Contender Europeans at Lake Traunsee, Austria

Blasting along at the Contender Europeans © Kurt Schmidsberger

Contender fleet at the Europeans © Kurt Schmidsberger

Tiptoeing round the course at the Contender Europeans © Kurt Schmidsberger

A nine-nation fleet of 94 boats contested the Contender Europeans hosted by SC Ebensee on Lake Traunsee in Austria. The lake is 12 kilometres long and 3 kilometres wide, with high mountains on two sides. The prevailing Westerly wind reached the lake in gusts and came from all directions - spectacular scenery but a nightmare for the race team and sailors.

For the first 4 days the wind would not settle down, strong one moment then it was if someone had switched the fan off and then started it up again at the opposite end of the lake. With only 3 races from a potential 8 sailed in the first 4 days, it was relief for all once we'd launched at 0645 (yes 0645!) on Friday morning, and were greted in the middle of the lake by a good force 4 and sunshine - albeit wintery temperature conditions.

Going into the last day Ed Presley GBR 629 was top Brit in 9th with 20,15,15, proving that consistency pays. 3 races were sailed on the last day ensuring that the Championship was completed with top Brit Graham Scott GBR 691 posting the best results with a 4,6,1 score line finishing 6th overall.

However the title went deservedly to 23yr old German, Christoph Homeier GER 551, who showed great consistency across the varied wind range to beat, in every race, current World Champion Andrea Bonezzi, ITA 11, to the title. Giovanni Bonzio, ITA 47, recovered, like Scott, from an indifferent regatta start to seal 3rd overall from Dane Soren Andreasen, DEN 44.

Other Brits Simon Mussell, GBR 2372, and Matt Aston, GBR 702, eventually finished 9th and 10th respectively whilst carrying large scores. The old master Keith Paul finally pipped Ed to 4th Brit and 17th overall with some experienced yachting in the windier conditions.

With the varied and difficult conditions throughout the week, large scores had to be carried by many resulting in a tightly fought championship. Thanks must go to SC Ebensee and their race team for doing their utmost to ensure a Championship regatta was completed in the trickiest of conditions. Sod's law ensured that the diabolical weather and persistent rain, that had plagued us all week, was replaced by the true Austrian August weather conditions - glorious sunshine and a steady light breeze - as everyone packed their boats up!

On the equipment front nearly all were using carbon spars, with Homeier and Bonezzi using Wavelength Dacron sails along with 4 others in the top 10. Next years World Championships in the Contender's 40th Anniversary year are to be held in Medemblik, Holland, where a record 150 boats are anticipated.

Overall Results: