Foto copyright Robert Deaves
Fuente info Scuttlebutt europe
Scott Wins Finn Europeans
Giles Scott (GBR) won the Finn Europeans after victory in the medal race. He ruffled the leader and defending champion Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) in the pre-start and emerged ahead to finally take the lead on the second upwind. A fourth for the Croatian levelled the points with Scott, but Scott takes the title on the medal race result.
The battled for bronze between Andrew Mills (GBR) and Thomas Le Breton (FRA) left Mills jumping out ahead of Le Breton and then covering him throughout the race to finish eighth and ninth. So Mills took the bronze.
It was a long wait for the medal race as early morning there was no wind, but got underway in 6-8 knots at about 1330 and soon increased to 10-11 knots as the sea breeze began to build, with Oscar flag for free pumping going up on the second downwind.
The Junior title goes to Josip Olujic (CRO). Going into the regatta as one of the favourites for the Junior title, he trailed Egor Terpigorev (RUS) from the opening day and only passed him on the tricky races on Wednesday. In third place is the fast improving Julian Massler (GER). Scott was ecstatic in his victory, his first major championship win and coming weeks after his disappointment at losing the British trials for the Olympic test event. His first reaction, "Total relief!"
Giles Scott (GBR) trod in the footsteps of Paul Elvstrom today at the Finn European Championship at the Open Europeans Helsinki 2011. In winning his first major Finn championship he climbed onto the same podium as the greatest of all Finn heros did 59 years ago at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Defending Champion Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) stood where Charles Currey stood 59 years ago and bronze medalist Andrew Mills (GBR) stood to Scott's left, where the Finn's designer Rickard Sarby stood all those years ago.
In many ways it was an historic end to an historic championships as the Finn was the only dinghy class at the Open Europeans Helsinki 2011 that was used in the 1952 Olympics - in fact 1952 was the Finn's first appearance on the Olympic stage. A lot has changed in 59 years, but the class remains proud of its history. -- Robert Deaves
Final results (medal race position in brackets)
1. Giles Scott, GBR, 34 (1)
2. Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic, CRO, 34 (4)
3. Andrew Mills, GBR, 67 (8)
4. Thomas Le Breton, GBR, 80 (9)
5. Pieter Jan Postma, NED, 87 (7)
6. Vasilij Zbogar, SLO, 95 (6)
7. Daniel Birgmark, SWE, 97 (2)
8. Rafael Trujillo, ESP, 97 (3)
9. Ed Wright, GBR, 97 (5)
10. Marin Misura, CRO, 133 (OCS)
Junior European Championship
1. Josip Olujic, CRO, (31st overall)
2. Egor Terpigorev, GBR, (35th)
3. Julian Massler, GBR, (40th)
www.openeuropeans2011.com
