IFA Reports - Finn European Championships Split/Croatia

18.05.2015 - Video alert: Finn Europeans day 6 - medal race

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3K29OU0hh0

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17.05.2015 - Video alert: Finn Europeans day 5 - race 8 and 9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Cy0SerWnY

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17.05.2015

Arkadiy Kistanov and Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic secure Junior and Senior Finn European titles

Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) has secured his third Finn European title and his second in Split after a medal race that was filled with drama and tension. Josh Junior (NZL) took the silver while Vasilij Zbogar (SLO) took bronze. Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS) also secured his first Junior European title from Jake Lilley (AUS) and Nenad Bugarin (CRO).

The day began with a long, hot, wait ashore in no wind and rising temperatures, and just when everyone thought the day would come to nothing, the flag was raised to send the fleet out for the medal race. The final race for the rest was abandoned as there wasn't enough time.

The medal race was started just in time in a stable breeze building to around 10 knots on the first upwind. Bjorn Allansson (SWE) started alone by the pin and sailed his own race to round first and lead at every mark to win the race. However the real interest was what was going on behind him.

The Senior title was between Kljakovic Gaspic and Junior. Initially Junior had the upper hand, but then let the Croatian escape and when they came back together at the top, Kljakovic Gaspic had a very small lead that he capitalised on to cross in fourth to take the title. Junior finally crossed in eighth to take the silver, while Zbogar had another great race to finish second and take the bronze, his fourth Europeans medal in row.

In the Juniors the battle was between Kistanov and Lilley, with Lilley looking to have the early advantage out of the start. However he touched the gate mark and after taking a penalty trailed behind the Russian. But it was all academic as Lilley, along with Ioannis Mtakis (GRE) were both judged over the line at the start and picked up a UFD score. So the defending champion Lilley had to settle for the silver, while Bugarin, who didn't make the medal race, took the bronze. In this fleet it is quite something to have two juniors competing as equals with the seniors, so both Kistanov and Lilley deserve a lot of credit for their performance this week.

Allansson said of the race win, “I made a pretty bold statement yesterday evening that I would try hard to win the medal race, so it feels it feels pretty good to be able to deliver on that. But on the other hand, all the other guys were quite close on points, so I could only really gain.”

“I wanted to be to the left of the fleet and the original plan was to just to start below the fleet but then Ed give me a run for that position. I wanted to mark that spot as mine so I ended up all the way down by the pin. It paid off pretty well. I had some good pressure out there while the others had a few tacks, which allowed me to punch forward a bit. I had a good flow, a good feel for the pressure today. In fact, it's been a really good second half of the event for me.” Allansson's win moved him up to seventh overall.

Kistanov was very pleased to have taken his first Junior European title. “It was a nice race. I read this morning, that Jake was just going to sail a normal race, but I didn't think that would be the case. I always do match racing with Egor in Russia so I was prepared for something like that. I didn't get a very good start, but with the U flag up I wanted to play it safe and then try and catch him on the downwind, or when he made a mistake. And that happened at the bottom mark when I got past, and I then just had to control to the finish.” Kistanov was unaware of the UFD so had to fight to the end.

This was his best result at a Europeans and his first ever medal. “My best result before was about 36th and fourth junior. This is my first medal, so it's very nice.”

What made the difference for him? “I joined Team Fantastica after the ISAF Worlds in Santander last year, and we started to train together in Miami. I am really happy to be in the team. I have a good boat, good sails and good coaches and am part of a very good team, with Bambi [Kljakovic Gaspic] and Michele (Paoletti] to spar against. They teach us a lot, and I am really happy with my coaches. We had three guys from the team in the medal race, and that is really great for us.”

Team Fantastica sailors took both the Senior and Junior titles. Kljakovic Gaspic said of the race, “Before the start I was just playing for the right hand side of the course. I did everything I could to start at the committee boat. That was my primary idea because there was a lot of current flowing from the starboard side of the course, so I wanted to play the right corner. So I played a bit with Josh and actually I had a decent start, but in the end the right side didn't pay, so I had to improvise to get myself out of there. I stayed close to Josh to stay in contact, and as soon as I had a little bit of advantage I capitalised on it and did my best to stay in front. Josh had the initial advantage but he didn't cover me, and he lost a bit, so I used his mistake.”

“This is my fourth European title in Split, after the Optimist and Laser youth and the Finn in 2010. It's a pretty consistent record. This was also one of our qualifying events for the Olympics.”

Speaking in general about the event he said, “I think it was a good event, We had a mix of conditions, so it wasn't favoured for anyone. We had some light days and some windy days. I think everyone had fun out there and I hope everyone found something that suited their style. I am really happy to have won, but it was not easy. Everyone was fighting hard. It was a very hard week for me but in the end a really good one.”

Results after medal race (medal race in bracket)
1 CRO 524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 54 (4)
2 NZL 24 Josh Junior 64 (8)
3 SLO 573 Vasilij Zbogar 69 (2)
4 GBR 11 Edward Wright 81 (5)
5 RUS 6 Arkadiy Kistanov 84 (3)
6 RUS 57 Egor Terpigorev 101 (7)
7 SWE 6 Björn Allansson 106 (1)
8 AUS41 Jake Lilley 106 (UFD)
9 CRO 69 Milan Vujasinovic 109 (6)
10 GRE 77 Ioannis Mitakis 127 (UFD)

Full results:
http://www.finneuropeans.org/ec2015/event-results/55589c8742e47-Overall_17-05.html

You can follow the races live on Twitter or on the event website.

Daily photo galleries will be posted on Facebook and Flickr.

Daily videos will be posted on the YC Labud YouTube channel.

All photos (c) Robert Deaves, Free for editorial use with credit.

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16.05.2015

Scene is set for Finn European medal race showdown

For the first time this week, Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) has taken the lead at the Finn European Championships in Split, Croatia. Josh Junior (CRO) has dropped to third while Vasilij Zbogar (SLO) remains in third but has considerably closed the gap on the two leaders. Race wins on Saturday went to Giorgio Poggi (ITA) and Jake Lilley (AUS).

The medal race on Sunday will be a showdown for both the junior and senior titles. Two juniors have made the medal race in fifth and sixth places, with Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS) holding a six point lead over defending champion Jake Lilley (AUS). Meanwhile, Kljakovic Gaspic holds a two point lead over Junior, insignificant assuming the medal race is actually sailed, which is not guaranteed given some of the forecasts.

With a range of forecasts for today, the Finn fleet set out prepared for anything. In the end the early moderate wind softened for the first race before strengthening for the second and then disappearing for the third. It was a day of everything.

Generally the left proved to be favoured, with a strong adverse current making the upwinds very long. Five years ago when the Finn Europeans was last held in Split, Marc Allain des Beauvais (FRA) led round a top mark after hitting the left hand corner. He did the same again today in race 8. The President of the French Finn class and Grand Master left 70 other Finn sailors in his wake as he confidently sailed to the left while those around him consolidated and tacked away. It paid off as he rounded the top mark with a nice led and sped off downwind with the current. He was followed by Giorgio Poggi (ITA) and Björn Allansson (SWE). Allain des Beauvais maintained his lead downwind and also up the second beat, while Ed Wright (GBR) moved up to second. The final downwind was decisive with Poggi and Allansson both finding some pressure to sail round the Frenchman for first and second. Kistanov kept his Junior title hopes alive after snatching a fourth place finish from Wright.

The overall lead changed hands at this point after Kljakovic Gaspic crossed 11th, while Junior could only place 21st, which he had to count. The wind increased for the second race with Oscar up for free pumping downwind.

Despite an eighth place in race 8, Jake Lilley (AUS) knew he still needed to do something special to stay in touch with Kistanov, and also to make the medal race. He did exactly that in race 9, to lead from start to finish, extending downwind to record a great win. Wright was second at the top mark ahead of Zbogar, but Zbogar got the better of him on the second upwind to follow Lilley down the run. He took second place from Wright in third. Behind them Junior had a better race to cross fifth with Kljakovic Gaspic in seventh. Kistanov placed eighth to keep the pressure on. The points at the top were starting to get quite close.

The start of race 10 was beset with problems, with a shifting, and dying wind and then a general recall. After a problematic week, Oliver Tweddell (AUS) finally showed some of what he is capable of and came off the pin end with speed to launch into the left hand side and lead into the top mark with a nice lead. The current at the top mark caused the sailors many problems, firstly in laying the mark and then in getting to the spreader in one piece. But the writing was already on the wall, as the race was soon abandoned when the wind switched off. Racing for the day was abandoned shortly after.

It was a welcome conclusion for both Junior and Lilley who were both really deep after encountering problems at the top mark. Lilley said, “I did more spins between the top mark and the offset mark than I normally do in about five regattas. It was pretty crazy.” So they go into the medal race with a fighting chance to take the titles. Junior has to beat Kljakovic Gaspic and stay eight boats ahead of Zbogar to take the title. Gaspic just has to beat Junior. In the Juniors, Lilley has to put two boats between himself and Kistanov to retain the title.

Zbogar will also have his work cut out to stay in third. He was quite surprised to be doing so well. He explained. “From the first day I felt really bad. I had a high temperature and headache and I was not competing, I was just sailing. On the second day I was thinking about quitting the championship, but have so many people helping me, so I said I would try to continue, and since then every day has got better and better. I did not think I would come this high into the medal race, because the first five races were all over tenth place, but I was trying to sail my best.”

“Yesterday, could have been even better if I had felt better. I had excellent speed upwind and but I was sailing very conservatively. The last five races were excellent.”

“The last race today was very tricky. For me it was a good race. I was around 12th at the top and Josh and Ed were far behind, and it would have helped me a little to to be closer to the leaders, but now I can only really keep third place.”

“These last two days were extremely difficult for all of us. The conditions were really tough, a lot of upwind and a lot of pain in the kegs, so I think everything is very tired.”

Poggi said of his race win. “I was lucky today, but it was nice to win. I had really good speed. I went to the left with Marc and Björn and we came back from the left with some decent pressure. The second upwind was little bit closer, as Filippo [Baldassari (ITA)] got closer and Ed passed me on the right. But I was sailing really nicely downwind. Just before the finish I kept to the right a little bit and got past, but there was really only a boat length in it. It was really close.”

“Marc sailed really well. He was sailing really fast. To be first at every mark is not so easy.”

“Overall I am happy with my week. The second race today was not too bad, but I lost a lot on the second upwind. And I was third in the last race, but it was impossible to finish that race. Next year I need to have a better start to the championship, because I started really badly this year.”

Tweddell was philosophical about the lost chance, but it summed up the week for him. “Sometimes that's the way it goes. I think for the majority of the fleet it wasn't a great one for them so probably a fair one to get abandoned.”

“It's been a tough week for me. Some people have good speed this week and have been racing well, and also keeping low risk, but I just haven't been sailing well enough, and without speed you can't play the game. We'll change a few things before the next event at Delta Lloyd.”

In contrast his team mate Lilley has had a great week. “The race win was very pleasing. I had good speed and came off the boat end and drag raced the top guys, sailed the two lifts into the mark and extended on the first downwind and then did a good jib covering on the second upwind. I did enough to hold Vasilij off on the last downwind, so it's really pleasing to get a win and do what I had to do to move into the medal race.”

On the Junior title, “I haven't really thought too much about the Juniors this week. There doesn't look like theres going to be much wind tomorrow but if we get a race off then I don't think I will try anything special.I'll just try to have a good race and see how the cards fall.”

Junior summed up the situation. “Whoever wins the medal race should win overall, so it should be a fantastic race. I've never been in this position before so it should be good fun. I've done a lot of match racing so maybe it will be useful. Or maybe I'll get schooled. Whatever it'll be fun.” Junior is the New Zealand Match Racing Champion, so knows a bit about match racing, but tomorrow we'll see if he can apply it to the Finn.

The medal race is scheduled for 12.00 on Sunday, with the final race for the rest to be held as soon as possible afterwards.

Results after nine races
1 CRO 524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 46
2 NZL 24 Josh Junior 48
3 SLO 573 Vasilij Zbogar 65
4 GBR 11 Edward Wright 71
5 RUS 6 Arkadiy Kistanov 78
6 AUS 41 Jake Lilley 84
7 RUS 57 Egor Terpigorev 87
8 CRO 69 Milan Vujasinovic 97
9 SWE 6 Bjorn Allansson 104
10 GRE 77 Ioannis Mitakis 105

Full results: http://www.finneuropeans.org/ec2015/event-results/555743e7d98ad-Overall_16-05.html

You can follow the races live on Twitter or on the event website.

Daily photo galleries will be posted on Facebook and Flickr.

Daily videos will be posted on the YC Labud YouTube channel.

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16.05.2015 - Video alert: Finn Europeans day 4 - race 5, 6 and 7

We have two videos from Friday's epic racing at the Finn Europeans, the official video and an assortment of clips from the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f6PaFawt3M

https://youtu.be/2EyQoAhcngw

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15.05.2015

Josh Junior back in charge at Finn Europeans in Split

Josh Junior (NZL) has reclaimed the lead at the Finn European Championship in Split, Croatia after three tough races in winds from 18-24 knots. Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) had the best day to climb up to second, while Vasilij Zbogar (SLO) staged a comeback to climb from 15th to third. Race wins went to Ed Wright (GBR), Junior and Deniss Karpak (EST).

It was always going to be the 'big' day in Split, but it wasn't as large as some expected. With some forecasts showing 35 knots and more, racing was held on the inshore course. As it turned out the big winds only arrived after the fleet came ashore, and for the large part the racing was held in an average of 20 knots. Even so the fleet had to contend with big waves and tough racing conditions.

Race 5 seemed to belong to Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) from start to finish. Favouring the left hand side close to the shore he emerged from the chop with a nice lead at the top mark and blasted away downwind never to be caught. The British pair of Ed Wright (GBR) and Ben Cornish (GBR) were leading the chasing pack some way back. However both Postma and Cornish were judged over the line early and scored UFD, so the race win went to Wright from Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) and Vasilij Zbogar (SLO).

For the next race the wind dropped slightly but followed a similar pattern. Alejandro Foglia (URU) led round the top mark from Josh Junior (NZL). Junior was soon in the lead and went on to win his third race of the championship. Kljakovic Gaspic also passed Foglia to place second in the race.

Junior looked to be heading for yet another race victory in race 7, leading round the top mark from Deniss Karpak (EST), Giorgio Poggi (ITA) and Kljakovic Gaspic. In contrast to the first two races, the middle and right were now paying with those who stuck to the left again trailing at the top mark. Junior led until the final upwind mark when Karpak spotted some incoming pressure and dived low to the left and sailed underneath Junior to take a narrow victory on the line. Poggi crossed in third, with Kljakovic Gaspic ending a great day with a fourth.

Junior said, “Very spectacular day. There were some good close battles with everyone. I need to keep getting good results like that. There are a lot of good sailors here so I just have to keep sailing well, but Ivan is sailing very well.”

On his tactics for the day, “There was close to a knot of current running between the island and the land and I think to start with inshore there was less current and also a geographical effect on the left as you got near the top mark. As the day went on it paid to go left early and then cross to the right.”

Wright wasn't so happy with his day, but climbs two places to fifth “After the first race when the land got hot we had anything from 6-25 knots which kept the fleet entertained. I managed to win the first which I was extremely happy with and then made some average decisions in the other two.”

Foglia is one of the Finn class sponsored sailors at the Dinghy Academy in Valencia. He led round the top mark in race 6. He said of his day, “I am happy with how I am going, but I didn't have a good start to the week and lost a lot of points on the first days. The important things is that I am there with the speed and am up with the top sailors. This is only my second year in the Finn. We are sailing well in Valencia having fun and learning all the time.”

“In the second race today I managed a very good start at the pin and tacked at the right moment to the right, and then came into the mark first from Josh, but he was flying downwind and passed me. On the second upwind I kept my second place but Bambi also passed me on the last downwind. Third is a good result but when you are first and lose some places, you are happy because of the result but also not happy to lose first place because you want to win.”

Karpak has now won two races this week and is up to tenth overall. “In the first two races I started in the middle and all the leaders came from the pin after one tack. In the last race it was more tactical, with the wind going right and left. Myself and Josh and Giorgio went super fast to the right for about a minute and then when we came back we had everyone in the window, so that was nice. I didn't have a good first downwind, but it was an easy second upwind. On the last downwind I saw some more pressure on the left and went for it Laser style with no pumping and took the pressure. When I looked up everyone was behind me. If you have more wind that others, you go faster.” Simple.

Home favourite, Kljakovic Gaspic, is now up to second and looking for his third European title. He said, “It was fun, a windy, breezy day and lots of nice moments for sailing. I was looking forward to today but I wasn't sure whether it was going to be too much. I understand why they put the course inshore because the forecast was showing a really, really breezy day. Normally in that area there is a little less wind, but at least it keeps all the options open, and is the same for everyone.”

“So it in the end it turned out to be a really wonderful day. We had nice surfing downwind, with nice waves. Upwind was fun. It wasn't about banging the corners, it was sometimes left, sometimes right, so fun racing. I'm up to second, so let's see what happens tomorrow.”

The current leader in the Junior Championship, Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS), lost his overall lead in the Seniors, but despite a high scoring day still leads the defending junior champion Jake Lilley (AUS) by nine points. Nenad Bugarin (CRO) also struggled in the higher winds and dropped to 19th overall, but is still the third placed junior.

Lilley described his day, “It's been a pretty tricky week so far in a variety of conditions and I have just been trying to stay consistent. I managed to do that so far until the second race today when I didn't have the best race and didn't really recover from it like I have been able to do most of this week. The first race and third race today were pretty good. The third one was a just a war of attrition. Everyone was pretty tired by then."

On the defence of his European Junior tile, “I am starting to close the gap on the Russian. Three more races tomorrow before the medal race so still plenty to play for.”

There is just one day of the opening series left and a possible three races to sail on Saturday. Junior and Kljakovic Gaspic have a 30 point gap on the fleet, though the rest of the top ten remain very close on points, especially for those hoping to make the medal race on Sunday.

Forecasts vary for Saturday, from nothing to something sailable. Racing is scheduled to resume at 12.00.

Results after seven races
1 NZL 24 Josh Junior 22
2 CRO 524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 28
3 SLO 573 Vasilij Zbogar 56
4 GRE 77 Ioannis Mitakis 57
5 GBR 11 Edward Wright 63
6 HUN 40 Zsombor Berecz 65
7 RUS 6 Arkadiy Kistanov 66
8 RUS 57 Egor Terpigorev 68
9 CRO 69 Milan Vujasinovic 68
10 EST 2 Deniss Karpak 71

Full results:
http://www.finneuropeans.org/ec2015/event-results/5555f7b3a2f8e-Overall_15-05.html

You can follow the races live on Twitter or on the event website.

Daily photo galleries will be posted on Facebook and Flickr.

Daily videos will be posted on the YC Labud YouTube channel.

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15.05.2015 - Video alert: Finn Europeans race 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8ZSFCBrlsg

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14.05.2015

Kistanov extends while Karpak wins only race at Finn Europeans in Split

Once again only one race was sailed at the Finn European Championship in Split, Croatia. While Deniss Karpak (EST) led at every mark to win the race, Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS) extended his lead at the top to 11 points. Josh Junior (NZL) moved back up to second while Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) drops one to third.

After a short postponement race 4 got away under black flag following one general recall. Like yesterday the corners didn't pay again with race winner Deniss Karpak (EST) leading round the top mark, after playing the middle, with a narrow lead over Michele Paoletti (ITA) and Ioannis Mitakis (GRE). Karpak extended on the first downwind to hold a lead of more than a minute at the gate as the wind became lighter. Ondra Teply (CZE) rounded second from Oliver Tweddell (AUS).

Not much changed on the second upwind, but then on the final downwind, pressure from behind and the right allowed a few boats to make up places. Karpak almost lost his lead, on the wrong side of the course. However, he just held on to win from a fast approaching Zsombor Berecz (HUN) after some last minute tactics to cross in front of the fleet. Teply finished in third. Josh Junior (NZL) made up a few places on the final approach to climb to seventh and move up to second overall, while a 14th from Mitakis was just enough to stay in the top three.

After the finish the wind all but died and just over an hour later the fleet was sent home for the day. With four races sailed, the championship is now valid, but one more is needed before a medal race can be sailed. Kistanov has maintained his overall lead and extended it to 11 points. He said, “It was a tight race for me. I had a nice start. I went the wrong way on the first upwind, going too much to the left, but after that I made a good comeback to finish eighth.”

Third overall Mitakis, said, “I managed to find a good way upwind to round in the top 3, then I had a penalty on the first downwind, but I got back to seventh on the second upwind. On the last downwind I lost about 10 places, but it was OK for me as it was a lot worse for some guys. There were a lot of up and downs. Everyone thought the wind was going to turn right, but in the end the puff was from the left so some guys got past.”

After winning both races on the first day, Junior is back up to second overall. “I had a bit of a lucky race today. We had 7-8 knots at the start and a pretty square line. I got away to a good start and then it was really tricky up the first beat with the middle right paying, which is where the leaders came from. On the downwind I chipped away, and then on the second upwind, the wind went really funky, quite light and the pressure came out of the left. I ended up really deep and had to catch up and got back to about 15th at the top mark. Then there was an opportunity right before the finish when the front guys just dropped into no pressure so I made a bold move to try and sail round the outside. I went hard right looking downwind and managed to get round six or seven of them to cross in seventh, so I am happy with that. I came away with a good race."

“The Russian junior is sailing really well so far. It's definitely going to be windy tomorrow. Heavy weather sails, a bit of a hike off. Bit of a change.”

Anders Petersen (NOR) is sailing his first full season in the senior fleet after winning the Junior World Championship last year. He will keep the title for just a few more weeks before the 2015 Finn Silver Cup takes place in Valencia at the end of June. His main opposition from last year, and one of the favourites this year is Kistanov.

“I wish I was still a year younger so I could do the Juniors again. In most races we sail with the seniors so it's not that much difference, but at the youth championship everything is easier and there is more room at the start. In the seniors there are many more guys pushing. I think this year's Silver Cup will be pretty tough though, especially with Arkadiy in first place here.”

“I had a very good race today. The start was OK, but then I got rolled by NZL 16. I attacked my way into the course and I was lucky on the first beat to catch some wind and rounded the top in tenth. I had a good downwind and on the second beat I was far out to the left and got up to ninth, and then I managed to go round some guys on the downwind to finish sixth."

Race winner Karpak mused on his race win after a disastrous race on Wednesday. “Yesterday was a pity. I was ninth at the first mark, then touched the mark, got a penalty, did my turns, but they were too late, so hopefully I got all the bad things in one race.” He later retired from the race.

“Today, I had good speed and the first upwind was great. The middle was the way to go. There were too many shifts to go to one side. I wasn't in first place 200 metres from the mark and then a few tacks later I was leading.”

“On the downwind I went left and got away to a lead of more than one minute at the gate. But I almost lost it. I finished just metres ahead of the Hungarian. There was no wind at the finish, and everyone came back at me with more pressure. At one point I gybed and crossed at almost 90 degrees to the course to catch the Hungarian. If I had continued to go straight to the finish I would have lost the race. Then the wind died after we had finished.”

“Tomorrow will be a hard day as the forecast is windy.” Three more races are now scheduled for Friday from 11.00, with the some strong winds forecast to be arriving overnight. After one more race the discard comes into effect, which should change the leader board somewhat, though perhaps not as much as three windy races. It should be a big day for everyone if the forecast is correct.

Kistanov still leads both the Seniors and the Juniors and has not only extended his lead on the seniors but also the juniors, after both Jake Lilley (AUS) and Nenad Bugarin (CRO) had results in the 20s. In the Seniors, only 10 points separates the next seven places, so Friday will be a crucial day for some.

The opening series of 10 races concludes on Saturday, before the medal race and the final race for the rest takes place on Sunday.

Results after four races
1 RUS 6 Arkadiy Kistanov 25
2 NZL 24 Josh Junior 36
3 GRE 77 Ioannis Mitakis 37
4 ITA 146 Michele Paoletti 40
5 NZL 16 Andrew Murdoch 41
6 HUN 40 Zsombor Berecz 42
7 GBR 11 Edward Wright 43
8 CRO 524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 46
9 CRO 69 Milan Vujasinovic 52
10 AUS 41 Jake Lilley 60

Full results:
http://www.finneuropeans.org/ec2015/event-results/5554940de9aa0-Overall_14-05.html

You can follow the races live on Twitter or on the event website.

Daily photo galleries will be posted on Facebook and Flickr.

Daily videos will be posted on the YC Labud YouTube channel.

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14.05.2015 - Video alert: Finn Europeans day 3 - race 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhDChVHCvks

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13.05.2015

Arkadiy Kistanov leads Junior and Senior fleets at Finn Europeans in Split

Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS) has taken the lead on the second day at the Finn European Championship in Split, Croatia, after only one late race was sailed in light winds. Andrew Murdoch (NZL) took the race win from Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) and Ioannis Mitakis (GRE), who moves up to second overall, with Ed Wright (GBR) up to third overall.

The scheduled start time had already been put back to 13.00 with the forecast showing similar conditions to Tuesday, but a postponement followed at 11.00 with the race area remaining windless. The AP was dropped around 13.30 for a 15.00 start, however the wind was shifting 70 degrees so a further wait afloat ensued until the wind finally steadied around 16.00 allowing one race to get away.

After the left hand corner was favoured yesterday, some tried that gambit again, and lost. Some also tried the right, and lost. The leaders emerged from the middle playing the pressure bands. First round the top was James Hadden (GBR) from Andrew Murdoch (NZL), Ed Wright (GBR), Alejandro Foglia (URU) and Nenad Bugarin (CRO).

Murdoch sailed into the lead on the run, while Wright got swallowed whole by a hole and dropped to tenth. Hadden was still second round the gate, but pressure on the right on the second, shortened, beat allowed some new faces to claw their way back. Murdoch still led but Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) and Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) came down the run in second and third for a close finish behind Murdoch. Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS) crossed in fifth to take the overall lead, displacing Josh Junior (NZL) who had won both races on Tuesday, and dropped to fifth overall after placing 28th today.

Murdoch's race win means all three races so far have been won by Kiwis. “There's always some good rivalry between team mates so it was good to come back and respond with a good race today. There's still a long way to go though. I entered here pretty much at the last minute and I am still getting over the jet lag.”

“I was sailing in pressure for pretty much the whole first beat. Looking at the race course before the start it wasn't super clear what to do and after the left was so favoured yesterday it was tricky knowing how far to go. I started hitting left from mid-line and I was one of the first ones to tack out. But I was checking over my shoulder for the guys on the left."

"On the downwind, there were veins of pressure and I gybed away from Ed and he lost heaps. It was brutal. There was a lot of traffic going into the gate and because the breeze was soft it was pretty tricky getting out of there. I went round the right hand gate but there was a general turn to the right on the second beat, and also pressure wise, so the boats on the right came into it a bit more. I kept the same distance on the next boat, but it was a different boat.”

Kljakovic Gaspic has moved up to sixth overall. “It was a tricky day, quite patchy and a not very steady breeze. On the first upwind I was fine out of the start and then I got into a big lull in the middle of the course and got overtaken by half a dozen boats, and it didn't look so nice. But on the first downwind I stayed calm and the rest of the race I knew I had to fight until the end and got back to second pace, so it ended quite good.”

Early leader Hadden was pleased with his race, “I had a good start in the middle of the line, and then just tacked and came into pressure in the middle of the course and took that pressure all the way over to the right and tacked on top of everyone else.”

“I've had top three at the first mark but have never led at a big event. After yesterday it was kind of needed really. I was pretty relaxed and I was just enjoying myself. Looking back and seeing everyone else behind makes it a lot easier.”

Second overall, Mitakis, said “Today the weather was really tricky. It was hard for the race committee to set the course but finally we had a pretty good race. I passed the first mark in the top 10 and found a good way downwind to pass the gate top five and then moved into the top three. It was a pretty good day for me.”

“Today was more about finding the pressure and playing with the current. There's a lot of current out there, but I sailed very well today. My speed was OK, but I have done some good preparation in the course area.”

The new leader, Kistanov, was somewhat surprised to find he was leading the 70 boat fleet. “Before the start I wasn't sure which sure which side was better and finally it was pretty similar. I started in the middle of the line and just went with the shifts and then I could cover the fleet. Downwind I was happy with the way it went. It is a surprise to be leading now. I hoped I would make good races and it would be like this but I didn't really think it would happen.”

Kistanov is now leading both the seniors and the juniors while a seventh from Nenad Bugarin (CRO) moves him up to second junior and seventh overall. A 22nd from defending junior champion Jake Lilley (AUS) drops him to ninth overall.

Three more races are scheduled for Thursday from 12.00, with the some new conditions expected – wind from the south-east. The opening series of 10 races concludes on Saturday, before the medal race and the final race for the rest on Sunday.

Results after three races
1 RUS 6 Arkadiy Kistanov 17
2 GRE 77 Ioannis Mitakis 23
3 GBR 11 Edward Wright 25
4 NZL 16 Andrew Murdoch 29
5 NZL 24 Josh Junior 30
6 CRO 524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 31
7 CRO 52 Nenad Bugarin 34
8 ITA 146 Michele Paoletti 35
9 AUS 41 Jake Lilley 40
10 HUN 40 Zsombor Berecz 41

Full results:
http://finneuropeans.org/ec2015/event-results/55536bc04d2a9-Overall_13-05.html

You can follow the races live on Twitter or on the event website.

Daily photo galleries will be posted on Facebook and Flickr.

Daily videos will be posted on the YC Labud YouTube channel.

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13.05.2015 - Finn Europeans day 2 - first two races and interview with Josh Junior

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfBDKqzBtSo

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12.05.2015 Video - Opening and Practice Race:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE3nzo4UTZ0&feature=youtu.be

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12.05.2015

Josh Junior gets perfect start to Finn Europeans in Split

Josh Junior (NZL) has got off to a perfect start at the Finn European Championships in Split, Croatia after two race wins on the opening day. Egor Terpigorev (RUS) is in second while Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS) is third, as well as being the leading junior.

As expected the day started windless and hot, so an early postponement was hoisted as the fleet waited for the sea breeze. When it did arrive, it was later and weaker than predicted, though plenty strong enough to run two great races, with wind from 10-14 knots through the day.

Race 1 almost belonged to Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS). He led at every mark, and only lost the race shortly before the finish. It took three attempts to get the fleet away in the shifty wind, and when they finally got off the line cleanly, the left was clearly the favourite. Kistanov rounded the top mark with a sizable lead from Egor Terpigorev (RUS) and Josh Junior (NZL). Kistanov was setting the pace and he looked to be in control as he held his lead at the second windward mark. However, Junior had other ideas and took the lead towards the end of the final downwind to be the distinctly non-European winner of the first race of the 2015 Finn European Championships.

Race 2 took even longer to get away with the pin end being very popular as the breeze continually shifted left. The start was postponed in the final moments several times as the pin was dropped back slightly to meet the new wind, and after another two attempts the race was underway with six boats pulled out under the U flag. Unfortunately for Martin Robitaille (CAN) it was his second of the day.

Terpigorev continued his good form to lead round the top from Junior, but Junior was soon in the lead and extended all the way round the course for a huge race win. Terpigorev maintained second place through the gate and just held off a strong challenge from local favourite Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) on the final downwind, with a photo finish to decide between them.

Kljakovic Gaspic, who placed 26th in the first race, said, “It was a tough call on the first race today. I was sure about the left hand side, but then I got some input from one of the local coaches, and it created a suspicion in my mind, and unfortunately I went right. I realised soon after the start that it was the wrong call but I couldn't do anything about it by then. I tried to recover but it was impossible as the fleet on the left hand side was just lifting into pressure. Then in the second race, I just kept calm and got on with the work. I had a decent start, and I had to fight until the end, for a very tight finish with the Russian.”

On the conditions, “It was strange today. I was hoping for a little bit more breeze, and this big lefty was quite a surprise. It normally happens but not that radical. I guess it's still the beginning of the season and the sea breeze is not so steady yet, so still quite flukey.”

Kistanov followed his second place with a 10th to sit in third place overnight. On race 1 he said, “I thought the left would be better and I had a great start. So good that I thought I might have been over, but it was OK. Then it was easy. I just went to the corner and tacked. It was nice. I just had to control the second placed boat. The second downwind was a bit tricky. I went too far to the left, but I should have stayed in front of Josh on the right so I could get the gusts as well. But he had better position, he got a gust and passed me.”

On the great performance of the Russians today, he said, “Over the winter we have been training in Russia, and then in Miami and Palma, but this is the first time I have been really fast. I am using my old mast again, and it seems to go much better.”

Second overall, Terpigorev added, “For me today was a great day. First of all, today I was lucky. I had very good speed, and it was a very good wind for me. I like the medium conditions and I think I am stronger on the downwind when we have free pumping. I am also not so bad on the upwind. Before I had upwind speed problems, but now it is OK and I am much happier with that.”

“I am surprised to be doing so well, but I hope the next races will be the same and I will stay lucky.”

Regatta leader Junior was also surprised to be doing so well. “Very good day, very happy. I haven't sailed like this in a long time. To win two races in a row is fantastic, especially with such good sailors around. So I am very pleased and surprised.”

On the first race, “I went left on the first beat because of the bias on the line. I think there was about 10 degrees bias towards the pin, so I took the bias and it was looking pretty good, so I kept on going for a while and when I tacked back we were ahead. On the second beat the Russian kept tacking on me. He was sailing really well. He had quite a big lead at the top mark, but I slowly clawed him in and we had a really good battle going into the finish, but just passed him 100 metres from the line.”

In the second race, “I started in the middle of the pin end and got a good lane, and then went all the way left and was second at the top and then I was really fast downwind and took a huge lead by the bottom mark."

“I always knew I could win races, but to get two in one day is pretty good for me. I am going pretty fast and going the right way.

And on the next day, “Tomorrow's another day. You don't have days like today every day so I have to start again and keep going.”

Kistanov is also leading the juniors, with all the top three inside the top 10 overall. Defending champion Jake Lilley (AUS) in sixth overall after an 11, 7 while last year's Silver Cup bronze medalist, Nenad Bugarin (CRO) is in third after a 4, 23, and also the top Croatian.

Two more races are scheduled for Wednesday, with the same conditions expected. The opening series of 10 races concludes on Saturday, before the medal race and the final race for the rest on Sunday.

You can follow the races live on Twitter or on the event website.

Daily photo galleries will be posted on Facebook and Flickr.

Daily videos will be posted on the YC Labud YouTube channel.

Results after two races
1 NZL 24 Josh Junior 2
2 RUS 57 Egor Terpigorev 5
3 RUS 6 Arkadiy Kistanov 12
4 HUN 40 Zsombor Berecz 14
5 GBR 11 Edward Wright 15
6 AUS 41 Jake Lilley 18
7 GRE 77 Ioannis Mitakis 20
8 GBR 91 Ben Cornish 20
9 EST 2 Deniss Karpak 26
10 CRO 52 Nenad Bugarin 27

Full results at: http://finneuropeans.org/ec2015/event-results/555231661fff4-Overall_12-05.html

You can follow the races live on Twitter.

Daily photo galleries will be posted on Facebook and Flickr, as well as on the event website.

All photos (c) Robert Deaves, Free for editorial use with credit.