After a windless second day at 2024 Open Finn Europeans, the third day of the event also started windless with a long postponement on shore in increasing temperatures. Confidence was reasonably high that some wind was coming, but it took its time coming and the fleet was not sent afloat until almost 15.00.
However, the breeze did finally arrive, albeit light, and the fleet at the event was rewarded with one late light wind race to complete the opening series.
Jan Zetzema, from The Netherlands, started well at the boat led for most of the Yellow group race, which was eventually won by Switzerland’s Christoph Burger from Hungary’s Tibor Palley with Zetzema in third.
In Blue fleet, France’s Laurent Hay led all the way to win from Valerian Lebrun and Peter Peet, from The Netherlands.
Burger said, “Obviously, the day went well. We were postponed for a while onshore, and we were supposed to get a gradient wind all day but somehow I think the land heating slowed that down so we didn’t start until 16.00 but at least we got one race in. When the breeze started easing today, I was already in the front of the pack, so spotting the pressure and making the next move got just a bit easier.
“The yellow fleet sailed on the outer course, which got even more affected by the land so the race got trickier and trickier. But in the end, I managed to stay in front.
“For tomorrow, we’re going to take what it comes if there is some breeze, we’re going to get even better sailing so I’m looking forward to it”
Martyn van Muyden, from The Netherlands is in ninth place after a sixth place finish.
“I think organisation did quite a good job at keeping us onshore until the wind picked up. There was a long wait, but it was good to get one race. I think conditions were quite good, not that much wind, but it’s good to get away with one race. The race was definitely tricky with some very big shifts and big changes in pressure so it was all about standing in the middle and trying to get there.
“Looks like we are going to hike hard for the next two days.”
Overall, Alessandro Marega still leads from Hay and Lebrun. For the final two days the fleet is split into gold and silver groups. There are two days of racing left with racing concluding on Friday. Three races are scheduled for Thursday.
Photo gallery Day 3
https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720321439165
Results after 4 races
1 ITA 1103 Alessandro MAREGA 7
2 FRA 75 Laurent HAŸ 9
3 FRA 111 Valérian LEBRUN 11
4 GBR 790 Nick CRAIG 15
5 POR 21 Filipe SILVA 18
6 SUI 7 Christoph BURGER 21
7 HUN 808 Kristóf KAISER 21
8 POL 6 Bartosz SZYDLOWSKI 21
9 NED 6 Martijn van MUYDEN 23
10 AUS 22 Paul McKENZIE 25
EVENT WEBSITES
https://finnclass.org/event-page/2024-open-europeans (for media updates)
2024.finneuropeans.org (for links and other info)
NOTICE BOARD & RESULTS
https://www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/OFEC2024#!/
SCHEDULE
Thurs 24 Oct – Racing (2 races scheduled)
Fri 25 Oct – Racing (2 races scheduled) followed by Prizegiving
Facebook: @InternationalFinnClass
Instagram: @finnclass
