Chairman of the Jury, Tony O’Gorman speaking to the 55 boats at their morning briefing..
The first day of the 2015 European Championship was eventually called off by the experienced Race Office Team of Annika Ekman and Morgan Sunden at around 4.30pm today. With a poor forecast and a 3 hour postponement this morning, it was decided at 1.37pm to send the 55 boat fleet out in hope of a building breeze. However, the wind died away, as predicted so that was it.
Judges & Officials share jokes & “True Stories” in Bastad whilst waiting for the wind….
However, the forecast is good for the rest of the week which will allow the Race Committee to sail 2 races each day and one on Friday, so will catch up the missed race today and allow the championship to be completed with 7 races….
I spoke with last weeks winner of the Swedish Championship, Lars Hendriksen, he told me “It was an excellent decision to keep us ashore this morning, as the Committee monitored the wind all over the bay. They were also correct to send us out this afternoon just to see if we could complete a race. They are doing an excellent job and I am looking forward to the rest of the week”. Yes Lars, I fully agree, everything possible was done today….
So tomorrow will see two races starting at 11am. The target time for each race is no more than 2 hours, so with a super 12 to 16 kt forecast, the 55 teams should have a wonderful day…….
Higher, Faster, Longer…………….. Stavros. (USA 310).