July 15, 2016
1 minute reading time
Demesmaeker & Tas pull out a stunning victory at 2016 F18 Europeans in Brest
Belgium's Patrick Demesmaeker and Giles Tas took home the honours at the F18 European Championships in Brest, France with a commanding performance over the 15 race series.
Belgium’s Patrick Demesmaeker and Giles Tas took home the honours at the F18 European Championships in Brest, France with a commanding performance over the 15 race series.
The Belgian team not only managed to have sufficient points ahead of their closest contenders in order to secure European Title, but they did it an elegant way, winning the last long distance race sailed, and then leading the parade all along the Tall Ships gathered in Brest Harbour.
With a very consistent series, there was no real concern for the Belgian team before starting the long distance course prepared by the Organising Committee. The pressure, instead, was heaped on Jolbert Van Dijk and Frank De Waard (NED) and Elke Delnooz and Jeroen Van Leeuwen (NED) who were jostling for the podium.
Van Dijk and De Waard took a three-point advantage into the final race and just did enough to hold on, finishing ninth to their rivals seventh which handed them silver by a single point.
Elke and Jeroen finish third overall and were awarded the first mixed team trophy. French Youth Teams Antoine Ferrec/Foucauld Delaplace, and Arthur Boc Ho/Tom Laperche finished fourth and eighth respectively and father son teams, Ad & Maarten Noordzij and Hans & Marius Van Dam performed well coming through in tenth and 15th.
With 50 teams coming from 13 Nations and 3 Continents, 2016 Europeans were a true success with thanks reserved top USAM Voile organisers, whose volunteers were truly dedicated to F18 sailors.
Results – http://www.f18europeen.com/en/european-championship-results/