Six Metre European Championship 2024 at Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo – Day 4
by Fiona Brown on 3 Oct at 09:47 PDT
3 October 2024
Six Metre European Championship day 4 © SailingShots by Maria Muiña
The weather has not been favorable for competitors at the International Six Metre European Championships 2024 Trofeo Xacobeo in Sanxenxo.
Following three challenging days marked by low visibility and heavy rain but decent wind, day four presented dry weather yet hardly any wind, preventing the scheduled race six from occurring. Five races have been completed, leaving three races still to be run before Saturday, September 6. The single discard will be applicable once race six is completed, which could significantly impact the standings.
Race Officer Jano Martin elaborated on the Race Committee’s strategy for the remaining two days of racing. “Forecasts are continuously changing. What we anticipate for tomorrow may shift overnight and again tomorrow morning, making it hard to predict. If conditions allow, we intend to complete two races tomorrow.”
In the current standings, His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain’s ESP16 Bribon holds the lead in the Classics Division, followed by Ossi Paija’s FIN80 Astree II in second place and Mauricio Sanchez-Bella Carswell’s ESP72 Titia in third. Miguel Lago Cereceda’s ESP50 Alibaba II occupies fourth and Louis Heckly’s FRA11 Fun is fifth.
In the Open Division, Rainer Muller’s SUI77 Junior, helmed by Loic Forestier, and Violeta Alvarez’ ESP116 Stella are tied atop the leaderboard, with Henrik Andersin’s FIN81 Oiva only a point behind. Basil Vasiliou’s USA105 Jane Ann, under the command of Steffan Lindberg, and Jeremy Thorp’s GBR89 Battlecry are tied for fourth, just four points behind the leaders. With so much still at stake, competitors are eagerly hoping for better weather conditions tomorrow.
Fortunately, the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo and its surroundings offer a wonderful environment, boasting excellent restaurants, bars, and shops, allowing sailors to enjoy their afternoon after the decision to postpone racing was made.
While sailing remains the main focus of the championship, these international events also provide a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the enduring beauty and history of this remarkable class.
The oldest yacht in action this week is Cesar Elizaga’s FIN59 Ian, built in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1929 and known as the last design by Gustav Estlander, who had it constructed for personal use. Ian had a successful career, winning the prestigious Scandinavian Gold Cup in 1930. After changing hands multiple times, she continued racing in Sweden until 1988, when she was sold to Finland after 60 years under the Swedish flag.
She participated in competitions for a decade before undergoing a complete refurbishment in 2003. After being restored to her original condition, she was relaunched for the 2007 racing season. In 2015, she relocated to Sanxenxo, contributing significantly to the development of the new Galician fleet.
On the flip side, the newest competitor is Henrik Andersin’s 2022 Allan Savolainen-designed Oiva, built by Red Sky Yachts in Finland. Andersin is a seasoned Six Metre competitor, having owned numerous classic and modern sixes throughout his sailing career. A six-part article series detailing Oiva’s construction is available on the International Six Metre Archive.
The Six Metre Class originated in 1907 with the introduction of the Metre Rule and has remained a leader in technical innovation for over 120 years, attracting the world’s top designers and sailors who introduce groundbreaking concepts and technical prowess to the fleet. In addition to remarkable technical advancements and an impressive racing history, there are countless personal stories of sailors and families enjoying their Sixes simply for pleasure.
A recent message on the class Facebook page highlighted the special affection many hold for Sixes.
Alibaba II was designed and built by Tore Holm in Sweden in 1948, and she won a bronze medal for Sweden at the Olympics that year. In 1951, she was sold to Harry Melander, whose daughter Lisa expressed her joy in seeing the boat still racing successfully 76 years after its construction. Lisa fondly recalls sailing with her father and family to Åland in the Swedish archipelago during summer vacations.
Under various names and owners, Alibaba II has had an extraordinary sailing journey. She secured another bronze medal at the 1952 Olympics, finished second in the 1998 European Championship, and triumphed in the 1999 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship. Currently based in Sanxenxo, she remains one of the top-performing Classic Six Metres.
For more information about the history of the Six Metre Class and the boats racing this week, please visit the International Six Metre Archive, which offers detailed profiles and fascinating technical and historical data. If you have additional information that might interest the archive, please reach out to the Archivist.
The International Six Metre European Championship 2024 Trofeo Xacobeo at the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo will continue until Saturday, September 5, with three races left to complete in the eight-race series.
Complete results can be found at: toa.6meuropeans2024.com/results
Tracking details: 6meuropeans2024.com/en/tracking-2
Event webpage: 6meuropeans2024.com
