Bourke wins SB3s

A report from the EuroCup event in Brest

Awesome – that was the general consensus of the merry band of SB cubed revellers who travelled to France for the first leg of the Henri-Lloyd sponsored SB3 Eurocup. With a couple of unfortunate last minute dropouts, 25 boats entered, with several French boats and the ubiquitous Irish Hangers On boat, determined not to miss out on the entertainment.

From a sailing point of view things could not have been better – blue skies each and every day, 18-25 knots of breeze, and an assortment of French Open one design asymmetric keelboat classes all adding the party atmosphere.

Jerry Hill was expected to continue his impressive form of recent events, but it was Glenn Bourke in his Musto sponsored SB3 Musto, resplendent in lovely red Musto sailing gear, which trashed the fleet with 2,1,1,1,1 and an early finish, leaving the team time to haul out and get their glad rags on for the prize-giving.

Quite what he was doing was a mystery to most of us, but it was mighty impressive. Winds were ossilating through 20-30 degrees, and Bourke made the most of this, with generally conservative sailing to always pull to the front even after some midfleet first mark approaches.

Young Duncan Truswell of the RYA was second, in Chris Blackburn's Laser boat 3086, perhaps he’ll sell that Merlin Rocket and get himself a permanent slot in the class. Despite rearranging the seams in their kite, Gul sponsored 3053 sailed by Johnny Money and Phil Badger took third after a storming last race win. Last year's winner Nico Honor, to whom the fleet offers a great vote of appretiation for arranging the event, got 4th, after discarding a fishing expedition at the leeward mark whilst lying second in race 3. In fifth it was the poser below, who came out on top of a split decision with the current world top female SB3 helm Dr Mini Summerhayes, ably crewed by Natalie from Essex controlling Short and Curlies when things got rather hairy.

There were plenty of mid fleet tussles in the breezy conditions with several boats losing out in their scraps with their spinakers, Tony Botterill's boat having to retire with a significant blood spill, and everyone generally glad of the proximity of the apres racing analgesia. Such was the strength of the wind on day 2, that following some dismastings and a fabulous nose sink 360 spin by one of the Open 5.7s, the fleet were brought ashore after race one to see if the wind would abate. Fortunately for the bar-tent convenors it didn't and the afternoon degenerated into on boisterous social in the sunshine, the sailors enjoying the fairy liquid flavoured beer whilst being treated to the Tom and Jerry show, and some culinary demonstrations, most notably some 'Piscine a le Vent' and Tommo's 'Coq au Van'. Later that night an impromptu live concert by non other than Robbie Williams kept everyone awake late into the night.

Thanks must go again to Ecole Navale in Lanveoc near Breat for laying on a most superb event, and particularly to Nico for arrangiong all the free accomodation. Next year can only get bigger, as the Eurocup rolls into a town near you!

Groupe SB3
1: "Musto" Bourke Glenn (6 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 2,1,1,1,1,DNF ,)
2: "Laser Sailling" Blackburn Chris (10 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 1,3,2,5,2,2,)
3: "Gul" Badger P (20 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 3,4,DNF ,3,9,1,)
4: "3080" Honor Nicolas (20 pts) Yacht Club de la Grande Motte (Détail courses : 4,6,DNF ,2,3,5,)
5: "Trois Sade Old Blokes" Hill Jerry (23 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 5,2,6,8,6,4,)
6: "Short Curlies" Richard Mark (23 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 7,7,3,6,4,3,)
7: "Whirl'n Dervish" Cheyne David (28 pts) Irlande (Détail courses : 6,5,4,7,7,6,)
8: "Doolalli" Simonds Colin (36 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 8,9,5,4,10,DNF ,)
9: "Societe Francaise de Garantie" Videau Luc (50 pts) Yacht Club Arzon (13,11,16,10,5,11,)
10: "Stress Bunny" Harrison Peter (50 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 9,8,8,15,15,10,)
11: "Distinctly Minty" Evans David (52 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : DNF ,18,7,11,8,8,)
12: "Direct Sailling" Floch Yann (58 pts) S R de Brest (Détail courses : 10,10,18,13,12,13,)
13: "Derison III" May Dominic (59 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 11,14,9,18,16,9,)
14: "Hooligan" Glanwill Nick (66 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 12,15,14,9,17,16,)
15: "Pich Pach Poch" Hexton Roger (68 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 18,16,15,17,13,7,)
16: "Boo" Mc Gregor Neil (68 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 14,12,11,16,DNF ,15,)
17: "Hullabaloo" Dallas Andrews (68 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 15,13,12,14,14,DPGi,)
18: "Bullet" Dawson Graydon (73 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 17,17,10,20,13,16,)
19: "Oneironaut" Thomas Piers (75 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : DNF ,19,13,12,19,12,)
20: "The Snitch" Nicholson Charles (88 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 16,20,17,19,18,18,)
21: "Wavellength" Botterrill Tony (104 pts) Grande-Bretagne (Détail courses : 19,nc,DNF ,21,20,DNF ,)