Pica wins German 18ft skiff grand prix

Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League

Posted: 28  Jul. 2010

Magic Marine Germany - just missed the podium

The British Pica team won the German 18ft Skiff Grand Prix when they finished five points ahead of Denmark's Flemming Clausen and his GP Covers team at Travemuende.

Third overall went to Hungary's European champion Liberty Sailing Team, skippered by Miklos Ujhelyi-Gaspar.

Four German teams filled the next four placings. Friedrich Renner's Eurolink was fourth, followed by Remember the Days, Magic Marine and Berlinsyndikat.

As predicted, the wind was light, very light for day three and it wasn't until 5pm before the teams could launch their boats.

The first race stared in a 10 knots sea breeze, which later decreased to 6 knots, and resulted in a remarkable win for the German Magic Marine team, skippered by Norbert Peter.

Magic Marine had problems in the pre-start time and capsized just one minute before the start. The team fought their way back to cross the finish line in fifth place, but it wasn't until later they realised they had actually won the race when they learned that the four teams ahead of them had all recorded OCS.

The Liberty Sailing Team had to do a 360-degree turn after a collision at the top mark and finished in second place.

In Race Two, Liberty Sailing Team led from the start and clearly showed their light wind skills, while Magic Marine team's luck left them and they finished well back after being forced to restart.

The fleet now moves on to contest the third event of the 2010 European Grand Prix, "The Viking 18ft Skiff Grand Prix" from Denmark's Sonderborg Yacht Club.

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