The opening day of the International 6 Metre European Championship in La Trinite brought light airs and mixed results for the British contingent.  The predominantly north easterly wind was initially fairly steady at around 8 knots, but by the second race it had dropped and the final run turned into a very slow affair. Fortunately the sun was shining and the boats looked stunning regardless of the conditions.

In the open Division Andy Beadsworth at the helm of Peter Harrison’s St Francis IX took second in the opening race behind Switzerland’s Nivola, while Robin Richardson and the St Kitts crew were hard on their heels in third. Paul Smith’s Valhalla with Rob Smith on the helm finished in ninth with Andy Postle and Brian Pope’s Cream thirteenth.  The light airs of the second race were not so much to the Brit’s liking. Valhalla was the first British boat to finish in seventh with St Kitts tenth, St Francis IX eleventh and Cream thirteenth again.  Overall St Francis IX and St Kitts are on equal points in fifth and sixth place respectively, with a six point delta on the leader. Valhalla is just three points behind them in ninth place and Cream lies fourteenth overall.

In the Classics the newly restored Erica was on flying form in her first serious outing and took second in race one and third in race two to end the day in third overall, five points behind leader Llanoria and two adrift of second placed Bribon Gallant. Dirk Stolp’s Valdai scored and eighth and eleventh to put her into ninth place overall.  There’s clearly something about finish thirteenth that the Brits like as Robert Laird’s Mena followed Cream’s example by finishing in that position in both Classics races. Overall Mena is now in thirteenth place, just ahead of Christian Teichman’s Abu in fourteenth.

Day 1 Race Report
Full results 
Photo Gallery