Great Scott seals early Finn Europeans victory
Written by RYA | 09 May 2014
Giles Scott takes gold with a day to spare at Finn Europeans in La Rochelle
Finn sailing star Giles Scott believes there’s more to come after clinching European Championship gold with a day to spare at the Finn Europeans in La Rochelle on Friday (9 May).
The 26-year-old maintained his unbeaten regatta run since returning to full-time Olympic Classes sailing in September, dominating these Championships with six race wins from his ten races so far to claim his second European title.
Portland-based Scott will still have to sail in Saturday’s ten-boat medal race, but takes an unassailable 34 point lead into the finale.
“The Europeans is a major event and I’m most happy about this from all the events I’ve won since I’ve come back,” Scott confessed.
“Last time I sailed in the Europeans was in 2011 when I won it, so it’s nice to come back and still be able to do it in the big fleets and at the big events.”
Friday’s penultimate day of the regatta proved Scott’s most testing one results-wise, posting a 15th and an eighth from the two races in shifty and light conditions. But it was enough to fend off the challenge from Slovenia’s defending European champion Vasilij Zbogar – and claim his second European title after victory in 2011.
“I think I’ve had the right sort of approach to the big fleets,” said Scott of the racing challenges in La Rochelle this week.
“It’s actually a bit of a change racing with 100 boats as oppose to the 40-boat fleet that you might normally race at World Cup event.
“The starting, especially earlier in the week, was a bit sketchy because we had tide underneath a slight wind and lots of OCS’s. Surviving the starts was pretty crucial but I managed to be nicely conservative and had good all round speed and that was it really.”
Scott, who also won the World Championship in 2011, brushed off talk of being a marked man after his five-regatta, seventh month winning streak, and said he was just focussed on improving his own game.
“I don’t try and think about that – whether that’s the case or not I don’t know. I’m just happy with the way I’m sailing at the moment. I think there’s still stuff to work on but I suppose that’s a good thing!”
Scott’s victory came on the first anniversary of British Olympian Andrew Simpson’s passing, and he admitted that his friend was in his thoughts today.
“The Finn sailors and officials all gathered at 9am this morning and [jury chairman] John Doerr said some very nice, emotional words and we had a minute’s silence.
“It was a fitting way to remember Bart. He was a bit of a counsellor to me – he’d offer his advice and I’d always take it on board. As everyone knows he was seen as a pretty wise man.”
Meanwhile, the British Sailing Team has a strong chance of a second podium spot at the Championship on Saturday, as Bournemouth’s Ed Wright goes into the final day in bronze medal position with a 15 point lead over the fourth placed Croatian sailor.
Andrew Mills also made the ten-boat medal race cut, currently in sixth heading into the final double-points scoring race.
The medal race is schedule to commence at 1400 (local) on Saturday.
For news and results from the Finn Europeans, follow us at www.britishsailingteam.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @BritishSailing.
For further event information, visit
http://www.finneuropeans.org/ec2014/