Europa Cup 2012

The three-day Laser Europe Cup regatta, which was hosted by Yacht Club 'Jadro Koper', was rich and full of odd turns. In Standard class Italian Alessandro Marega celebrated the victory. Olympic candidate Karlo Hmeljak won the fifth place in his home bay.

A dream combination of sun and sea breeze, which prevailed on the Slovenian coast the last two weeks, was over at the most inappropriate time - during the weekend when the city of Koper hosted 204 sailors from fifteen countries for the Europa Cup Series regatta of the season. The organizers desperately tried to perform an event for athletes and representatives of the European Association of lasers to remember, but in vain. Weather conspired against the hosts, and despite the good will they did not get the opportunity to stage a spectacle as they wished.

Some light breezes on Friday allowed the race committee to conclude two races for the Laser Standard fleet and one for the class of Radial and 4.7. Saturday was marked only by hours and hours of waiting for decent conditions and on Sunday the weather literally played games with the patience of organizers. Morning southerly winds initially promised superior performance, when suddenly a fog so thick that the sailors were no longer able to see the marks, descended over the bay and the race was suspended. This was followed by several hours of waiting and the last attempts to start in the afternoon, when the sky cleared again. But with the fog also the wind was gone and the members of the race committee could do no more.

»Of course we are sad because we did not succeed. The race committee has repositioned the race course countless times but the weather such as we have had these days, I can't remember,« said the frustrated president of the Organizing Committee Vilijem Orel. Another one surprised by the conditions was Slovene sailor Karlo Hmeljak. »Every time my friends inquired what was going on, I had no answer. It was unusual, if not more. I did not know what to expect, so I preferred to focus on other competitors instead of on the wind. After Friday's poor performance my goal has been to win on Sunday and I succeeded. Hoping to beat someone else I wanted to have at least one more race, but unfortunately that did not happen,« said Hmeljak, at the end of fifth in the Laser Standard class. Better than Karlo at encrypting the enigmatic conditions on the race course were the winner Italy's Alessandro Marega, runner-up Moldavian Alexandr Denisiuc and third Ukrainian Oleksandr Isakov.

For classes Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 with only one finished race each, it was not enough to constitute a series. Therefore for them the regatta will be counted for the Europa Cup Trophy with a downgraded Grade factor. The unfortunate combination of weather conditions did not affect the decision of the vice-president of the EurILCA Macri Macrino, to let Koper host Europa Cup sailors again in 2013. »In Europe rarely you will find such bonds between members of the club, attachment to family, friends and other values that have convinced me that this is a place with great potential. For the first time the organization was more than good. I noticed a few minor technical shortcomings, but nothing serious. Next year we seriously count on you again,« concluded Macrini and boosted the moral of the organizers.

15:15 Bad news, no more racing today. Therefore the regata is over with Standard fleet completing 3 races, while Radial and 4.7 completed only one race each.

14:05 Come on, come on, weather cooperate! Wind remains from the North, sun is back out, race course reset. New start procedures will begin with Radial class any minute.

13:01 Still some fog out over the race area, but clearing up. Wind shifted from S to N.

12:21 First three to finish race 3 in Standard class: 1. SLO 197474, 2. SAY 201444, 3. UKR 192683

12:13 Southerly winds finaly arrived! All classes started their races. Karlo Hmeljak SLO was first to cross the finish line in Standard.

On the second day of Europa Cup weather was not cooperating with the organizers. Race committee was insisting on the sea until 17:00 but all the efforts were in vain.

Observing clouds and spots on the horizon lasted seven long hours. At the beginning it seemed that yesterday's scenario, when wind came only in the afternoon, was going to repeat, but with the time passing by it became clear that weather was just fooling around with organizers patience. Marks were dropped on the positions at 16:00 but due to the lack of wind the race was abandoned even before it began.

12:53 sailors left the marina at 10 am. Since then, everybody is waiting for the wind.

In the end 204 sailors in all three Laser classes took off to the race course soon after noon today. Unfortunately northern winds inland blocked the sea breeze, and the race area was moved towards Ankaran where the wind was a bit more stable. A single race was finished for 4.7 and Radial sailors, while Standard fleet managed to finish two.

»We had three races in plan for today for all fleets, but the weather did not cooperate. Southerly winds are forecasted so we will do our best to catch up, it's a going to be an interesting weekend,« were the optimistic words of Bojan Gale, principal race officer.

After returning to shore, taking care of the sailboats, changing and a quick dinner, a concert was awaiting the sailors in the old town center just minutes from the venue.

17:34 Race nr. 2 for standard fleet was shortened at second winward mark. Over and out.

17:07 Wind has dropped and sailors were sent on shore. That's it for today. Standard fleet is still racing.

17:00 First race is over for all three classess. Standard group is now getting ready for the second start. Rest of the competitors will continue tomorrow.

16:53 RADIAL: Inner loop was the path to follow for blue group. Principal race officer just announced - there will be another regatta for radials. Wind in blowing from N with 6 knots.

16:29 STANDARD: Second start was clear. RADIAL: Second group of radials split, some of them sailed inner loop, others outer. Who got confused?

16:05 Standard fleet is getting prepared for the second race. Others will continue with performances tomorrow.

15:44 Wind is very light out here in the bay, but all three classes have started their first races.

14:32 After one hour of waiting, the race committee has decided to change its position. Right now the fleet is heading towards the other side of bay, where wind conditions seem more stable. Nothing done yet, but it's looking promising.

It's pretty busy here in Koper today. Many sailors have been sailing out in the bay testing local conditions, while some are stil arriving to the venue. Registration is in full progress, and EurILCA is obviously very satisfied with the tourn up of laser sailors as listed below.

SLOVENIA, Koper: 215 Sailors coming from 23 Districts ! A very good start to the series.

AHO	2	IND	1	POR	3
AUT	5	IRL	11	RUS	25
CRO	8	ITA	61	SEY	1
CZE	3	MDA	1	SLO	24
EST	1	MLT	1	SUI	2
FIN	7	MNE	3	TUR	6
GER	5	NED	9	UKR	11
HUN	18	NOR	7

As of this morning there are already 201sailors registered to race at Europa Cup in Koper. With such a number of participants and sunny skies forecasted with nice early spring temperatures, we can expect a great regatta in the bay in front of Koper as an opening of this year's Europa Cup Series.

A press conference before the event will be held by Sailing Club JADRO Koper on Monday 12th March 2012 at 13:00 hours in Skipper restaurant in Marina Koper.

Dear sailors, here is a schedule for finalization of your registration at this regatta:

From the list of social events organized during this event, let us mention three concerts:

A Facebook profile has been created for Europa Cup 2012 in Koper, and we will use it to keep all participants uptdated with the latest news and all other important information.

The new internet site of EurILCA, through which all sailors intending to sail in an Europa Cup 2012 event must make their entry, is now working.

Dear sailors. In todays comunication between Koper Organizers and EurILCA the following was established. EurILCA is just setting up a new website for European ILCA region on the address http://www.eurilca.org/ .

They will do their best to have at least Europa Cup 2012 and Electronic Entry Form set up in a couple of days, so expect information from us right here, how to make your entry, as soon as EurILCA gives us instructions.

Organizing committee has made some good arrangements for the sailors with nearby hotels (see Accommodation & Travel page.) If you decide to book your rooms in one of the suggested three hotels, be sure to mention you are in Koper for Europa Cup, to get the special prices.

The internet site for this event is in full function from now on, and of course content will be added daily, as information come along. Unfortunately the specially designated Electronic Entry Form on ILCA web pages is not working yet. I case they don't solve this issue very soon, JK Jadro will post its own Entry Form on this internet site, just for this first regatta of Europa Cup 2012.

If you have any questions we have not covered, please don't hesitate to contact us by e-mail: jk.jadro.koper@gmail.com

The first stop for Europa Cup sailors sailing Laser Standard, Radial and 4.7 in 2012 will be in Koper - Slovenija from 16th to 18th March. Sailing Club Jadro Koper is proud to be the host of this regatta, and we are sure it's going to be a great event in the begining of the season.

Preparations are in full progress, to ensure the best hospitality and organization for all the sailors, coaches and everyone else attending this event. Europa Cup in Koper is now posted in ILCA, ISAF and JZS callendars and the host club wishes for a good turnup of sailors in all classes.