International 14 Europeans Eckernförde 2025 Day 1
Published 09:47 on 8 Sep 2025
Day 1 of the International 14 European Championships started with a race-course set 1km downwind of a German Submarine base, with 12-20knots of wind coming off the shore providing 30 degree shifts it was a day to keep your head out of the boat and look for pressure.
Race 1 had a windy start with the front pack of the fleet charging off the committee boat on starboard with Oliver Voss tacking off early and racing to the right hand shore. Gradually the rest of the fleet started to follow but too late seeing the large right hand shifts that Olliver got off the shore with honorable mention to Andrew Penman usually dangerous in the light mixing it up in the wind after heading to the right too. By the time that we rounded the windward mark a core of 4 boats were all fighting at the front, Andy Shaw and Rob Struckett having played the first beat well then sailed the boat flat and fast downwind to pull out a clear lead and win the race with Glen Trustwell and Ed Fitzgerald fast moving through the pack to pull into 2nd leaving Oliver Voss and Eike Ehrig winning a close battle for 3rd with Martin Jones and Harry Kennedy who were trading places throughout the entire final lap.
Race 2 started as the previous race finished with big gusts and shifting breeze that had clocked a little to the left leaving the fleet wondering if the right was going to be quite as powerful as the previous race, Douglas Patterson and Mark Tait proved that playing the shifts right and not over committing to a side would leave to them leading to the first mark with Andy and Rob in close pursuit with James Cunnison and Blake Tudor close behind a very impressive performance for a pair in their second race together. As the race progressed Andy Fitzgerald and Cam Mitchell gently worked there way through the top 5 to finish in 2nd place closely followed by Douglas and Mark. Leaving Andy and Rob to complete their master class for Day 1 with a second bullet to leave them leading with 2 points followed by Glen and Ed, Oliver and Eike, Martin and Harry all tied for 2nd on 8 points.
With light winds forecast for Day 2 there is everything to play for after a great opening for the event.
Last updated 09:47 on 8 September 2025
