2019 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL REPORT

The regatta was sailed in a wide range of conditions from 5 knots to 25 knots. Much of the variation happening in the same race with a procession of rain squalls parading across the course. “If it weren’t for the remarkable versatility of the 5o5 we would not have been able to do some of those races” said winning helm Roger Gilbert. “Any other Class would have struggled to get more than 2 days racing.”

The rain clouds brought with them increasing wind up to 25 knots and direction changes of often 90 degrees. However the 5o5 and most of the competitors revelled in the conditions which produced interesting, challenging and ultimately very close racing.  Going into the last race any of five boats could have won the series.

OVERALL RESULTS
1^st       Roger Gilbert & Ben McGrane (GBR)
2^nd       Ian Pinnell (GBR) & Carl Smit (USA)
3^rd       Howard Hamlin & Jeff Nelson (USA)
4^th       Wolfgang Hunger & Holger Jess (GER)
5^th       Stefan Bohm & Gerald Roos (GER)
Full results can be found on the 5o5 event page at https://www.int505.org/blog/2019/08/08/2019-european-championships-results/

The regatta was very well organised by the Sonderborg Yacht Club. There were some spills, there were plenty of thrills and the video footage was “some for the best I have seen” said Class president and Australian competitor Michael Quirk. ” This is one regatta where pictures are better than 1000 words.The sometimes armageddon-like weather and the exitement of a 5o5 in full flight were captured in daily videos from the water & the sky by Hartas Productions & Christian Gossmann. The footage is well worth a view. Video and photos can be can be found on the International 5o5 Facebook page or the Event website.

For more details on this event and the other International 505 Regattas visit the 505 International Class website.