Sharpie Club Portugal

Patrick van Raalte / Peter vand Dorst are the 2012 European Champions

It was necessary to wait for the last race to find the 2012 new European Champions, as by thursday 3 teams were in position to win the title.

The two thursday races had strong winds (14 to 16 knots, with gusts up to 18) and the Dutch crews took the best advantage.
Daan Versteeg / Arnold Mulderij were the first to win, followed by Tom Weller / Jeroen van Veen and by Charles Mitlemeuje / Henk van Dorst.
Best portuguese team was Francisco Cálão/António Pereira (POR 56) - 6th - and descended in the general classification to this place.

Patrick van Raalte won the second race after what they were in second position overall, equal to Tom weller and just 1 point from Daan Versteeg.

The strong winds made some damages. João Branco (POR 46) almost broke the mast, and José Bello (POR 30) and José Silva (POR 40) capsized. Nelson Machado also capsized but finished both races.

All it took was to win the final race, and Patrick van Raalte did it, finishing in first position over Daan Versteeg. Tom Weller had to settle for third.

A special note to POR 57 (Mooie Nell) from Ricardo Marques/Vasco Labrincha getting used to the new boat, and finishing the last race as the best portuguese team in 6th position.

Salustiano Ribeiro/Bernardo Cálão (POR 50), and Nelson Machado/José Gomes (POR 51) got to get some places in the general classification, finishing 7th and 8th place overall.

The prize giving ceremony was at the Hotel de Ilhavo with the fantastic prizes of Vista Alegre Porcelain to be the center of atentions.

Back to Sharpie Club the beer and music went all night long.

The European Championship will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary next year in Stellendam (Holand) and will be back to Portugal - if the conditions are found - in 2016.

Check final results bellow.