2011 RACEBOARD EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
& RACEBOARD YOUTH EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

8th to 12th June 2011            Yyteri Beach, Yyteri, nr Pori, Finland
An International Windsurfing Association sanctioned event

FINAL RESULTS             COMPETITOR ENTRY LIST with equipment details

EVENT WEBSITE       FACEBOOK      PHOTOS on IRCA Facebook

Notice of Race

One final race on the final day of Raceboard Europeans

Patrik Pollak, SVK, from Slovakia, is the 2011 Raceboard European Champion. With only one race possible on this the last day of the championship, Patrik was able to sit out the race having amassed a commanding lead over the previous 4 days of racing. Nevertheless Patrik put his other skills to good use - as a media expert with both video and still photography - and provides us with some images from the final day.

Light wind expert Kazumasa Sugiura from Japan took the final win ahead of Daniel Blinnikka (FIN 5) and Juha Blinnikka (FIN 6)

Top 3 Europeans (and overall):

1st - Patrik Pollak SVK 1
2nd - Juha Blinnikka FIN 6 (Kazumasa Sugiura JPN 15)
3rd - Jon Tornwall FIN 66

Patrik was also 1st Master

Juha was 1st Grand Master

1st Veteran - Kalevi Mannisto FIN 50

Interview with Patrik Pollak - 2011 Raceboard European Champion 
 
CW - Congratulations Patrik - how does it feel to be European Champion?

PP - Awesome! This is my third European title; maybe it looked easy, but i had a close fight in many races with Juha and kasa. I think my experience of olympic class racing, especially downwind , gave me the edge .
 
CW - Have you been to Finland before, what are your impressions of the country?

PP - I have been to Finland a few times, but not to this race venue. The forecast was not good, but we had mostly planing races, some shifty and tactical racing which is good for this class.
 
CW - What do you think about the organisation and race committee?

PP -  Excellent - and the main reason is that they made the racing as stress free as possible for the competitors. They were decisive, and timing was spot on. I think the daily skippers meeting was appreciated by all the competitors.
 
CW - What are your thoughts about the future of 'Raceboarding'?

PP - I think it is growing steadily. Although there are not so many new boards available, there is a lot more choice of raceboard specific sails and rigs.  We need to attract more women - and a board that caters for them, longboard, but less volume.
 
CW - What are your plans?

PP - I am hoping to qualify my country for Olympic Games; but for sure I will be back in Yyteri next year for the Raceboard Worlds.

Stormy conditions and only one race completed at Raceboard Europeans

There was always the possibility of thunderstorms, although the forecast predicted they would hit tomorrow. With temperatures rising to 34c on the beach, and no wind, the race officer postponed the first possible start of racing until 14.00hrs.

On time the fleet were called out and one race was finished before the thunder rolled and the rain came. The race brought a new winner - leading grand master Juha Blinnikka (FIN 6). 

After a break ashore it was clear that stable winds would not return, and with further thunder and lightening a distinct possibility, it was decided to call it a day.

Overall rankings remain unchanged with 3 races and one day left of these championships.

1st - Patrik Pollak SVK 1
2nd - Kazumasa Sugiura JPN 15
3rd - Juha Blinnikka FIN 6
4th - Jon Tornwall FIN 66
5th - Tomas Sundell FIN 316

Interview with Anne Karki Third in Ceri's series of interviews, the Raceboard Europeans Event Director, Anne Karki, is in the spotlight Read the interview

Late start and late finish - but 4 more races completed at Raceboard Europeans

A perfect day for overnight leader Patrik Pollak (SVK 1) - 4 races and 4 wins, which brings the 2011 European title one day closer.

Further down the ranking and there were mixed fortunes. Juha Blinnikka (FIN 6) was the most consistent - and that consistency moved him nearer to Kazumasa Sugiura (JPN 15) who holds onto silver medal position with 2 racing days to go.

A special mention for the race committee under Sanna Paivarinta, Race Officer, delivering 4 perfect races and receiving acclaim of all competitors.  Check the interview with Sanna that follows this report.

With 2 days and 4 races left  to complete the championship, all course options are being considered including a long distance race.

RESULTS DAY THREE
 

Sanna Paivarinta - gives her views on officialdom and the sport Meet Sanna, Race Officer for the Raceboard Europeans in Yyteri, Finland, interviewed by Ceri Williams, IWA Executive Secretary Read the interview

Marianne Kaplas - her thoughts on women in windsurfing & Raceboard Europeans Ceri Williams, IWA Executive Secretary, caught up with Marianne at the Raceboard Europeans in Yyteri, Finland to ask her a few questions. Read the interview

3 races completed on day 2 as temperatures soar in Finland 
 
There was no change in the podium positions at the end of day two in Yyteri, Finland, however further down the rankings there was movement.

The top five in the overall rankings finished the final race of the day in their current ranking order - with Finish father and son combo of Juha and Daniel Blinnikka holding 3rd and 4th positions.

Racing started on time this morning, we have as very efficient (and young) race committee led by a female race officer, Sanna. Races 5 and 6 were won by Patrik Pollak (SVK 1) and Kazumasa Sugiura (JPN 15) respectively; but after the lunch break Patrik was able to come back with another bullet to keep him securely in Gold medal position.

RESULTS DAY TWO

Full day's racing in sun and wind at the Raceboard Europeans

Racing began today at the Raceboard European Championships in Finland in unseasonal, but very welcome, conditions.

When asked what he thought of the venue, Kasumasa Sugiura exclaimed - without hesitation - "very hot"!

This fact was later verified by Masters World Champion, Patrik Pollak, who quipped - "unusually hot for Finland, not as I expected".

The fact that the wind blew and that 4 races were completed during the afternoon was not, however, unexpected. Patrik won 3 races; Kasumasa won 1 race.

This year's championship is hosted by Yyteri Surfcentre, Yyteri, near Pori. Home of the Finnish Boardsailing Association, the venue offers everything the beach sport of windsurfing requires.

For many 'raceboard' competitors a 4 race schedule was new and presented a challenge - all competitors who started were able to finish. Patrik Pollak, heading the rankings at the end of day one, offered this explanation - "mostly planing races, some tactical, with target time of 30 minutes, for winner, on target".

RESULTS DAY ONE

Racing starts tomorrow at 10.00hrs, with a favourable forecast, and another full day of racing anticipated.

View Organisers' Presentation

The home of the Finnish Boardsailing Association is located in the beautiful Gulf of Yyteri, located very close to the city of Pori on the west coast, 250km from Helsinki and 150km from Turku.

Yyteribeach, one of Finland's most beautiful sandy beaches, is about 4 km long, with shallow water and a sandy bottom. The best wind directions for Yyteribeach are from south-southwest to west-northwest (155°-295°). The ultimate best would be the west wind, which gathers surfers from many parts of Finland.

Near Yyteri Surfcenter you will find both accommodation and food services. Just beside there lies Yyteri Spa Hotel and Yyteri Camping. In Yyteri area you find lot of other activities like golf, volley ball, riding, cycling.

More information on Yyteri: http://www.yyteri.fi/ .

Click here for a detailed map for Yyteri