Javelin Euro Cup 2006 At Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club

Felixstowe Ferry proved why it is one of the best venues in the country. Wind conditions to satisfy everyone, superb sea conditions, excellent courses, flawless race management and brilliant sunshine. Off the water the social programme was equally impressive with barbeque, buffet and an excellent prize giving dinner and a rather lively campsite vodka tasting session.

With light winds on the first day the first race was taken by the Schlittenhards with. Katrin Dienhardt and Olav Schluter in close second place, Richard Smith and Chris third. The second race was won in even lighter wind by Jan Ten Hoeve and Cristel Pessers. Will Johnson with father Gavin crewing held off the Schlittenhards and Kathryn Smith crewed by Brian Dixon to take second with Kathryn and Brian in third.

Day two, Richard Smith and Chris Etchells re-established their credentials by taking all three races. Unfortunately in the second they were over the line and forced to retire. With a pattern established the Smith Etchells teaming went from strength to strength winning six of the ten race series, similarly impressive were the Schlittenhards who seldom dropped below second place.

The series was marked by the close racing in the middle of the fleet with new helms and crew combinations rapidly becoming more and more competitive and the fleet becoming closer and closer together on the water. Kathryn Partington-Smith and Brian Dixon became scarily fast by the end of the series. With winds increasing through the weekend we had excellent sailing in perfect weather and very tight racing.

The efforts put in by our younger sailors were notable with three helms under 20 Becky Cross, Mike Mellis and Will Johnson.

Congratulations to Richard and Chris in winning their first Euro Cup. Thank you to FFSC and thank you to those competitors who made the trip from the mainland to sail with us islanders.

Overall Results: