Summary of day one

After two very tricky races with large shifts and pressure differences across the course area Rafal Szukiel (POL), the recent winner of Kiel Wek tops the leaderboard. Race wins went to Bryan Boyd (USA) who led for the entire race and to Dan Slater (NZL) who narrowly beat Daniel Birgmark (SWE).

 

Andrew Mills (GBR) sailed to great races to sit in second and the onloy boat other than Szukiel to have single digit scores in both races. Peer Moberg is third.

 

For almost everyone else it was a real up and down day.

 

Full report to follow.

Giles Scott gets yellow flagged on final downwind

 

Leeward mark action

 

Dan Slater downwind

 

Marks Andrews downwind

 

Zach Railey downwind

 

Start of race one

 

First races to start at 11.00

Everything looks good for the first races at 11.00 this morning. Wind is still 4-5 knots but the local forecast is for more later.

 

Meanwhile the launching ramp is alive with activity.

 

Follow today's races with the Finn Class Twitter feed and with the live online tracking through the event website

 

http://www.fgc-2009.com/

Sailors start to prepare for the day

 

Nice weather has returned

Monday morning and the sunshine has returned. It is 23 degrees with almost complete blue skies. There is a westerly 4-6 knots in place and slowly building. Most of the forecasts say 7-10 knots today with rain expected later.

 

The sailors are getting ready for an 11.00 start.

Sunday's report added to Finn Class website

http://www.finnclass.org/FGC%20Results/finn_gold_cup_2009.htm#Finn%20Gold%20Cup%20declared%20open

Photos from practice race

 

Videos from Vallensbaek

More videos from the Finn Gold Cup can be seen on The FinnChannel on YouTube

 

http://www.youtube.com/TheFinnChannel

Practice race - summary

It took three attempts to start the practice race. On the second start half the fleet sailed away and did the first leg and came in. On the second start, what was left of the fleet was evenly split across the course. The first beat favoured the left with more pressure while the shifts were coming from the right. Riccardo Cordovani (ITA) led round the top mark before pulling out leaving Henry Bagnall (GBR) Daniel Birgmark, Philip Ramming (USA) and Mihail Kopanvo (BUL) to fight it out. As usual boats pulled out on every leg. On the second beat the right was definitely favoured with a big shift and increased pressure. Bagnall led round the top mark, though Kpoanov pulled through on the downwind before pulling out of the race. Bagnall narrowly won from Uwe Bartel (GER) and Ramming, just holding off a fast approaching Jesper Petersen. Seven boats finished out of around 50 for the first start.

On the third attempt they got away

 

Start of practice race - second attempt

Jonas Hogh Christensen (DEN 2) hold position at the starting vessel and tacks off to the right.

Practice race day

An overnight change in the weather has brought low cloud and a change in wind direction. At 10.00 the wind is from the North at just 3 knots. But it is still 20 degrees with 85 per cent humidity. Rain is expected later.

 

The skippers' briefing is being held this morning with the practice race scheduled for a 14.00 start.

Growing number of visitors

The number of people visiting this blog is almost doubling each day. After just two days we are getting 150 unique visitors each day and over 500 page views a day.

 

Please spread the message, tell your friends and please do provide feedback. If there is anything you specifically want to see here or a question you'd like answered by a sailor, leave a comment and we'll do our best.

 

Robert

Opening ceremony

On a boiling hot afternoon in Vallensbaek, the opening ceremony of the 2009
Finn Gold Cup was held alongside the harbour together with free drinks and a
massive feast laid on by the Municipality of Vallensbaek. After a few short
speeches by Mr Steen Hillebrecht, Chairman of Vallensbaek Sailing Club, Mr
Balazs Hajdu, President of the International Finn Association and Mr Kurt
Hockerup, the Mayor of Vallensbaek a band carried on proceedings accompanied
by the chatter and munching of 98 Finn sailors, their guests, event
officials and club members.

Balazs Hajdu said, " I am very proud that the Finn class chose Vallensbaek
and Copenhagen in Denmark for the 2009 Finn Gold Cup because Denmark has
been and still is a great in supporting Finn sailors in the past.

"I am also happy and proud to see such a huge fleet in Denmark this year,
especially in a post Olympic year. I wish all the best to our sailors, fair
wind and may the best man win."

Mr Hockerup said, "It is a great please to welcome you to the biggest
sailing event in Denmark this year. It is 50 years since the Finn Gold Cup
was last held in Denmark, when the greatest sailor ever from Denmark Paul
Elvström won."

"Being one of the largest sailing clubs in Denmark, I know from personal
experience that Vallensbaek YC is well qualified to host this event in the
best possible way. Vallensbaek harbour will provide a great framework for
the event. You will be given excellent conditions for great racing."

"I would like to thank everyone involved in contributing to make this event
a success and wish you all a fair week with competitive racing. Good luck to
you all."

"With these words and the handling over of this shirt to the chairman of
Vallensbaek Sailing Club, I hearby declare the 2009 Finn Gold Cup open."

The impressive display of food was then demolished by the assembled Finn
sailor and guests.

Photo (left to right): Mr Kurt Hockerup, the Mayor of Vallensbaek, Mr Steen
Hillebrecht, Chairman of Vallensbaek Sailing Club, Jakob Nybroe of the
Organsing Committee, Balazs Hajdu, President of the International Finn
Association

2009 Finn Gold Cup is open

The 2009 Finn Gold Cup was declared open by the Mayor of Vallenbaek Mr Kurt Hockerup