Nathan Outteridge wins the 2010 Syz & Co Moth Europeans
The Australian Nathan Outteridge wins the SYZ & CO MOTH EUROPEANS in the Open category, in front of the American Bora Gulari and the Australian Scott Babbage. The British Simon Payne is the European Champion before the two Swiss Arnaud Psarofaghis and Matthias Renker. Two superb regattas finished a splendid week today, with Bora Gulari winning the first one and Nathan Outteridge the second one.
Summer heat, “Lord of the Rings”’ like landscape, amazing sun, blue skies, one had it all for the last day of the competition except for… the wind. But the competitors did not have to wait for too long. Finally the Maloja wind rose, weaker and more irregular, between 10 and 15 knots, and allowed a start at 2.05 pm.
Nathan Outteridge explains his day: “I was not very good in the first race. I was winning, but I made a mistake on a tack and Bora and Simon took advantage of it and overtook me. Then, I managed to pass Simon again, but not Bora. Between the two races, Bora told me he was not feeling too well and that he was thinking of giving up the second race. He nevertheless tried, but had to stop. I still decided to go on full speed, because I wanted to win the last race of the championship.” He continues: “I am happy because I got much closer to Bora. I changed boat and material and I feel much nearer to Bora. I was second at the World Championships in the USA last year, but I was not as close. I intend to participate in the next year’s Worlds at home in Australia and hopefully I will win again! ” The Australian is a great champion, no doubt. He started to sail the moth hardly two years ago, but he is seriously concentrating on preparing the Olympic Games with the 49er. Moreover, he explains he had just won the “Sail for Gold”, a leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Wheymouth, South of England. He then drove all night long to get into Engadin on time and to win the European Championships! “A successful trip!”
In bad shape after a food poisoning last night, Bora Gulari nevertheless managed to win the first race, but did not finish the second: “I did not have the strength to finish the second race. I am however happy with my second place, because I decided to come here a last minute. I’m going back home and will get ready for the next World Championships in Australia and I intend to take my revenge on Nathan!”
Arnaud Psarofaghis who finishes second of the European Championship explains: “I had no speed today. I fought more against my boat than against the other competitors. I could not really go for it.” He continues: “The week was fantastic, with very varied and very tactical conditions. It was fantastic to sail with the other competitors, we had so much fun! ” What is coming next? “I will get ready for the World championships in Australia and I will carry on with the D35 season on Lake Geneva.”
“I am really happy, it has been a fantastic year for me so far! ” says the new European champion, Simon Payne, just off his boat. “Three important victories this year, the World Championships, the British Nationals and now the European championships, I am really happy! ” Let’s remember some of Simon’s achievements, as this is his 5th European championship victory and he has been World champion already twice (2006 and 2010).
How did the duel with Arnaud go today? “I had a good day, also I was not very fast down- wind. I was very carefully watching Arnaud’s position. I sailed in a very conservative way, in particular in the second race, when the general recall and the black flag was announced. I made a very careful start, but I succeeded to overtake Arnaud at the last mark.
Jean-Pierre Ziegert, organizer and President of the Swiss Moth class is happy: “I was hoping for superb championships, but the reality went beyond all my hopes. The weather conditions, the number of races, the quality of the navigation on the water, the atmosphere, all has been there. The week has been extraordinary. I couldn’t have dreamed better!” As a participant, the President finished in 5th position of the European championship (and 11th of the Open): “I started the championship with a surprisingly good ranking. I started full speed, since the sailing came as liberation after the stress of the championships’ organization. However as the days went by the tiredness took over and I finished the championships with a superb result, but not as good as I thought at the beginning of week.”
Ricardo Payro, the Head of Communications of the SYZ & CO Private Bank, gives us his impressions of the week : “One absolutely splendid week for everyone! For the organizers, as the European championships were at the level of a world championship, with exceptional athletes competing. For the competitors, all the conditions were met: they sailed under idyllic conditions, with wind and flat water. For the public on-site, it was amazing to be able to watch this spectacle from the shore, in the beautiful Engadin region. A large public has also followed the races on Internet thanks to the GPS tracking system. If everyone is happy, then the title sponsor is obviously happy!.
European Open Championship final ranking:
1. Nathan OUTTERIDGE (AUS 3750) – 18 points
2. Bora GULARI (USA 6) – 20 points
3. Scott BABBAGE (AUS 7) – 44 points
4. Simon PAYNE (GBR 1) – 44 points
5. Arnaud PSAROFAGHIS (SUI 4) – 52 points
6. Rob GOUGH (AUS 3731) – 76 points
7. Matthias RENKER (SUI 3626) – 103 points
8. Chris GRAHAM (UAE 9) – 106 points
9. Chris RAST (USA 3768) – 106 points
10. Jason BELBEN (GBR 3619) – 113 points
Podium European Championship :
1. Simon PAYNE (GBR 1)
2. Arnaud PSAROFAGHIS (SUI 4)
3. Matthias RENKER (SUI 3626)
Podium Swiss Championship :
1. Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI 4)
2. Matthias Renker (SUI 3626)
3. Jean-Pierre Ziegert (SUI 3464)