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Contender European Championships at Kuehlungsborn, Germany

by German Contender Association 5 Aug 2014 21:02 BST July 2014

In the last week of July the European title for the class Contender Class was sailed. The town of Kuhlungsborn in Northern Germany had been chosen to host this event. "The area rarely sees such a protracted period of high temperatures and low winds, usually only one or two days," said Peter Menzel, who is himself a Contender sailor and chairman of the organising Sailing Club Kuhlungsborn.

Fair competition can only be sailed over 6 knots of wind, prescribed by the class rule of the Contenders. But the wait for wind paid off.

The first race at just over 6 knots of wind was sailed on Tuesday and was won by Max Billerbeck from Hamburg.

On Wednesday, two races were sailed in 6-8 knots of wind. Winner of the day with a first and a fourth place was again Max Billerbeck. The best sailing of the week was Thursday, with more than 10 knots of wind, the sailors could finally extend their legs and use the trapeze. That was the day of the Dane; Soren Andreasen, who took the victory with a second and two first places and with the overall lead.

On the last day of racing only one race could be achieved, with Soren leading Max by a single point it would prove to be critical. Soren Andreasen just squeezed ahead in dying breeze before Max Billerbeck, thus securing the title.

The Youth European Champion was David Schaft from Germany and the Female champion was Jaqueline Ruefenacht from Switzerland. Total 95 Contender sailors from 9 countries participated in the European Championships.

The British sailor had mixed fortunes in the fickle winds with Gary Langdown of Highcliffe making the best of it in 8th, sailing a Chris Somner Epoxy. The top ten boats were dominated by the wooden Bonezzi's after recent success of the epoxy boats at the worlds in Australia, this is due in part to the vast number of wooden boats sailed in Northern Europe.

Photos: picasaweb.google.com/116509979270313218987/EM2014LetzterTag

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