INSTANT SUCCES
WB-Sails score high at the Melges 24 Europeans
INSTANT SUCCESWB-Sails score high at the Melges 24 Europeans
|
|
WB's first Melges 24 sails
WB-Sails cut its first set of Melges 24 sails at the beginning of September for the Thelens brothers, who have been succesful earlier in both H-boat and Soling. The Thelens introduced the Melges 24 in Finland in 1995 but have not been racing much until last summer, when two more boats were bought to Finland.
A set of prototype sails was cut at first, then recorded on video out at sea, and later analysed both by the sailors and in the computer with ShapePlot. Another mainsail was built with minor changes particularly to the luff curve. There was no time to sail with the new main before the experienced crew, consisting of Kenneth Thelen, his brother Henrik, Jari Bremer and Kim Konttinen, had to leave for Barcelona and the Europeans.
Glenfiddish Melges 24 European Gold Cup, Barcelona
The second Europeans of the Melges 24 were sailed in the Barcelona Olympic waters at the beginning of October. The championship was open and two US boats, Brian Porter and Tom Freytag, were present to measure the current level of the European fleet.
The winds were mostly light and fickle, as is typical for Barcelona this time of the year. Giorgio Zuccoli managed to repeat his last year's success from Lake Garda after very close racing that was not decided until the last beat of the last race. John Merricks from GBR, with a 470 silver medal from Savannah in the pocket, was second, and Thelens' Fazer Blue Magic from Finland third. Well known sailing personality Keith Musto finished 8th.
The Thelens managed to score one first, one third and one fourth in the highly competitive fleet of almost 50 boats. In addition, two races were abandoned due to the race committee's mistakes, where Blue Magic finished 1st and 5th! In the one windier sea breeze race the Finnish crew was in a class of its own, taking the lead on the second beat and stretching it into some 300 m for the finishing line. The second Finnish boat, the Marinel Thunderboat Team skippered by Kari Heikkilä, also sailed a clean regatta to finish 19th.
The best Spanish, former 470 & FD gold medal winner Luis Martinez Doreste was not quite up to the pace of the leaders, and a DSQ in the first race put him back to 14th.
The Thelens felt they had an excellent speed in all kinds of winds, and the competitors agreed. At the measurement, Harry Melges Jr., who was racing with Brian Porter of USA, approached Henrik Thelen, pointing at the sailmaker's logo: "What make are your sails, I've never seen that logo before?". "WB-Sails, we are from Finland", replied Henrik. "Finland, I see ...", said Mr. Melges. At the pricegiving, Henrik felt someone tapping on his shoulder. Turning his head, there was Harry Melges: "What make were those sails of yours again..?".
The winner Zuccoli and the Thelens were the only ones to use radial/cross-cut Dacron mainsails - ours was in 5.4 oz Bainbridge Yarn Tempered, with 6.5 oz clew & head. The rest of the fleet use complicated designs in various weights of Mylar. For the jibs, Dacron is a little heavy and stiff in light zephyrs - the possibility to use a very light and responsive cloth in the luff panels seems to be important. The North San Diego asymmetrical seems to be in favour of many, even Keith Musto using one to complement his Mylar Hyde sails. WB still needs to cut the first asymmetrical for the Melges for next season.
Pos Sail N. Skipper -------------------------------- 1 ITA 139 Giorgio Zuccoli 2 GBR 208 John Merricks 3 FIN 236 Kenneth Thelen 4 NOR 267 David Chapin; USA 5 NOR 266 Ole Peter Pollen 6 USA 249 Brian Porter, Harry Melges 7 205 Ian Southworth 8 GBR 193 Keith Musto 9 USA 307 Tom Freytag/Art Brereton 10 GBR 264 Javier de la Gandara 11 GBR 214 Ian Pinnell 12 GBR 279 David Clarce/ Tony Weatherell 13 NOR 283 Birger Jansen 14 ESP 4655 Luis Martinez Doreste 15 GBR 255 Alistair Hey David Shellcock 16 GBR 127 Glyn Williams/Matt Humhnes 17 GBR 196 Jordi Blanc 18 GBR 254 Steve Park 19 Fin 282 Kari Heikkilä / Matti Nieminen ...... 47 boats competing altogether.
WB-Sails has relocated: From 10-01-96, our address is