From F18 Finnish Class Association. All pictures by Matti Rekonen.
Finnish class champs wrapped up today after two days of fierce fighting for the podium and the trophy!
TOP 3 overall:
1) Allan Nørregaard & Janne Järvinen
2) Mikko & Kirsikka Räisänen
3) Anssi Muikku & Pete Forsman
Congrats goes to Allan Nørregaard (helm, Olympic medalist in 49er in London 2012) and Janne Järvinen (crew, Nacra 17 sailor and experienced match race sailor) for winning the Finnish Class Championship!!
The two-day race included vast spectrum of different conditions. On saturday the fleet started the regatta on race course A on the SW side of HSK (Helsingfors Segel Klubb, Finnish F18 fleet’s home base in Helsinki). On Saturday 4 races were sailed in champagne conditions, with bright sunlight and stable 12-16 knots of SE wind.
After first day Allan Nørregaard and Janne Järvinen were leading the regatta with 10 points (with no discard yet) ahead the 2nd team Mikko Räisänen (F18 guru in Finland with multiple class trophies and several top ranks in Gold Fleets of F18 WC’s on his belt) with his daughter Kirsikka, who was last year’s best newcomer in the fleet.
On Sunday morning the wind had picked up as a result of a weather front mixed with rain showers meaning that the first race was sailed in 16-20 knots of wind. However the wind calmed during the day and races 5 races were sailed. The competition was fierce and the team Nørregaard & Järvinen managed to maintain their placing under the huge pressure of team Räisänen and other Finnish top teams.
In total 13 boats from Finland and Estonia took part in the regatta of which multiple were new teams, taking big steps ahead in F18 sailing.
This was the last ranking series race in Finnish fleet for this year, and the unofficial season end regatta “Käärmeraid” will be sailed in just two weeks.
Such a successful race shows that F18 is one of the most attractive classes in Nordics and Finland.
Thanks to all sailors and organizers for a great regatta! Stay tuned for more!
