Splash Worlds and Flash Eurocup Championships
Held at Pwllheli Sailing Club during August 8 –14th August 2009

Sunday

Crews from all over the world started arriving at Pwllheli on Saturday 8th August, the majority of them from the Netherlands. Measuring the boats started and continued into Sunday when a practise race was organised for both Splash and Flash fleets. The Splash sailors are all under 18 whilst those over 18 continue into the Flash class, which is the same boat with a larger sail.
Weather conditions, on both days was a mix of light clouds and sun, with wind strengths of between Force 2 to 3. About half the fleet went out on Sunday to get an experience of sailing in Cardigan Bay.
One race was held for each fleet, the race officers setting a long race to give everybody a chance to experience the conditions in the bay.
The opening ceremony on Sunday night was attended by the Mayor of Pwllheli, Ifan Hughes, and Councillor Sion Roberts with the Club Commodore Dave Hulse also giving a welcoming speech. The President of the International Splash Class Luuk Feikens opened the event with over 400 competitors and families attending in the large marquee at Pwllheli Club

Monday

The first races in the championship were held on Monday 10th , conditions were misty in the Bay of Cardigan, so racing was deferred until about 11.30 when the fleets were launched. A course was laid and the Splash Yellow fleet and Flash fleet successfully had a race, but the wind dropped and became changeable so the Blue fleet had to wait until after midday before the wind direction stabilised enough for racing to continue.
Results for the early races were affected by large numbers of sailors being across the line at the start, and being disqualified.
As a result a Welsh sailor, Bleddyn Mon, a young up and coming sailor from Anglesey provisionally has won the first race in the Yellow fleet.
After some time, a new course was laid and all fleets completed two races, the last boats coming ashore about six o’clock.
After a few protests were dealt with, provisional results were posted as follows:

Tuesday

Tuesday dawned clear and bright with hardly any cloud and a breeze of between force 2 and 4, ideal for sailing for the younger and lighter Splash sailors. After briefing, sailors launched from Abererch beach and sailed about 2 kilometres out into the bay where an Olympic course had been laid.
The race officer soon got proceedings underway and the three fleets were set off, with very few of the start line incidents which were prevalent on the first day. The New Zealand youngsters, all ten of them, were sailing well in both the yellow and blue fleets, with Declan Burn and Michael Cato standing out, with consistent good starts and finishing in both fleets. The young Welsh sailor, Bleddyn Mon and the Netherlander Mathieu de By were some of the few sailors to get amongst the New Zealand contingent.
The oldest sailor in the Flash fleet, a sprightly fifty-seven year old Wolfgang Daum was clearly enjoying himself in the conditions, which were not too taxing.
Three races were completed in good order by about four pm, just as the breeze started to drop, everybody having had a good days sailing in near ideal conditions

Wednesday

Wednesday started with cloud and rain, The Llyn Peninsula soon clearing of poor weather but it was nearly midday before the wind direction and strength stabilised enough to start racing. Light winds of about force 2 to 3 lasted all afternoon, enabling the Racee Officer Chris Hadden to set three races for all classes, boats coming ashore around six o’clock.
The local sailor Bleddyn Mon had two bad race results, which, after eight races, dropped him to fifth overall. Declan Burn led the fleet followed closely by Scott Fyfe, with Nienke Reina Jorna of the Netherlands was the first girl in thirteenth place.
In the Flash fleet Bob Heineke strengthened his lead, with Igor van Zalinge coming up into second place, Betty Gietema was the first lady home in seventh place
The evening was rounded out with a barbecue and raffle for everybody, about two hundred people attended, with good natured heckling occurring every time somebody collected a prize.

Thursday

Thursday started sunny and dry, with a light force 2-3 wind from the North, which proved during the day to be variable in strength and direction.
Racing started late morning, and the Race Officer managed to get the days racing completed and the fleets coming ashore by five pm.

Friday

Friday started with a brisk Westerley breeze, which slowly swung round to the South-west and strengthened to force six,. Racing started just after eleven am and the race officer got both races in by one o’clock.
There were several capsizes and gear failures during racing, which was an indication of the increase in wind strength.
In the Splash Gold Fleet Declan Burn from New Zealand found conditions difficult, but still maintained his overall lead. Hansebas Meijer found the conditions to his liking and improved his position to second overall, the local boy Bleddyn Mon also liking the conditions finishing third overall.
In the Splash Silver fleet Marianne Pijlman of the Netherlands beat the boys with a good overall performance over the week, finishing first. Mark de Schiffert got two good results and pulled himself up to second, while Jock Coppejans of Belgium completed the trio of leaders.
The weather conditions suited the Flash sailors and the leading five boats just changed position, Bob Heineke winning, with Ruud Westerbeek finishing second. In third place was Frank Cornelissen, with Betty Gietema being the first women home in eight place.
After Protests were dealt with the results were posted early evening. Both the Mayor of Pwllheli Ifan Hughes and the Commodore  of the Pwllheli Sailing Club Dave Hulse attended the prize-giving, with all the sailors and their families.

Gold Splash Fleet (After thirteen races with two discards)

1          NZL 2592    Declan Burn                     44.0
2          NED 2454    Hansebas Meijer            61.0
3          GBR 2243    Bleddyn Mon                  62.0
4          AHO 2500    Ard van Aanholt            74.0
5          NZL 2590     Scott Fyfe                       82.0

Silver Splash Fleet (After thirteen races with two discards)

1          NED 1987    Marianne Pijlman            200.0
2          NED 2383    Mark de Schiffert            208.0
3          BEL 2441    Jock Coppejans                230.0
4          NED 2360    Rogier Vermeer               240.0
5          NED 2497    Jetze Schuurmans            243.0

Flash Fleet (After thirteen races with two discards)

1          NED 2428    Bob Heineke                            25.0
2          NED 2367    Ruud Westerbeek                    42.0
3          NED 2288    Frank Cornelissen                    50.0
4          NED 2485    Igor van Zalinge                        52.0
5          NED 1951    Jeroen van Greuningen            62.0