What a great event! The class keeps growing and the events keep getting better!

First a big thank you to the Voile Libre Morges (VLM) for the super professional organisation, especially in the challenging conditions of Lac Leman. Below a short report of the week.

Sunday we had 2 practice race in light 6 to max 8 knots. At the evening the welcome dinner was at the castle nearby which was a great setting and good food.

The 43 boats (46 subscribed but couldn’t participate) stayed on shore on Monday as there was no wind. A good call of the race committee not to make us wait on the water. They really adapt to the F16 needs to find a balance of getting as much as possible racing but keeping a true holiday spirit.

On Tuesday we waited on shore again in the morning and got 4 races in 6 to 8 knots again. Fairly stable winds so great racing (if you like the light stuff). The usual suspects (Lechapelier and Bague) were up there together with Eric Proust, sailing with his son. Swiss champion Andi Lutz managed good races and some lesser ones as the starting line was quite short making it extra challenging. But results showed mixed, youths, masters are all in the mix in this class.

Wednesday we got 4 races again in stronger winds (18/20 knots going down to 14 knots). The Dutch teams climbed up the ranking in these conditions.
Unbelievable how quickly the wind and wave conditions can change in Morges.

On Thursday the fleet, including all female teams and 4 solo sailors, had an early morning start at 9h30 as the wind was expected to die towards the afternoon. We managed 4 races in somewhat more unstable wind direction conditions. The race committee managed them pretty well, but racing was definitely more difficult than on the first days of racing where the direction throughout the race was much more stable.

Finally on Friday one last race was sailed to conclude the championship.

https://www.facebook.com/voilelibremorges/videos/1119905934820440/

In the end the results of the final days were in line with the first days and so the top teams managed to read the wind and get in the top spots again.

I can’t stress enough how great the hospitality of this club and organisation was. A great social programme and in the end a good series of races that pleased the racers and the weekend warriors.

A big thanks as well to the 2 Australian teams that made it over: FRA83 Jack Felsenthal/Shaun Connor – Bimare F16 and BEL101 Jake Liddell/Emma Jones – Falcon F16

As the F16 is all about diversity there were different prizes to be given.

First solo: Geert Ruesink – NED789 – 29th overall – Falcon F16
First female team: Anna Kroon/Doortje Hörst – NED11 – 16th overall – Nacra F16
First youth (both under 20): Guillaume Rol/Alexis Mégevand – SUI22 – 7th overall – Bimare F16
First master (over 100): Andreas Lutz/Andrea Lutz – SUI10 – 6th overall – Falcon F16
First mixed: Pierre Boublin/Rose Dorange – FRA68 – 5th overall – Viper F16

Top 3:
1. Emmanuel Le Chapelier/Eric Le Bouëdec – FRA89 – Bimare F16
2. Thomas Proust (youngest sailor)/Eric Proust – FRA17 – Viper F16
3. Alec Bagué/Stijn Vandaele – BEL202 – Viper F16

For next year Holland was chosen as location for the Europeans, again 3rd week of July. But first the worlds in Australia ofcourse! Contact Gill De Bruyne for more information about container shipment from Europe for this event: gill.debruyne@gmail.com
If the US does not manage a container some additional boats could be shipped from Europe.
Below a selection of pictures (credits to D. Carlier and Guillaume Fisher). The full result list and all pictues can be found here: http://www.f16europeans2017.ch/

Gill