2011 – Lake Garda, Italy

Access Class European Championship, Circolo Vela Gargnano, final day.

First to start today were the single person divisions. The two person divisions were sailed when the breeze switched in the afternoon.

Pedro Cancio Reis (POR) scored 1-2 today to improve his lead and secure the European Championship in the Access 2.3. Lindsay Burns (GBR) held on to second overall and Bruno Pereira (POR) moved up a place from yesterday to claim third overall.

Six straight first places over the past four days mean that Zoltan Pegan (HUN) is the undisputed European Champion in the Access 303 Single Person. Pegan adds this to his Single Person 303 World Championship title. Luca Mantovani (ITA) and Paul Phillips (GBR) both retained their places from yesterday to finish in second and third place overall.

Australian Barry Coates also posted another two wins in the Liberty division to claim the Liberty Championship with a six point break on Vera Voorbach (NED). While denied the Open trophy, Voorbach will be presented with the European Championship Liberty Servo trophy. Russell Phillips (AUS) built a seven point margin over the next competitor today to secure third overall.

The afternoon breeze looked promising and the first heat for each of the two divisions provided good racing, but the wind evaporated after the second 303 race was started and the Race Officer was forced to abandon racing for that division. The SKUDs managed to complete their eights heat on the last of the breeze.

Series leaders in the Access 303 Two-Person competition, Zoltan Pegan and Eva Mircsev (HUN), finished their regatta with another first place, giving them a 9 point lead over the field. They retain their European Championship title won in Port Camargue, France in 2009. Joshua Rothenhaeusler and Dominique Scheller (SUI) finished second overall, a couple of points ahead of Julian Mueller and Fabio Rosa (SUI).

With their two second places today in the SKUB 18 Alex Hovden and Kate Mannerings (GBR) held a single point break over Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti (ITA). Andrea Stella and Pietro Piccoli (ITA) were in third place last night, but a DNF today enabled Shimon Ben Yakov and Zehavi Hagar (ISR) to steal the final podium place.

The next Access Class European Championships are scheduled to be held in 2013. Possible venues include Hungary and Switzerland.

Results

Access 2.3

  1. Pedro Cancio Reis (POR)
  2. Lindsay Burns (GBR)
  3. Bruno Pereira (POR) 

Access 303 singles

  1. Zoltan Pegan (HUN)
  2. Luca Mantovani (ITA)
  3. Paul Phillips (GBR)

Access 303 doubles

  1. Zoltan Pegan and Eva Mircsev (HUN)
  2. Joshua Rothenhaeusler and Dominique Scheller (SUI)
  3. Julian Mueller and Fabio Rosa (SUI)

Liberty Open

  1. Barry Coates (AUS)
  2. Vera Voorbach (NED)
  3. Russell Phillips (AUS)

Liberty Servo

  1. Vera Voorbach (NED)

SKUD18

  1. Alex Hovden and Kate Mannerings (GBR)
  2. Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti (ITA)
  3. Shimon Ben Yakov and Zehavi Hagar (ISR)
Alex Hoveden and Kate Mannerings - Access Class European Championships 2011 photo copyright David Staley - copyright taken at  and featuring the  class
SKUD 18 – Alex Hoveden & Kate Mannerings
Eva Mercsev and Zoltan Pegan two person division - Access Class Eurpoean Championships 2011 photo copyright David Staley - copyright taken at  and featuring the  class
Eva Mercsev and Zoltan Pegan
Pedro Cancio Reis - Access Class European Championships 2011 photo copyright David Staley - copyright taken at  and featuring the  class
Pedro Cancio Reis