrupt halt - somehow the team managed to keep the mast in one piece however their race was over. This allowed Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics through for their second win of the day with Pindar Radii keeping in the hunt just behind them. By now the breeze had really kicked in at over 20 knots and clearly too much for the big rigs. The race committee wisely called for a postponement with the whole fleet scurrying back to the beach to change to their smaller rigs.

By the time race six got underway a steady 22-24 knots was across the course, with fairly flat water as the swell had yet to gather pace. Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics showed no signs of slowing up and took the winners gun, but not after again benefiting from the bad luck of the GP Covers team, who this time saw the tip of their number two rig disappear over the front of the boat after the first bear away while leading the fleet round the first mark. UTI showed that they could also perform in the big breeze and pulled out all the stops to finish second while the ever present Pindar Radii slot in another consistent result in third.

By the time the last race of the day was signalled, the fleet had been cut by half with various breakages and some of the teams deciding the breeze was too much for them. The remaining teams were treated to a spectacular race, at times just a fight for survival, as the breeze touched over 30 knots in some of the rain squalls. UTI, Gill and GE Commercial took the lead round the first lap, but by the time they reached the first leeward mark carnage ensued when all the three teams tipped it in. Pindar Radii and PICA just behind wisely took down the kites early and played safe round the upturned hulls to shoot off into the lead. The next beat was just a case of trying to stay upright. In the end only Pindar Radii made it and decided to pop the kite downwind for the ride of their lives. They hung on for dear life until the leeward mark when, trying to complete a gybe drop, speared the nose of the skiff into a wave a promptly pitchpoled. Now it was just a case of minimising the number of capsizes and get to the finish. In the end four teams managed to finish - Pindar Radii in first, GE Commercial who pulled through after their earlier mishap, PICA who pulled it back together to come in third, while the little known Swiss team of G18 skippered by Gyrill Peyrot valiantly made it round to finish in fourth.

In the end, the last race capsize for series leaders Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics was academic - they had already sewn up the event with a race to spare. A great result for a team who had struggled in earlier rounds with various rig and sail issues. Pindar Radii came in second overall after a consistent series, and their overall series lead continued to be challenged by GE Commercial who finished third. A great event was had by all with challenging conditions expertly managed by the Sonderborg YC team.

Results:

1-Gill / Wet and Wild Graphics (GBR) 12 pts
2-Pindar / Radii (GBR) 15pts
3-GE Commercial Finance (GBR) 22pts
4-UTI (SUI) 25pts
5-PICA (GBR) 28pts
6-G18 (SUI) 39pts