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2005 Finn Europeans Kalmar, Sweden |
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Finn Europeans, Day 6: It's Silver for Slater.
There was no racing on the last day of the European Finn Championships in Kalmar, Sweden. The wind did a no-show. This means the results of Day 5 became the final result, handing Dan Slater the silver. Vinec (Bronze) Ainslie (Gold) and Slater (Silver) (Photo: EuroFinn2005)
Dan Slater proved to be a fast improver after less than six months in the Finn class, has finished second place ahead of some very talented and experienced sailors. The Finn class European championship is an open event allowing non-European sailors to be ranked in the overall results.
Slater is a former ISAF Youth Champion in the singlehanded class. He started a full-time sailing carreer after that win, spending a couple of years campaigning an 18ft skiff on the Grand Prix circuit, before moving to the 49er class, where he represented NZ in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. He then joined Team NZ for three years on the America's Cup Defence, before unsuccessfully attempting to gain a second Olympic representation in 2004 in the Laser. This year he put together an International 14 with his long-serving crew, Nathan Handley, finishing fourth in the Int 14 Worlds, in his first event regatta in the class. He switched to the Finn after that regatta, and has been campaigning in Europe and training in North America, for the past few months, and has been steadily improving each regatta. Gold medalist Ben Ainslie (GBR) with four of the five Nails for his race wins.
The sailors will meet again in Moscow in three weeks for the Finn Gold Cup. KS140805
Photos: FinnEuro2005
Finn Europeans, Day 5: Kiwi rookie wins Race 7, lying second overall. Dan Slater is performing outstandingly in his first year of Finn sailing. (photo: EuroFinn2005)
The first Finn leaves for the race course (Photo: EuroFinn2005)
Dan Slater described the race this way: 'Today was my day just one race in light shifty conditions and I got my first win of the regatta. I rounded the first mark 5th and was second at the end of the first lap and on the second beat I led round the top mark by 20 secs and was about that at the finish. We have two races still to go on but the forcast is for light wind so we will see. I'm back to 2nd overall but still really close between 2nd and 7th overall.'
It wasn’t the end of the day for 15 sailors who
were met at the boat ramp by officials for doping control.
KS140805
Finn Europeans, Day 4: Ainslie beaten. Pile-up for podium placings.
Gasper Vincec (SLO) won today the sixth race of the Finn European in Kalmar, Sweden, breaking the five race winning streak of 2004 Gold Medalist, Ben Ainslie (GBR). The outcome of the race was in doubt until the last few meters with four competitors striving for that vital first place. Ben Ainslie leads the fleet earlier in the week. (Photo: Fin2005.org)
First around the top mark was Michael Maier (CZE) closely followed by Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN) and Emilios Papathanasiou (GRE). Regatta leader, Ben Ainslie (GBR) was in 9th position.
Like the previous days, the right side of the course was again favored. The run allowed the regatta leaders to get ahead of the fleet. Leadership changed constantly between Emilios, Jonas, Gasper Vincec (SLO) and Ben Ainslie. The battle intensified on the last run between the four who sailed bow to bow. Ainslie protected the inside of the course while Gasper Vincec placed on the right side. The Slovenian gained enough ground to take the lead a few meters only from the finishing line. Vincec continues his good form, after winning Kiel week. This victory places him in third position in the regatta only one point behind 2004 Greek Olympic representative Emilios Papathanasiou.
While Ainslie would seem to have the regatta sewn up with three races to go, behind him, six sailors are within eight points of each other - giving any of them a good chance to step on the podium.
New Zealand's Dan Slater continued his rhythmic regatta finishing in 13th place again, and dropped five places on a very tight leader board as a result. He takes up the story: 'We had just 1 race today in 15-16 knots and big waves. After five Recalls we got a start away. I was in the middle of the line and managed to get to the top mark in 14-15th as I was struggling for speed a little and clear air. 'Down the first run was no pumping and I passed a few boats. Then on the second lap things stayed about the same as the right side became really favoured so it was a one way track. 'Down the run the flag went up for free pumping. I didn't really make any gains on the leaders and the last lap was once again a bit of follow the frontrunners. I ended up 13th which puts me in seventh overall and eight pts from second overall but have a buffer of about 20 points to eighth place. Three races are left to sail over the next three days.'
KS
Finn Europeans, Day 3: Ainslie first, Slater second, again!
2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, Ben Ainslie, has won five races back to back in the 2005 Finn European Championships
Ben Ainslie leads the Finn European fleet around mark 2
KS110805
Finn Europeans, Day 2: Slater second then 30th then second!
Dan Slater commentates his race: It was a bit of a bit of a roller coaster race. I had a good start and was second or third most of the way up the first leg till the last 100m when the wind swung 180 degrees and I would have rounded the first mark in the thirties.. Things didn't get much better till the second upwind when it was extremely shifty and I managed to sail back to second behind Ben Ainslie who had held the lead for the whole race.
I gained a little down the run and on the last
beat upwind to the finish I extended my lead on third place getter but Ben
maintained the 40-50m lead. So second again which is a counter in a very
tough venue that Ben seems to be able to make look easy with three wins from
three races in the regatta. I am 10th overall. KS100805
Finn Europeans, Day 1: Mixed bag for Slater
Dan Slater (NZL-1) fights for position at the pin-end (Photo: EuroFinn2005)
KS100805
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With
five race wins and a total score of eight points, 2004 Olympic Gold
medallist, Ben Ainslie added another Finn trophy to his extensive
collection.
After an impressive regatta record this
season, including a win in Kiel Week, Gasper Vincec (SLO) is reaping
the rewards for his hard work in the Finn over the last three years. The
Slovenian takes the third place on the podium.
After
winning today’s only race, Dan Slater (NZL) has risen back to second place
in the 2005 Finn European Championship. The New Zealander has stepped in
the Finn boat only six months ago. 'It was Craig Monk who introduced me to
the Finn several years ago, I have always wanted to sail the boat but at the
time I was too light. Now I can finally race the boat and I am constantly
improving.' Dan Slater has scored three second places and won the last. With
2 more races to go before the end of the Championship he is especially
threatened by Gasper Vincec, Marin Misura and Emilios Papathanasiou within 4
points behind.
The sailing conditions were very hard once again today with shifty and light
wind. Only one race was sailed and the Racing Committee had to reduce the
course to allow for a fair finish.
Increasing
from 12 to 15 knots, the breeze was stable and racing started under Black
Flag after three general recalls. The Oscar flag, displayed on the second
run allowed the sailors to pump on the waves and sail more freely. 
Kiwi
Dan Slater, in his first year in the Olympic Finn class, has scored his
third second place of the series. Provisionally Slater is now second overall
which is a great result for the Rookie skipper.
Olympic
Gold medalist Ben Ainslie is making it look easy in the 2005 Finn Europeans
in Kalmar, Sweden. With three races sailed Ainslie has scored three wins and
is leading the points table from Marin Misura (CRO). The top four skippers
have all had three top ten places, however the dark horse of the fleet is
rookie Kiwi Finn sailor who has twice finished second to Ainslie but is
carrying a 35th placing which weighs down his points score at this stage of
the regatta. Josh Beaver is the best performed of the Australians, but did
not have a good day, finishing 26th to lie in 16th overall. Interestingly of
the top ten competitors all are from different countries.
New
Zealand's Dan Slater has got off to a good start in the 2005 Finn Europeans
with a second place in the first race, finishing a close second to 2004 Gold
medalist, Ben Ainslie (GBR).