The 7th Finnish Open Championship came to a conclusion today after a fantastic weekend here in Helsinki. The weather forecast before the weekend predicted lots of rain and high winds but the occasional sun and mainly S to W winds with a velocity of 4 to 7 m/s made a nice weekend for everyone.
Lenny, EST646 helmed by Tõnu Tõniste came into the last day in a safe lead but behind them the game was wide open between five boats (FIN529,EST761,FIN434,FIN425,FIN650). Töniste secured the championship title ("Pohjola Trophy") already before the last race after sailing a 1st and a 3rd while others were struggling. Tõniste´s good starts, overall boat speed and brialliant downwind tactics was too for the rest of the fleet.
Especially a sad day for FIN650 "Fonecta Finder" taking two OCS. These two calls and DSQ yesterday dropped them to overall 6th. There misfortune opened the door for the steady performer FIN529 "Midnight Sun Sailing Two" to take silver. They f.ex. snatched 3 race wins. Only 4 points behind them EST761 "Rock City" helmed by Tiit Vihul took bronze. They were throughout the weekend consistant taking top 6 places with their 1½ month old boat.
Behind Tõniste the rest of fleet needs big fleet races and practise on the bay on Tallinn to match the top boats just 2 years from now at the 2010 Worlds held in Tallinn >> www.worlds2010.fi
Final results after 9/9 races:
1. EST646, Lenny >>2,3,(3),1,1,1,1,3,2 = 14pts
2. FIN529, Midnight Sun Sailing One >> 1,5,1,(11),4,4,9,2,1 = 27pts
3. EST761, Rock City >> 3,2,6,2,6,3,(8),5,5 = 31pts
4. FIN434, Miinakissa IV >> (OCS),6,4,4,2,6,4,4,3 = 33pts
5. FIN425, Pirates of the Corinthian >> 5,4,10,3,7,(12),3,10,4 = 45pts
6. FIN650, Fonecta Finder >> 5,1,2,6,3,(DSQ),OCS,1,OCS = 48pts
7. FIN316, Team Uusikaupunki >>6,(13),7,9,8,2,6,8,6 = 52pts
8. FIN214, Midnight Sun Sailing Two 9,(11),8,6,5,10,6,8 = 57pts
9. FIN289, Luikas >>8,9,(12),5,11,10,2,12,12 = 69pts
10. SWE508, Sitting Duck >> (OCS),7,9,7,9,8,5,11,DNF = 71pts
11. EST573, 4energy >>7,10,8,(14),10,7,12,13,7 = 74pts
12. FIN262, O-Ren >>12,12,11,13,12,OCS,7,7,9 = 83pts
13, FIN236, Team Wetteri >>10,8,13,10,13,9,(OCS),14,11 = 88pts
14. FIN328, Elsa >>11,14,14,12,14,11,11,(DSQ),10 = 92pts
Next Finnish Melges 24 ranking event in Espoo on the 30th and 31th of August. Keep tuned:-)