The Notice of Race for the International 6 Metre European Championship being hosted by the Clube Naval de Cascais from 2 to 10 September is now available to view online and online registration is open.
Sanxenxo Ready To Welcome 2022 Six Metre World Championship
On 20 January 2022 the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) in Madrid hosted a presentation of the Xacobeo International Six Metre Worlds, a global championship regatta which will be held in Sanxenxo (NW Spain) next June and which will bring together a Six Metre fleet that will once again make Galicia an international sailing capital.
The Vice President of the Galician Government Alfonso Rueda, the director of Tourism of Galicia Nava Castro, the mayor of Sanxenxo Telmo Martín, the Head of all Spanish domestic businesses at ABANCA Luis Beraza, the president of the Cluster Tourism of Galicia Cesáreo Pardal, the president of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation Javier Sanz and the president of the Real Club Náutico de Sanxenxo Pedro Campos were all in attendance among others at the prestigious event.
Sanxenxo’s Mayor was in charge of proceedings and he opened by stating: “Being able to celebrate the Worlds here it is undoubtedly a source of great pride for Sanxenxo and for Galicia, it will be even better than the Europeans last year and with the Real Club Náutico as organizer, with whom we are cooperating totally, success is always assured.”
Pedro Campos thanked supporters Xacobeo, the Sanxenxo City Council and the Xunta de Galicia as co-organizers of the event, as well as the sponsors ABANCA, Viajes InterRías, Quirón and Autesa Volvo. He added: “The Xacobeo Six Metre Worlds will once again have as one of its main objectives is augmenting the low season tourism in Sanxenxo and the intention of the organisation is to increase the number of participants by some 30% whilst maintaining or improving on the quality the European Championships already enjoyed.”
Before ending his speech, Campos made mention of a sailor from Vigo and the crew onboard Six Metre “Bribon 500”, Alberto Viejo, who last weekend suffered a serious accident training in the Vigo estuary: “Before finishing I want to send all the strength and affection to our friend and colleague Alberto. Both he and his family know that he has our support and we all wish him a speedy recovery.”
The Vice President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda, has been in charge of closing the presentation. “For the Xunta de Galicia it is an honour to be part of this World level event. This project started out in 2020 at a very difficult time but we have already shown that we can hold an event offering guarantees, such as the Spanish Championship first and then the European Championship in 2021 demonstrate, so there is no doubt that that the world championship will once again be a complete success for Galicia.”
After the cancellation in 2020 of all international events due to the pandemic, the European Championship held last September in Sanxenxo was the first major sailing event to be held in Galicia. Now, after the success of the continental event, the Xacobeo International Six Metre Worlds will once again bring together the Six Metre world fleet in the Rías Baixas between June 10th and 19th to compete in the most important regatta of the season.
Many of the teams are already in Sanxenxo and that in the coming months they will take part in the Spanish national circuit, which will once again serve as an important warm-up for the big event of the year.
Further information about the 2022 International 6 Metre World Championship can be found at the event website.
Thisbe and Bribon 500 Are Xacobeo Six Metre European Champions 2021
18 September 2021 – Sanxenxo, Spain – The spectacular final race of the Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship 2021 proved to be an absolute cliff hanger. Initially the fleet was postponed for lack of wind, but the race committee had faith and with just one minute to go before the 15:00 first signal cut off they put the fleet under starters orders for race seven. What followed was a glorious champagne sailing finale to a wonderful championship that confirmed Rainer Müller’s 1987 Pelle Petterson designed Thisbe, helmed by Michel Teweles, as the 2021 Six Metre European Champion and Open Division winner, while Jose Cusi’s 1947 Arvid Laurin designed Bribon 500, helmed by Pedro Campos, stormed through to reclaim the Classic European Champion title.
Going into the last day Thisbe’s nearest rival was Patrick Monteiro De Barros’s Seljm, as Michel Teweles explains, “We are really happy. We chose the right strategy in the championship and have reached the last day of the competition with a truly satisfying result. The most important thing was that Patrick De Barros did not win the last race, so we worked to control the start and the first part of the race and when we checked that everything was in place as we expected the race was won for us.” From the start it was clear the right was likely to pay so Thisbe drove Seljm hard out to the left and both boats rounded the first mark well down the pack, allowing Thisbe to relax and enjoy the sail.
For the rest of the Open Division there was a big ruck at the committee boat end, Philppe Durr and Rainer Müller’s Junior, which went into the day lying third overall, avoided the drama by starting halfway down the line before tacking onto port early. Meanwhile Violeta Alvarez Landaluce’s Stella took the alternative approach of hanging back at the committee boat and starting a few seconds late on port. Both strategies worked and Junior led Stella into the first mark. With clear air on the rest of the fleet the two enjoyed a great duel which was only settled on the line as Stella finally surged through to win by mere inches. Following them home were Henrik Andersen’s Evelina and Mark Smith’s Valhalla, who both took their best results of the series. Whilst Thisbe was able to sit back safe in the knowledge of victory, Seljm did all she could to work her way back up the fleet, but she could do no better than eighth. As a result, Junior takes the Open Division silver medal and Seljm the bronze.
The Classic Division took two attempts at starting, but once underway those who went right made big gains. Sadly, overnight leader Aida, owned by Escotet/Botas and helmed by Javier De La Gandara Alonso, and third placed Alibaba II, skippered by Miguel Lago Cereceda, did not capitalise on the big right shift and both boats rounded the first mark mid-fleet. There were no such errors aboard International Six Metre Class President Louis Heckly’s Dix Août or the Sanxenxo based Bribon 500 who both sailed faultlessly to finish first and second respectively. Ossi Paija’s Astrée III finished third and Alicia Freire Sánchez’ Titia, helmed by Mauricio Sánchez-Bella Carswell, was fourth. Aida’s seventh place was just sufficient to put her on the second step of the Corinthian podium with Astrée III on equal points but taking the bronze medal on count back.
After racing the crews enjoyed a spectacular alfresco prize giving dinner and ceremony on the terrace where they honoured their champions, enjoyed the company of their fellow competitors and were able to thank their hosts, the Real Club Nautico Sanxenxo and the authorities and people of Xanxenxo and Galicia, for creating such a special event and making everyone feel so welcome.
The perpetual Coppa Giovanelli and the Xacobeo 21 Trophy were presented to the overall Xacobeo Six Metre European Champion 2021 Thisbe, crewed by Michel Teweles, François Brenac, Jm Monnard, F Narbonne and M Fischer.
The perpetual President Woodrow Wilson Trophy and the Juan Sebastián de Alcano Trophy were presented to Xacobeo Classic Six Metre European Champion 2021 Bribon 500, crewed by Pedro Campos Calvo-Sotelo, Alberto Ricard Viejo Puga, Roi Alvarex Perez, Iñaqui Castañer and Alejandro Abascal.
Pedro Campos paid tribute to Bribon 500s regular skipper saying; “In the first place, I want to dedicate this triumph to our skipper, King Juan Carlos I, and we hope that all the crew can rejoin us as soon as possible. I also have to congratulate the entire crew, because we went from less to more throughout the entire championship and they never doubted the power of the team to defend the title.”
The August Ringvold Memorial Trophy, which is presented to the highest placed Classic yacht built to the First (1907-1919) or Second (1919-1933) International Rule which retains its original underwater configuration, was awarded to the beautiful 1930 Alfred Mylne designed Valdai of Dirk Stolp and Tom Owen.
The Lucie Trophy, which is presented to the highest placed yacht which includes a woman as helmsperson or crew, went to Stella, helmed by Violeta Alvarez Landaluce.
The Baum and König Vintage Trophy, which is presented to the highest placed yacht that uses white/cream sails and has a wooden mast, was won by Acacia, a 1929 Gustaf Estlander design, owned by Mauricio Sánchez-Bella Carswell and skippered by Marcos Perez Gonzalez.
There were also prizes for the boats finishing in second to fifth place in each division and special thank you mementos for each of the crews.
As well as looking back on what has been a truly exceptional championship, the International Six Metre Class can also look forward to returning to the Real Club Nautico Sanxenxo next year. From 10 to 18 June 2022 the club will host the International Six Metre World Championship, when an even larger fleet is expected to be present.
From 2 to 12 September 2022 the fleet will continue its love affair with Europe’s southern Atlantic coast as they make their way to the Club Naval de Cascis in Portugal for the 2022 European Championship. Traditionally the World and European Championship are not held in Europe in the same year, but the Covid pandemic meant that the schedule had to be revised for one year only.
Final Top Ten Results
Open Division
1. SUI111 Thisbe – Rainer A Muller – 3, 5, 2, 3, 3, 1, (14) = 17
2. SUI77 Junior – Philippe Durr/Rainer Müller – 8, (10), 1, 4, 2, 3, 2 = 20
3. POR4 Seljm – Patrick Monteiro De Barros – 7, 3, 3, 1, 5, 4, (8) = 23
4. SWE137 Filippa – Richard Göransson – 2, 2, 4, 8, (11), 8, 5 = 28
5. ESP16 Stella – Violeta Alvarez – 6, 11, 8, (15), 1, 2, 1 = 29
6. SWE114 Notorious – Claes Henningsson – 1, 1, 7, 5, (10), 9, 10 = 33
7. SUI132 Sophie Racing – Hugo Stenbeck – 4, 9, 9, 2, 4, 5, (15) = 33
8. FIN78 Evalina – Henrik Andersin – (15), 4, 11, 12, 9, 10, 3 = 49
9. SUI140 Ginkgo Too – Jan Eckert – 11, 6, 6, (13), 7, 6, 13 = 49
10. ESP70 Maybe XIV – Eugenio Galdon Brugarolas – 9, 7, 10, 11, 8, (12), 7 = 52
Classic Division
1. ESP16 Bribon 500 – Jose Cusi – 6, 3, (10), 2, 1, 1 = 13
2. GER59 Aida – Escotet/Botas – 1, 1, 4, (8), 3, 3 = 12
3. FIN18 Astrée III – Ossi Paija – 2, 2, 2, 4, (8), 6 = 16
4. FRA111 Dix Août – Louis Heckly – 5, (10), 7, 5, 2, 4 = 23
5. K48 Caprice – Javier Manzón – 3, 5, 1, (7), 5, 5 = 19
6. GBR50 Alibaba II – Miguel Lago Cereceda – 4, 6, 3, 1, (11), 2 = 16
7. ESP72 Titia – Alicia Freire Sánchez – (10), 9, 8, 3, 4, 7 = 31
8. KC19 Saskia II – Pierre Guex/Reiner Müller – (12), 11, 9, 6, 7, 11 = 44
9. GBR40 Valdai – Dirk Stolp/Tom Owen – 7, 14, 5, (15), 10, 8 = 44
10. E26 Acacia – Mauricio Sánchez-Bella Carswell – (15), 15, 6, 9, 9, 9, 8 = 56
Videos
Lack of wind stops play on the fourth day of the Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship 2021
There are times when no matter how well a club organises a regatta and how prepared the sailors are, the weather simply refuses to allow racing to happen. This was the case for the penultimate day of the Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship 2021 as at times torrential rain and a complete lack of stable wind put paid to any chance of running race seven of the eight race series. Conditions did improve a little in the afternoon and the race committee, led by Alejandro Martín de Pazos, took the fleet afloat as there were signs the breeze might stabilise and build, but once in the race area conditions began to deteriorate again and eventually the decision was made to send the boats home and try for two races on tomorrow’s final day.
As a result, the overall standings remain unchanged. In the Open Division Rainer Mûller’s Thisbe, helmed by Michel Teweles continues to lead the fleet by four points from Patrick Monteiro De Barros’s Seljm with Philippe Durr’s Junior two further points behind in third. Still in with a shot at a podium finish are Claes Henningsson’s Notorious and Richard Göransson’s Filippa who are both on 23 points, and Hugo Stenbeck’s Sophie Racing on 24 points.
In the Classic Division the points are even tighter with Javier De La Gandara Alonso at the helm of the Escotet/Botas owned Aida holding a single point lead over the reigning Classic European Champion Jose Cusi’s Bribon 500, helmed by Pedro Campos. There is then a three-point delta to Miguel Lago’s Alibab II and Ossi Paija’s Astrée who both count sixteen points with Javier Morzón’s Caprice, helmed by Laureano Wizner Perales a further three points behind in fifth.
For the thirty-one strong fleet from eleven nations, it was a frustrating day, but they recognised that the race committee could do no more. Sanxenxo is normally a venue renowned for its reliable sailing conditions so to have experienced a week of generally light airs like this is rare. But the welcome the teams have received at the Real Club Nautico Sanxenxo has been exceptional and once again they were treated to delicious local wines and beers and to a wonderful variety of local foods after sailing, all thanks to the generous support of local suppliers recognised by the Galicia Calidade, the organisation that oversees the quality mark confirming a level of excellence for Galician produce and services.
International Six Metre Class President Louis Heckley is delighted with how the regatta is going and looks forward to returning to Sanxenxo next year for the 6 Metre World Championship, which takes place from 10 to 18 June. “We have been so impressed with the organisation of this event. The speed with which the boats were launched and the masts stepped, the special berthing arrangements, the administration, the exceptional hospitality, and the generous sponsor support, everything has been first class. We’ve been particularly impressed with the race committee who have delivered great racing in difficult circumstances. We can’t wait to be back again next June for the Worlds when we will have an even bigger fleet and hopefully travel restrictions will have eased to enable additional nations to join us.”
The Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship 2021 concludes tomorrow, 18 September, when the Race Committee hopes to be able to complete the final two races in the eight-race series before the 15.00 final starting signal cut off time.
Provisional Top Ten Results
Open Division
1. SUI111 Thisbe – Rainer A Muller – 3, (5), 2, 3, 3, 1 = 12
2. POR4 Seljm – Patrick Monteiro De Barros – (7), 3, 3, 1, 5, 4 = 16
3. SUI77 Junior – Philippe Durr/Rainer Müller – 8, (10), 1, 4, 2, 3 = 18
4. SWE114 Notorious – Claes Henningsson – 1, 1, 7, 5, (10), 10 = 24
5. SWE137 Filippa – Richard Göransson – 2, 2, 4, 8, (11), 8 = 24
6. SUI132 Sophie Racing – Hugo Stenbeck – 4, (9), 9, 2, 4, 5 = 24
7. ESP16 Stella – Violeta Alvarez – 6, 11, 8, (15), 1, 2 = 28
8. SUI140 Ginkgo Too – Jan Eckert – 11, 6, 6, (13), 7, 6 = 36
9. GBR107 Valhalla – Paul Smith – 12, (15), 5, 14, 6, 7 = 44
10. GBR89 Battlecry – Jeremy Thorp – 5, (13), 12, 6, 13, 9 = 45
Classic Division
1. GER59 Aida – Escotet/Botas – 1, 1, 4, (8), 3, 3 = 12
2. ESP16 Bribon 500 – Jose Cusi – 6, 3, (10), 2, 1, 1 = 13
3. GBR50 Alibaba II – Miguel Lago Cereceda – 4, 6, 3, 1, (11), 2 = 16
4. FIN18 Astrée III – Ossi Paija – 2, 2, 2, 4, (8), 6 = 16
5. K48 Caprice – Javier Manzón – 3, 5, 1, (7), 5, 5 = 19
6. FRA111 Dix Août – Louis Heckly – 5, (10), 7, 5, 2, 4 = 23
7. ESP72 Titia – Alicia Freire Sánchez – (10), 9, 8, 3, 4, 7 = 31
8. GBR40 Valdai – Dirk Stolp/Tom Owen – 7, 14, 5, (15), 10, 8 = 44
9. KC19 Saskia II – Pierre Guex/Reiner Müller – (12), 11, 9, 6, 7, 11 = 44
10. ESP91 Stardust – Hermanos Campos – 8, 4, 13, 11, (14), 10 = 46
Further information about the event can be found at www.6mreuropeans2021.com and about the class at www.6metre.com.
You can track the racing live and regular updates will be available on the ISMA Facebook page.
Photo Gallery – All images © María Muiña / Xacobeo 6mR Europeans
Thisbe and Aida Lead on Day Three of the Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship 2021
Sanxenxo, Spain – 16 September 2021 – A steady 12 knots from the northeast and glorious warm sunshine made for a near perfect third day of racing at the Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship in Sanxenxo. After two days of very light airs the change of pace was welcomed by all and resulted in some new faces featuring at the front of the fleet. With six of the scheduled eight races completed and the single score discard now introduced the rankings remain incredibly tight in both the Open and Classic Divisions.
It was clearly a day when a little bit of local knowledge went a long way with the top scoring boat in each division hailing from the host club, Real Club Nautico Sanxenxo (RCNS). In the open division Violeta Alvarez’s Stella led race five from the off and was never seriously challenged. She also initially led race six until Rainer Müller’s Thisbe helmed by Michel Teweles snuck past her on the second lap. Her first and second place move her up the leader board from tenth to seventh.
Thisbe’s race six win combined with a third in race five to reinforce her hold on the Open Division where she now leads by four points. Patrick Monteiro De Barros and the crew of Seljm continue to sail very consistently and today’s fifth and fourth places move them up a place into second. Philippe Durr’s Junior found the stronger breeze to her liking and climbed from fifth to third overall, two points behind Seljm. It was not such a successful day for Claes Henningsson’s Notorious who was over the line in race six and finished tenth in both races, dropping them from second to fourth overall and onto equal points with both Richard Göransson’s Filippa and Hugo Stenbeck’s Sophie Racing.
After racing Junior’s Nicolas Berthoud was pleased with their day saying, “It was a really great day out there today, tight racing and a lovely wind at 12 knots. All the boats are fast, and the game gets really close. We managed to find our way and took a second and third today which was excellent. We were pretty conservative in the middle of the track and had good speed. Our objective today was not to lose any points and we managed that so we were pretty pleased to do so.”
Jose Cusi’s Bribon 500, helmed by RCNS President Pedro Campos, produced two confident wins in the Classic Division, but overnight leader Astrée III did not fare as well finishing eighth in race five, her worst result of the regatta, and sixth in race six. As a result, the Escotet/Botas owned Aida, helmed by Francisco Botas Ratera, who added two thirds to their card today, now lead the Classic Division by a single point from Bribon 500. Miguel Lago Cereceda’s Alibaba II went from one extreme to the other finishing eleventh in race five and second in race six. Alibaba II and Astrée III now both count sixteen points and sit in third and fourth overall Classics respectively.
Pedro Campos was pleased with their day, saying, “For us today has been the best day of this championship. We made two very good starts and the boat had a point more speed than the others, especially upwind, which allowed us to reach all the buoys in the lead and even gain a considerable advantage in the last race. All this puts us back in the fight for the championship, when yesterday it seemed like a very distant possibility.”
Back ashore the RCNS once again welcomed the crews for the traditional post sailing drinks and snacks. One of the great joys of a Six Metre regatta is talking about the boats, each of which is unique and many of which have fascinating pasts. It’s also wonderful to meet people from all around the globe who share a passion for these extraordinary pieces of sailing equipment.
Taking part this week are sailors from Europe, North and South America, Australasia, and Asia. Representing North America’s Pacific Northwest Fleet are the crew of Classic Six Elisabeth X. The difficulties of international travel due to Covid almost prevented the team, who are largely based in Seattle, from attending, but fortunately relaxations came just in time to allow Adam Henley, David Linger, Erin Parker, Chance Bates and Andy Parker to be here, much to the delight of their fellow competitors.
Elisabeth X was designed and built in 1947 by the great Norwegian designer and boat builder Bjarne Aas, who was also created Aida, Astrée III and Dix Août. Looking at the four boats on the dock is like a little walk-through history as they were built over a period of some 23 years with Aida completed in 1936, Dix Août in 1950, and Astrée III in 1959. Each yacht was groundbreaking in her time and you can clearly see the development trail when you study them as a set.
The Six Metre Class dates back to 1907 and the introduction of the International or Metre Rule. Ever since it has been a hotbed for technical innovation with the world’s leading yacht designers and sailors bringing often radical concepts and technical excellence to the fleet. An Olympic Class from 1908 to 1952, the Sixes were also frequently used as a development testbed for the America’s Cup 12 Metres. The rule was periodically updated to keep the class at the forefront of technical development, whilst at the same time honouring its extraordinary heritage.
Even today that tradition of innovation continues as the newest boat in the fleet, the 2020 Javier Cela designed Ginkgo Too owned and skippered by Jann Eckert, is clearly demonstrating. Due to Covid this is her first major regatta, so she has been playing catch up against the more established teams, but each day her results are improving as her crew hone her performance and she now lies in eighth place overall in the Open Division. What is also remarkable is how competitive the boats remain regardless of age. This week the Open Division, featuring the Modern Sixes, cover a 40-year age range from 1981 to 2020 and all are racing on a level playing field. The Classics cover a 30 year age range at this event from the 1929 Acacia III to the 1959 Astrée III.
Two races remain to be sailed in the eight race series which concludes on Saturday 18 September. One race a day is currently planned for Friday and Saturday with a published first signal time of 12:00 each day.
| Provisional Top Ten Results Open Division 1. SUI111 Thisbe – Rainer A Muller – 3, (5), 2, 3, 3, 1 = 12 2. POR4 Seljm – Patrick Monteiro De Barros – (7), 3, 3, 1, 5, 4 = 16 3. SUI77 Junior – Philippe Durr/Rainer Müller – 8, (10), 1, 4, 2, 3 = 18 4. SWE114 Notorious – Claes Henningsson – 1, 1, 7, 5, (10), 10 = 24 5. SWE137 Filippa – Richard Göransson – 2, 2, 4, 8, (11), 8 = 24 6. SUI132 Sophie Racing – Hugo Stenbeck – 4, (9), 9, 2, 4, 5 = 24 7. ESP16 Stella – Violeta Alvarez – 6, 11, 8, (15), 1, 2 = 28 8. SUI140 Ginkgo Too – Jan Eckert – 11, 6, 6, (13), 7, 6 = 36 9. GBR107 Valhalla – Paul Smith – 12, (15), 5, 14, 6, 7 = 44 10. GBR89 Battlecry – Jeremy Thorp – 5, (13), 12, 6, 13, 9 = 45 Classic Division 1. GER59 Aida – Escotet/Botas – 1, 1, 4, (8), 3, 3 = 12 2. ESP16 Bribon 500 – Jose Cusi – 6, 3, (10), 2, 1, 1 = 13 3. GBR50 Alibaba II – Miguel Lago Cereceda – 4, 6, 3, 1, (11), 2 = 16 4. FIN18 Astrée III – Ossi Paija – 2, 2, 2, 4, (8), 6 = 16 5. K48 Caprice – Javier Manzón – 3, 5, 1, (7), 5, 5 = 19 6. FRA111 Dix Août – Louis Heckly – 5, (10), 7, 5, 2, 4 = 23 7. ESP72 Titia – Alicia Freire Sánchez – (10), 9, 8, 3, 4, 7 = 31 8. GBR40 Valdai – Dirk Stolp/Tom Owen – 7, 14, 5, (15), 10, 8 = 44 9. KC19 Saskia II – Pierre Guex/Reiner Müller – (12), 11, 9, 6, 7, 11 = 44 10. ESP91 Stardust – Hermanos Campos – 8, 4, 13, 11, (14), 10 = 46 |
| Further information about the event can be found at www.6mreuropeans2021.com and about the class at www.6metre.com. You can track the racing live and regular updates will be available on the ISMA Facebook page. Full Results Photo Gallery – All images © María Muiña / Xacobeo 6mR Europeans Youtube Channel |
International 6 Metre Association 