Europe: National Events: photos and summaries

Europen Cup France July 2007

The inaugural Euro'pen Cup was a great success ! Organised by Bic Sport and the French Sailing Federation (FFV), with support from the major telecommunications company, Orange, it welcomed nearly 40 competitors from 5 countries at the Ecole Nationale de Voile (ENV), Quiberon, France. One year after its release this new junior dinghy, the O'pen BIC, continues to revolutionise the world of kids sailing, this time with its innovative windsurfing inspired race formats really exciting the kids!

The innovative format of the Euro'pen Cup with slalom, adventure racing and O'pen Cross (including freestyle moves), has shown that kids can race AND have fun at the same time! This event was open to all competitors of all levels and gave a good chance to those riders less familiar with the more traditional Olympic style courses. A basic rule format with no protests and 2 discards meant that kids were kept out of the protest room and the final results were a fair reflection of ability. There were quite a few capsizes, but this was of little importance as within 10 seconds most were back up and sailing again.

Over 11 races the O'pen BIC showed it's performances in the full range of conditions from Force 1 to 5 (5-22 knots). All the riders were super energized and the one thing they all said was "See you next time!". The next events are not far off with the US O'pen Cup to be held at Sail Newport on 18 August 07, and the Italian O'pen Cup at ANS on the 8-9 September 07.

Race Summary
Saturday 28 July. Two "banana" style races including a 5m wide gate on the upwind leg started the regatta. In the medium strength winds the leading group of around 10 boats quickly separated from the rest of the fleet. It included the likes of quite experienced racers such as the Chilean Benjamin Valdivieso, the Trinitaine Lucas Rual (France), or the Portugese Lourenço Sampaio. Just behind this group the youngest riders were quickly learning the fun of O'pen BIC racing with high action starts, crowded bouy roundings and surfing sensations while reaching.
Back to the shore the following two races included a beach start, with a short out and back race around two buoys. The leaderboard changed quickly and gave a chance to those more crafty competitors, or as was the case with the second race, the smaller less competitive ones who were placed on the windward side of the line. Gauthier Lebec (France), Vianney Bergot (France) and Jelles de Vrie (Holland) greatly improved their standings with these races.

Sunday 29 July. The sky turned grey, the wind increased, but the programme remained the same and the Course Director Didier Flamme, technical director for dinghy sailing at the FFV, set the course for the adventure race towards Port Haliguen 2 miles towards the South. This time the little O'pen BIC showed its offshore qualities as the boats sailed through a downwind slalom course using both buoys and island markers to make it to the new location.

A picnic lunch was then served at the Association Sportive de Nautique de Quiberon (ASNQ), the club that provided the technical support for the event, before the competitors headed back onto the water for two slalom races in 20 knots of wind. The scene reminded those of some of the largest windsurfing events where cross wind starts, action packed buoy roundings, and high speed port-starboard fleet crossings provided great entertainment for all. Again the positioning within the main fleet changed, this time with the first girl overall, Puck Hollenkamp (Holland), finishing at the front of the fleet.

Finally, the return was made back to the ENV with a long, slightly upwind course through water gates that passed the competitors in front of the beaches of St. Pierre. Everybody in the hiking straps! Special mention should be made of the smallest and youngest competitor, François Peiffer (2000), who despite not being big enough to reach the hiking strap still competed in every race and the long races in windy conditions! All of the young riders will remember these adventure races for some time, a big first for all!

Monday 30 July. Back to sunshine and summer, light winds, and now the new O'pen Cross event that incorporates a touch of freestyle into a downwind slalom course: compulsory 360° turns, capsizes (rule: top of mast must touch water), and stand-up finishes for all competitors! Everyone had a lot of fun with the most acrobatic, Adrien Humeau (France), Joep de Geest (Holland), Romain Troudet (France) and Eline Tan (Holland - first U12 female) making a late charge up the leaderboard. 3 races were run back-to-back before the return to the beach for lunch and the closing ceremony.