Without weather luck, but with heart and soul

6 Metre European Championship

The west coast of Galicia is known for its good sailing conditions and warm temperatures. In recent years, numerous national and international regattas have been held there in fantastic conditions. This year’s European Championship of the Sixes, organized by the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo, was a completely different story.

Before the European Championship title was at stake, the six-man team met for the main rehearsal at the Rey Juan Carlos I regatta. Every year, around 160 boats from various classes take part in this, the largest regatta in the region. The organizers searched in vain for a reasonably stable wind off the bay of Sanxenxo. The title contenders had to exercise patience, including Momo (SUI 142), Dieter Schön’s 2022 World Championship winning boat, and Gingko (SUI 140). Both are still relatively young and therefore competed in the Open category, as did Duclop (SUI 100) and the successful Junior (SUI 77) from 1981. The seven-time World Championship winning yacht and 2016 European Champion was sailed at this European Championship by Loic Forestier (helmsman), Mathieu Fischer, Yann Marilley, Kaspar Schadegg and Nicolas Berthoud.

Ambitious teams

A tough battle was expected in the classic yachts. It was already clear in advance that the Bribón (ESP 16), built in 1947, would have a hard time defending the title it won in Cascais in 2022. Finland’s Ossi Paija on Astrée III (FIN 80) and other teams hungry for victory had set their sights high. The first day of calm was followed by lots of wind, rain and fog. The race committee tried to make the best of the adverse conditions. Determined to hold a valid European Championship despite the bad weather, they started three races. In the Classics, Bribón and Astrée III immediately staked their claim to the title. However, there were others with hopes of winning, including Fun (FRA 11), restored by Igor Yachting in the colors of the Yacht Club de France. Her crew consisted of familiar faces in this country: skipper Louis Heckly, helmsman Bruno Engel, Bill Leclerc, Jonas Lambelet, Frédéric Baratay and Frédéric Perrin. The team was under scrutiny from the outset, as Heckly, the owner of the yacht and President of the International Six Metre Association, had also won the World Championship title off Sanxenxo in 2022. Although he did not achieve this with the Fun, but with the 10 Août, such a success awakens ambitions.

Fierce battles

In the Open category, anything seemed possible given the homogeneous fleet. Overall, the Swiss got off to a good start, even though Duclop was disqualified on the first day and Gingotoo struggled with a few initial difficulties. Nicolas Jaton, who skippered the SUI 91 Irène from the club of the same name, first had to get used to the difficult sea currents and the high level of the fleet. On the third day, there was still no improvement in the weather in sight. On the contrary, the fog was getting thicker and thicker. The teams were already struggling to aim for the mark on the first beat – 1.6 nautical miles at 260°. Bribón continued to set the tone in the Classics, with the Finns on Astrée III and Titia (ESP 72) hot on her heels. Fun had to settle for 4th place after an OCS. The team was accordingly disappointed and set about making amends, after all the European Championships had not yet finished. In the Open class, Junior was in the lead after six runs ahead of Stella (ESP 116) ridden by Violeta Álvarez. Dieter Schön on Momo was lurking in ambush, Duclop’s disqualification in the third run cost him dearly and Irène continued to struggle.
On the fourth day, no races could be held in changeable and stormy winds. The weather was expected to improve on Friday, which it did. The fleet was finally able to get back on the water. In a weak, shifting wind, it was at least enough for one race, which upset the overall classification, much to the chagrin of some teams. Junior had to relinquish the lead and Momo moved up to 4th place with a 2nd place.

Bronze for Junior

In the Classics fleet, Bribón withstood the pressure and prevailed against Astrée III as expected. Fun lost one place and finished 5th. As the planned eighth race could not be sailed due to strong winds and heavy weather, the European champions were decided after just seven races. In the Open, a surprised Henrik Andersin on Oiva (FIN 81) was overjoyed: “I’ve never seen such a big regatta and I’m really happy! We have a fantastic crew and a new boat that can keep up in any weather.” Second place went to the British Battlecry with Jeremy Thorp. Junior completed the podium but was understandably disappointed with 3rd place.

The 26 sixes at this European Championship have shown that the class is still in enviable form. It has a lot of wind in its sails, especially thanks to the dynamics on Lake Geneva. As the 6mRs are very different, not all teams are competing with the same ambitions. The Nelson Trophy is intended for all older sixes with no chance of winning. It is awarded to the fastest boat in the Open class that was built and certified before 1979 and that has not undergone any changes to the underwater hull. This year, the prize went to Irène, a beautiful Petterson Pelle yacht from 1977, which has been lovingly restored by Nicolas Jaton and his team.