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Savvy Navvy 2024

Sharpie European Championship 2023 at Vinkeveen, The Netherlands

by Tim Gibbs 30 Aug 2023 15:51 UTC 23-28 July 2023

The 12 square metre Sharpies met for the 2023 European Championship in the last week of July at Vinkeveen Sailing Club - a traditional stronghold of the Dutch fleet.

The majority of the contestants were from the host nation, with Germany, Portugal and Great Britain making numbers up to over 30 boats. An 11 race series ensured all competitors had ample chance for their chance at glory, although in reality it was the usual names that occupied the top places at the end of each race.

Three home based boats quickly established themselves as a class apart from all others and fought out a very close end result, each of them enjoying their own specific day of dominance. On day one Patrick van Raalte and Jeroan Kool in NED128 recorded two wins and a second place. This was matched by Tom Weller and Jeroen van Veen in NED119 on day two and again this was matched by Dan Versteeg and Jaimie van Dorst in NED14 on day three. Five times champions Chris and Tim Gibbs in GBR125 recorded several top three places but never quite matched the top three boats for pace or consistency and were satisfied with an overall 4th position in conditions and at a venue with which they struggled.

Very pleasing to see was the clear progress made by Will Gibbs and Charlie Orton in GBR12, whose 11th overall position didn't reflect their competitiveness, who look a few more big fleet weeks away from joining the classes top dogs.

In the end, on a controversial final day, Patrick and Jeroen ran out overall winners. Daan and Jaimie can feel slightly aggrieved, having led comfortably 40minutes into race 10 only for an abandonment due to committee error, a race in which when restarted they trailed the eventual champions over the finish line, leaving them in second overall. Tom Weller and Jeroen van Veen finished third, despite winning four races during the week.

Other British competitors Richard Mulderij, sailing with children Issy and Alex and Alex Smith sailing with Paul Beachell, had mixed fortunes throughout the week, but both boats had pleasing races along the way. Alongside this, Maddie Gibbs was called upon to sail for Dutch helm Dennis van Vliet due to injury from his crew.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoCrewR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11Pts
1NED 128Patrick van Raalte / Jeroen Kool121‑7122232‑516
2NED 14Daan Versteeg / Jaimie van Dorst21326‑91113‑820
3NED 119Tom Weller / Jeroen van Veen442121‑65‑71121
4GBR 125Chris Gibbs / Tim Gibbs386‑194(ocs)332161257
5NED 145Dennis van Vliet / Ben Kloos103136365‑1510‑19258
6GER 377Klaus Eisenblaetter / Peter Hauschild698‑107‑198466458
7NED 9Bart Kraan / Jacques Kraan75511‑24‑12411510765
8POR 44Mario Coutinho / Manuel Calao11(dns)1445313‑1694366
9NED 15Job Volwater / Ton van Berkel5675910‑117‑1171167
10NED 181Frank Steeneken / Cees van Dijk97431041214(dnf)‑21972
11GBR 77Will Gibbs / Charlie Orton811‑26‑2185764201483
12NED 55Arie van Vliet / Ronald van de Poel14(ufd)‑2215128149135696
13NED 49Joost van den Hondel / Veronique van den Hondel12‑15118141515101514‑17114
14POR 40Bernardo Cálão / Goncalo Garmito17‑27211711‑2410128813117
15POR 55Nelson Machado / Anna Omas‑191391815181981212‑21124
16NED 94Derk Jan Konijnenberg / Jorik Konijnenberg1517‑2512‑19141617171118137
17NED 33Frans Verkaik / Jitse Hazendonk201020141613181914‑23‑23144
18NED 123Eric Payens / Daan Payens16191791720‑2221‑221710146
19POR 56Francisco Cálão / Salu(dnf)2212‑25137920212222148
20NED 226Richard Mulderij. Izzy / Alex Mulderij1316102422112123(dns)9(dnc)149
21GBR 128Alex Smith / Paul Beachell211415‑282016‑2418161816154
22NED 87Flip Koome / Lotte Koome22121923181720(dnf)(dns)1520166
23NED 219Charles Mittelmeijer / Sander Mittelmeijer182018202322‑27‑24182415178
24NED 174Bart Versteeg. Jos Voorbij(dns)(dns)2313dnfdns1713201319180
25NED 138Peter van Dorst / Diessel van Dorst262316162625252219‑27‑27198
26NED 141Huib Schoonhoven / Karen Kuiper2325(dns)262123‑2625252626216
27POR 57António Martins Pereira / Vasco Labrincha / B. Branco2418(dns)262527‑2926232525219
28NED 132Bert van den Berkhof / Jan Willem van den Berkhof2821(dns)29(dnf)2123dnf24dnf24232
29GER 215Norbert Steiner / Wolfgang Frank2726(dns)27272628(dnf)dnsdnfdnc254
30GER 378Jan‑Henning Sander / Jacob Sander252424(dnc)(dnc)dncdncdncdncdncdnc259

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