2000 Europeans - Al Arenal, Spain

Finn European Championship 2000 - Al Arenal, Spain
 
 
 
 
1
POL 17
Mateusz Kusznierewicz
2
3
2
1
1
2
1
14
12
2
CRO 11
Karlo Kuret
10
10
5
4
3
5
3
13
40
3
IRL 8
David Burrows
5
6
4
10
14
1
8
18
48
4
CAN 11
Richard Clarke
6
19
7
11
4
4
10
6
48
5
BEL 7
Sebastien Godefroid
17
7
3
14
DSQ
8
2
1
52
6
CZE 1
Michael Maier
1
4
21
15
6
13
14
10
63
7
SWE 7
Fredrik Loof
16
14
14
2
2
14
15
2
63
8
NED 701
Martijn van Muyden
9
26
9
8
15
16
4
3
64
9
FRA 1
Xavier Rohart
44
1
6
3
8
11
7
41
77
10
GRE 6
Emilios Papathanasiou
15
2
23
12
5
6
16
31
79
11
GBR 564
Jamie Lea
8
38
27
6
25
9
6
7
88
12
RSA 1
Ian Ainslie
31
17
8
5
10
26
9
20
95
13
TUR 6
Ali Enver Adakan
7
41
18
13
17
10
13
26
104
14
ITA 1
Luca Devoti
18
23
13
7
11
39
11
22
105
15
GER 79
Michael Fellmann
26
11
25
22
21
3
5
19
106
16
ITA 71
Massimo Gherarducci
14
5
15
19
18
15
23
28
109
17
AUS 221
Anthony Nossiter
13
16
12
23
29
20
20
9
113
18
HUN 1
Balazs Hadju
19
DSQ
19
16
16
21
12
30
133
19
AUS 222
Paul McKenzie
22
31
11
35
22
12
34
12
144
20
SUI 467
Peter Theurer
12
25
28
20
23
18
42
21
147
21
FRA 7
Sylvain Chtounder
21
DNC
20
9
9
22
37
35
153
22
ITA 14
Nenad Viali
59
12
22
33
30
17
29
16
159
23
BEL 2
Philippe Rogge
46
8
26
25
19
27
38
17
160
24
GBR 15
Charlie Cumbley
4
24
17
26
DSQ
23
DSQ
4
167
25
SUI 1
Othmar Muller von Blumencron
34
13
31
32
12
24
27
32
171
26
DEN 143
Lasse Hjortnaes
35
15
DNF
21
7
37
46
11
172
27
NED 7
Stefan de Vries
25
35
32
28
27
DSQ
18
8
173
28
GBR 540
David Mellor
33
DSQ
10
18
13
35
22
52
183
29
ESP 1
Javier Aguado
30
20
41
24
38
30
28
15
184
30
POL 4
Dominik Zycki
40
50
38
17
33
19
19
39
204
31
EST 8
Imre Taveter
36
22
29
27
24
34
33
43
205
32
ITA 15
Michele Marchesini
28
27
34
34
RDG
32
31
24
207
33
ESP 260
Agustin Juarez Marrero
24
34
48
39
43
29
17
29
214
34
GBR 541
Chris Brittle
45
28
24
29
45
7
40
53
217
35
FRA 11
Mathieu Deplanque
42
36
49
44
28
28
36
5
219
36
CZE 9
Michal Hruby
11
45
36
43
31
25
39
40
225
37
GRE 1
George Kontogouris
37
37
33
30
20
51
48
25
230
38
POL 12
Waclaw Szukiel
20
44
45
41
35
46
21
27
232
39
SUI 471
Christoph Burger
63
40
16
36
26
38
41
44
241
40
RUS 14
Mikhail Apukhtin
29
32
42
55
42
50
26
37
257
41
NED 781
JW Kok
32
30
39
42
49
31
47
36
257
42
POL 7
Rafal Szukiel
38
54
50
31
48
52
24
23
265
43
SUI 465
Christen Christoph
48
42
35
45
51
33
30
34
267
44
RUS 8
Evgeny Tchernov
43
29
30
51
37
41
53
42
272
45
GRE 12
Akis Karnoutsos
54
33
37
37
40
47
35
DNC
282
46
GRE 11
Christos Chionas
50
9
53
47
46
42
43
50
286
47
GRE 8
Alexandros Dragoutsis
57
48
55
40
36
36
25
48
287
48
UKR 21
Sergey Kotov
52
39
51
38
34
43
59
33
289
49
AUT 271
Florian Raudaschl
49
21
43
46
50
53
45
38
291
50
GBR 54
Iain Percy
3
18
1
DNC
DNC
DNC
DNC
DNC
298
51
GER 22
Martin Mitterer
23
52
52
48
47
49
32
58
302
52
CZE 3
Rudolf Lidarik
39
47
44
49
41
40
DSQ
47
306
53
FRA 14
Daniel Kurbiel
51
49
47
54
44
48
44
55
336
54
GER 8
Jurgen Eiermann
62
43
46
53
39
45
52
DNC
339
55
SUI 440
Walchli Dominique
27
51
57
56
52
56
55
46
342
56
GER 81
Jan-Dietmar Dellas
60
53
40
57
54
44
58
49
354
57
RUS 7
Vladislav Kapitonov
47
46
54
52
53
54
54
51
356
58
NED 761
Cees Scheurwater
41
59
56
59
56
59
51
57
378
59
NED 766
Ewout Meijer
65
58
58
50
59
61
49
45
379
60
GER 48
Manfred Poeschl
53
55
60
60
57
58
56
56
394
61
NED 760
Wouter Molenaar
58
57
61
58
55
57
57
54
395
62
SUI 462
Franz Burgi
61
56
59
61
58
55
50
60
398
63
GER 92
Detlev Guminski
56
63
DNC
63
61
63
DNC
61
435
64
GER 2037
Matthias Wolff
66
60
62
DNC
DNC
65
60
59
441
65
POL 9
Piotr Zoltowski
67
62
64
64
63
64
62
63
441
66
NED 725
Hans Willekes
64
DNC
DNC
65
60
62
61
62
442
67
NED 753
Bas Proper
55
61
DNC
62
DNF
60
DNC
DSQ
445
68
GER 1939
Rolf Weber
68
64
63
66
62
66
63
64
447
 
 
 

European Championship 2000 report

 

 

The 2000 Finn European Championships were held from the 7th to the 15th April 2000 inclusive, in the waters of Arenal (Mallorca-Baleares) organised by the Club Nautico el Arenal, with the collaboration of the Real Federacion Espanola de Vela and Federacion Balear de Vela. Mateusz Kusznierewicz won his first European Senior title, having won the Junior Europeans on two occasions. The winner of the 2000 Junior Europeans was 19 year old Charlie Cumbley, the current Junior Finn World Champion.

 

 

Day One

 

The first race was started in a 6-8 knot southerly wind and overcast skies on a humid day. After several general recalls the black flag was displayed and the 68 boat fleet got away cleanly. The seemingly traditional way to sail in this wind direction at Arenal proved to be correct as all the leaders came from the left hand side. The light wind tested the patience of every sailor and the fleet soon spread out, with few changes in position. Michael Maier lead round the first mark and extended his lead throughout the first race. Iain Percy, was second around the first mark closely followed by Mateusz Kusznierewicz. These two had a close race until Iain was penalised for rocking on the second beat and Mateusz got past and they finished second and third. 19 year old Charley Cumbley was fourth, followed by David Burrows who had also taken a penalty on the first reach. The international Jury, lead by Fernando Bolin from Spain, penalised eight boats for rule 42 infringements and made several warnings to individual sailors.

 

 

Day 2

 

At the start of the first race the wind was from the north-west at eight knots; by the end of the day there was a steady 18-20 knots. The first beat proved crucial. Xavier Rohart was the first to find out, he started at the starboard end of the line, (rather than the favoured port end),to enable him to go to the right hand side on the first beat. Having rounded the first windward mark ahead, he lead all the way to the finish. In the second race of the day, again the black flag was needed after two general recalls. On the last beat of the afternoon's race the heavier and fitter sailors came through , the wind having increased to 20 knots. Iain Percy had a good lead over Mateusz around the last leeward mark, he lost some of his lead during the beat due to making more tacks to cover his position, Sebastien Godefroid also caught some distance, finishing third.

 

 

Day 4

 

The black flag was used after only one general recall, the leading sailors all started on the left hand side and went left up the first beat. Mateusz made the biggest gain to lead at the first mark, followed by Sylvain Chtounder and Luca Devoti. There was a good battle amongst the following group, Fredrik Loof and Xavier Rohart ending up in second and third respectively.

 

 

After a clean first start in the second race, the correct way on the first beat was again left. Karlo Kuret lead around the first mark, closely followed by Mateusz. Sylvain Chtounder had to take a 720 after a conflict with Mateusz just before the windward mark. This allowed Fredrik through ahead. During the first run, conditions were marginal for surfing, Karlo was one of those penalised for rule 42 infringement, while taking his 720, Mateusz went through and lead to the finish. The battle for second was fought hard by Fredrik, Karlo and Richard Clarke and saw Fredrik going through at the end of the last run. The final reach to the finish saw many places change and close finishes between competitors all through the fleet.

 

 

Mateusz had a convincing lead overall after 5 races with one discard on 6 points, Xavier Rohart was in second on 18 points, third to sixth place were separated only by 6 points. Sadly, defending champion, Iain Percy had retired from the regatta due to an illness.

 

 

Day 5

 

Again there were several general recalls, and after some adjustment to the line and a black flag the fleet got away. The favoured side of the beat was the left. David Burrows lead at the first mark. The start has proved to be crucial and the ability to be able to go off the start line to the favoured side of the beat essential. 18 year old Chris Brittle made a good start and first beat, rounding the first windward mark close behind Burrows. Michael Fellmann had his first good race of the championship rounding the first mark in third and staying there to the finish. Xavier was in fifth place at the second mark but down the run dropped to eleventh when pushing the boat just to far and capsizing. Karlo Kuret continued to dominate the top ten finishing fifth. Mateusz showed his blistering boat speed and tactics coming through to second position from starting at the wrong end of the line, rounding the first mark in twentieth position.

 

 

Although the forecast was for the sea breeze to fill in this did not happen, and just as before the left paid. Sebastien won the first leg closely followed by Mateusz. Nothing seems to get in the way of the Pole as he again dominated, overtaking Sebastien downwind to finish first. Mateusz has not yet had a place outside the top three in this regatta He has sailed in Arenal over the past eight years and knows the behaviour of the weather here.

 

 

The current leader of the Junior championship was Charley Cumbley two points ahead of defending Champion Stefan de Vries.

 

 

Day 6

 

Another glorious day with sunshine and 8-10 knots of wind. The first beat saw many overstand the top mark as the wind changed 15 degrees. The conditions again dictated that the favoured side was left on the first beat. Jamie Lea led the fleet round the first mark followed by Anthony Nossiter, Fredrik Loof and leading Junior Charlie Cumbley. Lea sailed well downwind, holding his lead from Loof and Nossiter. The second beat was different to the first, the wind increased, filling from the seaward side first (right). This saw Fredrik round the mark first, Britain's Jamie Lea fell to seventh. After rounding the first mark in seventh, Sebastien picked up places throughout the race, the second windward mark saw Fredrik ahead of Sebastien, they had a gybing dual down the last run ending with Sebastien leading the final reach to the finish. Martijn Van Muyden finished strongly in third.

 

 

Mateusz had his worst race of the regatta finishing 14th. But he was able to discard this race to become the 2000 Finn Senior European Champion, his first European title since he won the Junior title in 1996. The ninth race could not be held due to time restrictions, reducing the championship to 8 races.

 

 

The two leading juniors Charlie Cumbley and Stefan de Vries fought hard in today's race finishing fourth and eighth respectively. The hard work put in by all the younger Finn sailors increases the level of competition in the whole fleet. The top three Juniors Charlie Cumbley, Stefan de Vries and Chris Brittle all had at least one result in the top ten, showing that training and hard work pays - it will not be long until they have more races in the top ten.

 

 

In today's race there was a battle for second overall won by Karlo Kuret who said that it was hard, as not only were the conditions tricky but also it was necessary to keep a close eye on David Burrows and Xavier Rohart. Richard Clarke had another good race finishing 6th today bringing his overall position up to fourth.

 

 

The race committee responded well to changes in the wind and conditions, setting excellent lines and courses. The sailors very much enjoyed the regatta, only one day was lost due to too much wind and the organisation both on the water and ashore was run in a very professional manner by Club Nautico Arenal lead by the president of the race committee Guillermo Patino.

 

 

It was good to see so many sailors here from countries that had not yet qualified for the Olympics. The top fifteen sailors all came from different countries, the battle will be tough for the medals at the Olympic Games. Mateusz Kusznierewicz won this event convincingly with a total of 12 points over eight races this shows that his hard work put in over the winter months in Australia and New Zealand has paid off.

© 2024, International Finn Association, Inc