This really is an event not to be missed. Great sailing and lots and lots and LOTS of fun! Location:

Location: Morgat south of Brest, France

Racing: Friday 28th May 14.30 – Monday 31st May 11.30

Ferry: Brittany Ferries 20% off from all locations travelling near this period – 0871 244 1400 quote account number 609789 for 20% discount off boat and cabins

Travel Plan: Most common is Thurs over night 20.30 Portsmouth 08.15 St Malo plus 3 hours drive. Return Monday 31st over night 23.00 Caen 06.30 Portsmouth, total one days holiday!

Accommodation: Free for the first 100 in clean dorms 5 mins drive from town.

DIY: if you want hotels on the beach next to racing/evening (call the hotels, e-mail less reliable)

Entry: includes meals on sat and sun nights

NOR: will be published in due course on http://www.ecole-navale.fr/GPEN-2010-Championnat-de-France.html

Well established event so self sort on forum, otherwise e-mail mark@rigginggurus.com Ask anyone who went last year if you want to know how good it is!

Actually 6 different nations competing for this first event in Belgium from 9th till 11th October. 26 boats out of 30 that entered may be considered as a huge success and a boost for the class in the low lands.
The results reflect the same mixture with 2 Brits, a Dutch, 2 Irish, a Belgian and a German boat in the top 7. Our Russian friends finished 15th, but in the testing conditions and being the newbies in the class, they showed sailing skills that will take them much higher up the ranking in future events.

9 races were asked for and 9 races we got.

The first race on Friday started in 15-18 knts easterly winds from the mainland. Not much waves but tricky windshifts and gusts that gave good planning conditions. NED 3471, Belaserd lead the whole way, closely followed by NED 3441, E-Quale showing that the Dutch like these windy conditions. BEL 3502, North Sea One took advantage of local knowledge and was able to get back from 11th to a 3rd place by gybing  at the right moments.

The Richard’s and Charlie on Here comes Bod, seemed happy with the increasing wind and blasted away from the field on the down wind legs, winning the 2nd race after gybing just inside North Sea One at the last mark. Paul Gast and his E-Quale team in a steady 3rd place.
Race 3 was the most testing one of the day, and with over 20 knts blowing, saw a very mixed field and changing positions throughout the race. GBR 3057 Balloo crossed the line first, followed by Bertrand Stuyts on BEL 3512 and NED 3446 from Jorrit Beekman in 3rd place.

A huge cloud put the only shadow over the series with pouring rain entering the harbour and lightning flashing as we started the first barrel of  Brugse Zot in a very enjoyable atmosphere at  the clubhouse.

Saturday started off  in 18 knts SW winds, increasing up to 25 knts, which supplied waves up to 6 feet high. The SB3’s showed their seaworthiness upwind and everyone had stories that day of very exciting downwind legs. Race 4 was for Richard Hall closely followed by Ben Willamson’s Black Box, both displayed their boat handling skills and the will to win this event. Finitor came 3rd. Dunno if we can call that surprising or is that usual, considering the alcohol cloud that was following The Beard and crew.

The Irish boats of Dave Cheyne and Gordon Patterson sailed steady near the top the whole day, and GER 3295 Razmatazz was also more at ease in these exciting conditions. Richard, Ben and Edd on the Black Box kept their pace going with 2-1-3-3 results, it promised to be close with GBR 3021 that resulted 1-8-6-1. But NED 3441 was not counted out, having very steady and good results the whole series.

Some took the free Brugse Zot from the après-sail straight to their dining table for the crew dinner. A very pleasant evening, that had a highlight with a lottery for some great SB³ prizes offered by Sailcenter from Holland. We must thank all the sailors on behalf of the restaurant personnel, they enjoyed serving such a group of friends. Tine, Isabelle and especially Prudence, are looking forward to see more of you in the future.

Sunday was the fastest day. SW 18- 23 knts and Finitor 7 finishing the first race once again in 3rd place, just before E-Quale and following GBR 3510 and 3021. So it all came down to the last race ! Dave Cheney finished his series with a bullet followed by NED 3441 and 3471. The Black Box was doing so well, hanging on to 4th being chased hard by Here comes Bod right up to the finish line…where they broached. So GBR 3021 was able to overtake Ben Williamson and his crew, making it a tie on 19 points, after deducting their 2 worst scores.

Everyone enjoyed the sunny blast at over 15 knts going back to the harbour. Craning went smooth allowing us to have the prize giving at a convenient time.

The first Huysman 3-Nations Cup is for Richard Hall & McAdam and Charlie Whelan breaking the tie by having 4 first places, which is better according the RRS than the very steady top results of the Black Box. Paul Gast, JW Van Leeuwen and Arno Boot in 3rd are the Dutch Champions 2009.

The complete race results and more pics can be found on www.rnsyc.be . We are looking forward to repeat this event in 2010 and hope that many more will come and sail the North Sea in these exciting boats. Our sponsors and the RNSYC will provide all the good times you can take, both on and off the water !

Peter Kennedy, Dave Cheyne and Stephen Kane from the RNIYC have won the Laser Performance / Matthews Centre SB3 Irish National Championship sailed in Crosshaven over the weekend of 18th to 20th of September. 47 boats competed over 8 races in a variety of sailing conditions. Friday started with a light South Easterly breeze and testing conditions for all competitors. Brian Reilly from Sligo got off to a good start with a win in race 1 which was followed by a win in race 2 for young local 420 sailor Rob Lehane who continued to impress throughout the event.

With the breeze dying away completely race officer Donal Mclement postponed race 3 and finished racing for the day. Saturday started with a light Northerly Breeze for Race 3. The right hand side of the beat favoured with boats approaching the top mark near Trabolgan from the right having a nice lead. Gareth Flannigan sailing McCreedy Sailboats sailed a nice race holding on to take a comfortable win. However following a protest over the starting sequence this race was thrown out. Race 4 saw the breeze shifting further to the right and increasing to a nice 10-12 knots. Ben Duncan returning to form took the race win from Brian Reilly.

Race 5 and 6 continued in similar conditions with Brian Reilly continuing well taking race 5 from Stefan Hyde / Gerry Dowling. Competitors were over eager for a number of starts and following a number of General recalls 8 boats were Black Flagged and returned home early. Sean Craig sailed very consistently with no results outside the top ten and took the race win from Gareth Flannigan in race 6. With the breeze constantly shifting Race Officer Donal Mclement did very well to get 4 races sailed and sailors returned to shore after a long day on the water at 19:00. The overnight lead was held by Peter Kennedy / Dave Cheyne who had a narrow lead from Sean Craig and Gareth Flannigan.

After the long day on the water competitors were rewarded with an excellent meal in the packed yacht club together with the National 18 class and enjoyed live music in the bar until the early hours. Sunday started with a light Southerly breeze and nice sunshine. The breeze had just filled enough to allow racing commence on time at 12:00. With the right hand side of the beat favouring, Peter Kennedy rounded the top mark in first and was not to be caught taking the race win from Sean Craig to set up for a tight final race with only a few points separating the top 3 boats.

With the breeze building nicely to 10 -12 knots for the final race, competitors were again over eager on a number of occasions and following a number of general recalls 13 boats fell foul of the black flag and headed for an early shower and crane out. Among those caught was Peter Kennedy who had to return to shore in the knowledge that a good result for either Sean Craig or Gareth Flannigan would deny them the title. The race was won by Emma Mcdonald from Darragh Sheridan in second both from HYC. However with Sean Craig having his worst result and Gareth Flannigan managing a 12th the title went to Peter Kennedy / Dave Cheyne with Sean Craig a few points behind in second and Ben Duncan and the Sharkbait team from HYC snatching third from Gareth Flannigan. Laura Dillon sailing Investwise.ie narrowly beat Emma Mcdonald for first Lady helm with the 2 HYC boats finishing in 6th and 7th.

The Silver fleet trophy was won by Daragh Sheridan sailing Dinghy Supplies with Rob Cahill taking the Bronze fleet trophy. The winners received excellent prizes courtesy of Laser Performance and the Matthews Centre with Peter Kennedy / Dave Cheyne collecting a new jib for first overall.

Pleaes be aware that a new version of the Laser SB3 Class Rules have now been publised.

Changes include the change to A6.2, allowing NoR and SI alteration of the C5.1 list of mandatory safety gear.

Please download the class rules Laser SB3 Class Rules 22.09.2009 (361)

The normal dockside banter was missing this morning in Cascais on the final day of the Laser SB3 World Championships. The lack of chit chat clearly displayed a degree of focus and preparation amongst the crews in anticipation of the final day of racing.

The Race Committee selected race course B for the final 2 races of the Championships, perhaps to the disappointment of some the fleet following yesterdays epic day on race course A. Course B lacks course A’s rolling swell and has, in previous days provided patchy wind conditions.

The fleet lined up for the 1st start of the day but were promptly recalled with at least 20 boats over the start line with 15 seconds to the gun. The black flag was raised for the 2nd attempt and the desired effect achieved with a clear start and no disqualifications in 14 knots of breeze.

Those starting at the pin end of the line benefitted immediately as the wind flicked left just before the start. Those that were caught in the cluster at the committee boat suffered.

Pelican Racing had the best start of their Championship and remained with the leading pack at the windward mark. Mike Budd rounded the top of the course in 1st position followed by John Pollard and Marshall King. The right hand side of the downwind leg benefitted and those that gybed early lost out. By the leeward mark Budd, Pollard and King had extended their lead and set off for the re-positioned windward mark at pace. Again, Budd lead the charge and eventually won the race with a credible lead having stood on when Pollard and King gybed for the final downwind mark. Between these three pack leaders, there was a 90 second gap between the next boats arriving at the mark.

After the end of race 1, the race committee promptly called the fleet back to the line and raised the preparatory signal to start the final race of the 2009 Laser SB3 World Championships. The wind had increased to a fresh 18 knots by this point and Robert Gullan won the start at the pin end onboard Sun Microsystems.

As the fleet approached the windward mark, there was no sign of Burlton. Was this going to be Jacobs and Hudson’s and the crew on Spirit of Cape Town’s moment to attack for the Championship title?

David Cummins onboard Rumbleflurg lead to the windward mark with David Hudson hot on his heels. Sarah Allan rounded in 3rd position and Guy Jackson in 4th. Burlton rounded way down the fleet in at least 25th position and had his work cut out to pick off the fleet and ensure the Jacobs/Hudson duo didn’t extend their lead any further and put an end to Gill Race Team’s World Championship dream.

At the final windward mark, Jacobs and Hudson were the only boat to gybe to the left hand side of the course and set off for the leeward gate alone. A brave decision as Burlton was in hot pursuit. From the middle of the race course, it was had to judge if Burlton had recovered enough. An anxious time for all.

David Hudson took the final bullet of the Championship, with David Cummins in 2nd and Sarah Allan in 3rd. Where would Spirit of Cape Town finish? Had Gill Race Team recovered enough?

Gill Race Team crossed the line in 13th position, unlucky for some, but they were well aware that they had just won the World Championships! Clenched fists were punched into the air. A clearly emotional, and utterly exhausted Burlton staggered onto the dock this evening as the new World Champion of the Laser SB3 Class. Gill Race Team gave a consistently excellent performance and are worthy winners. Congratulations Craig, AB and Adam.

Full Results can be found at:
http://www.cncascais.com/regatas_resultados.php?idEvento=302