Great sailing, perfect conditions, strong and close competition

Report of the 09 August 2003

The 2003 11:metre One-Design European champion has been nominated! Arne Sjöberg and Team TackTick (SWE-320) where to continue to dominate the remainder of the championships counting only firsts and seconds. The Swedish ex-Corel 45 team of IMEK (SWE-155) driven by Andreas Emmoth took second place through a consistent string of top-four places. The battle for third was however tougher with a number of boats fighting it out during the last day. Among them, the Norwegian team of Torgeir Petersen (NOR-8212) that earlier in the week won the International Swedish Championships.

During the Europeans with the helmsman plagued by illness and high fever they still managed to take the third through a decisive victory in the final race. Also the top Norwegian boat lead by Terje Wang (NOR-9111) was in contention for the bronze spot after winning the last race of Friday and after placing second in the first race of the final day.

A race that where to be discarded after the jury not approving a shorting of the coarse. The final race day saw the lightest winds of the whole week and with the long coarses dictated by the very deep fjord the time was running out for the days first race. The coarse was shortened in a way not approved by the Jury and was discarded. Only One race was finally managed to by completed during the day.

The championships in Strömstad, Sweden, can not be regarded as anything else but a great success. Whether dominated by a high-pressure zone with sunshine and - although light- consistent winds. The coarses where perfectly set on the very beautifully fjord outside Strömstad where One had to duck for the occasional seal in the water. Thirty boats from six nations proves that the original and best sports-boat, the 11:metre One-Design, still is in it providing great sailing and racing. See you all in januar 2004 for the Worlds in Sydney and the Europeans in Medemblik, Holland (Aug/Sep 2004).

Arne Sjöberg sails a brandnew 11:Metre One Design Yacht that has been build in 2002. This Yachts carries the sailnumber SWE-320 and is very successfull. Arne Sjöberg sails in the class since the beginning in 1991 and won many championships like Swedish, Europeans and Worlds.

Imek, the favourites from Sweden Team RØDE ORM from Holland

RØDE ORM in Strömstad The Captains Dinner

Report of the 08 August 2003

The first day of the 2003 European Championship has been completed in PERFECT conditons, sunshine and 6 - 10 knots of wind. The first day of the racing was dominated by the World Champion Arne Sjöberg, with two first and one second place. The racing of the 30 boat fleet was however very thight with top places shared by many of the Swedish and Norwegian yachts, central European struggling a bit in the currents.

Team Bornholm from Denmark

Start of the European Championship in Strömstad, Sweden

Results European Championship 2003

AUS 212