EST-646 LENNY wins third Estonian Open Championship
On September 27.-28, 2008 The Open Estonian Championship 2008 for international class Melges 24 has been held in Pirita, Tallinn
On the first day of the championships four races were sailed in excellent autumn conditions - +15 degrees, partly cloudy sky and wind coming in from W with a velocity of 3 to 6 m/s.
On the second day - after the heavy rain fall in the morning the sun started shining from a blue sky. Also the wind picked up from W blowing the whole day appr. 7 to 10 m/s. In gusts max. 12 m/s.
Tõnu Tõniste & co (Maiki Saaring, Kalev Tanner, Ants Haavel, Andres Rohtla) with LENNY won the third Estonian Open Championship in style taking three race wins today and 4 wins out of 7 races. They had a steady performance in all weather conditions. Peter Saraskin (Tuuli org, Jüri Atonen, Marko Lilienthal, Kaarel Kruusmägi) & co helming EST645 ZUXU and Tiit Vihul & co (Triin Sarapuu, Lauri Kärner, Indrek Ulla, Martin Müür) EST761 ROCK CITY had both also a great weekend taking all 6 races into top 5. Their overall points were 19 but Saraskin took silver by two race wins.
So three Estonian boats took all the podium places in front of the Finnish boats.
The last race and last downwind leg gave dramatic moment when FIN434 "Miinakissa IV" suddenly in full speed broke their mast. Luckily nothing happened to anyone. One the mainsail damaged.
After this weekend the magnificant 2008 season is wrapped up. Most of the boats are heading to winter storage.
Only 1 year 9 months to go for the 2010 World Championships here in Tallinn - the Finnish Melges 24 Association is waiting next season to increase our 23 boat fleet... Already 8 to 10 teams still thinking!
Full results below:
| No | Sail No | Boat NAME | Helmsman | Club |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Points | Total |
| 1 | EST-646 | LENNY | Tõnu TÕNISTE | KJK |
2 |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
1 |
| 2 | EST-645 | ZUXU | Peter SARASKIN | KJK |
|
1 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
19 |
2 |
| 3 | EST-761 | ROCK CITY | Tiit VIHUL | KJK |
3 |
|
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
19 |
3 |
| 4 | FIN-529 | Midnight Sun Sailing One | Sami EKBLAD | NPS |
|
5 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
23 |
4 |
| 5 | FIN-650 | FONECTA FINDER | Tomi HAKOLA | EMK |
7 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
|
6 |
2 |
29 |
5 |
| 6 | FIN-434 | Miinakissa IV | Aleksi LEHTONEN | NPS |
1 |
2 |
11 |
|
6 |
7 |
DNF |
41 |
6 |
| 7 | FIN-425 | Pirates of the Corinthian | Samuel THESLEFF | NJK |
4 |
8 |
7 |
3 |
11 |
9 |
|
42 |
7 |
| 8 | FIN-214 | Midnight Sun Sailing Two | Esa HARJULAHTI | NPS |
9 |
9 |
|
9 |
7 |
3 |
7 |
44 |
8 |
| 9 | EST-573 | 4 energy | Erki MELTS | PYC |
|
7 |
9 |
11 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
46 |
9 |
| 10 | FIN-316 | Team Uusikaupunki | Henri JEFIMOFF | UPS |
8 |
6 |
6 |
|
8 |
10 |
8 |
46 |
10 |
| 11 | FIN-328 | ELSA | Paul ANDERSSON | EMK |
12 |
4 |
10 |
6 |
10 |
11 |
|
53 |
11 |
| 12 | FIN-651 | MANTA | Kristian RAIJ | EMK |
10 |
11 |
8 |
10 |
|
12 |
9 |
60 |
12 |
| 13 | FIN-289 | LUIKAS | Henri WIIK | Oulun meren-kävijät |
13 |
12 |
13 |
8 |
|
13 |
10 |
69 |
13 |
Read more www.melges24.fi
See the pictures taken by the Race Committee in Kalev Yacht Club Webalbum
Estonian Champion 2008 LENNY - EST-646.
After the first day on the leading position and finally on the second place of the Championships - ZUXU - EST-645.
With very stable series ROCK CITY - EST-761 won the third place.
The medals of the Estonian Open Championship 2008 in international class Melges 24.
On the podium there were only Estonians - the teams of LENNY, ZUXU and ROCK CITY.
09-28-2008
