Radial Sailors to Compete for European Glory in Copenhagen
More than a hundred sailors are converging on Copenhagen to contest the Women’s European Laser Radial Championship. Due to take place from 8 to 16 July, the women Olympic hopefuls will be competing out of Skovshoved Yacht Club in Charlottenlund on the northern outskirts of the Danish capital city. The Men’s European Championships takes place at the same time, bringing the combined entry to more than 200 sailors, and if you add the European Laser Radial Youth Championship which is currently taking place in the preceding week (1-8 July), then the total number of Radial sailors exceeds 300, with more than 40 countries represented.
For the women on the Olympic circuit, 2009 represents the first of a four-year cycle building up to the next Olympic Regatta in Weymouth 2012, and already some patterns are emerging. From not even being represented in the Laser Radial class last year in Qingdao, a spirit of close co-operation and shared training is already bearing fruit for a Danish squad that is growing in strength and confidence. For example in May Alberte Lindberg and Maiken Schütt finished 2nd and 4th respectively at the ISAF Grade 1 event in Holland, the Delta Lloyd Regatta. Here in Copenhagen they will have the benefit of greater knowledge of the waters where the racing will be contested, in The Sound, the stretch of water that lies between Denmark and Sweden.
These waters have been the training ground for perhaps more Danish Olympic medallists than any other, not least Paul Elvstrom, the most successful Olympic sailor of all time with four gold medals to his name. He trained in the Finn and to this day lives just a few kilometres south of Skovshoved Yacht Club in Hellerup.
While the Danish contingent will enjoy racing on home waters, they know that there are many sailors who have the skill and experience to deal with whatever conditions come their way - whether the steadier breezes from the east or the shiftier westerlies blowing off the northern suburbs of Copenhagen. Among the favourites for the women’s title are Paige Railey, the American who dominated Kiel Week at the end of June.
Despite both women having been more focused on their university studies in recent months, Evi Van Acker and Charlotte Dobson scored 2nd and 4th respectively at Kiel Week, so they cannot be ruled out of contention despite their lack of practice. Van Acker won the European title two years ago and was third last year, so has one of the best track records of any athlete in this event. “I’m really looking forward to competing in Denmark,” said the Belgian. “I haven’t sailed in this part of Denmark before but I was last here in 2002 at a Youth Europeans in the Europe class, and my coach was Danish. I have some happy memories of the country - friendly people, everyone riding around on bikes, a nice place to be.”
But Van Acker is not putting any pressure on herself to excel on the water. “I don't have any expectations, I’ve been full time studying at university, working around the clock, so to get 2nd in Kiel after two months behind my desk was a nice surprise. Of course I’d like to do well at the Europeans, but I won't be disappointed if I don't win.”
Van Acker is studying bioengineering and food technology, while Dobson from Great Britain has just completed a degree in psychology. Could this stand in her good stead for the mental pressures of competition in the Europeans? “I don’t think so,” laughs Dobson from Scotland. “I’m not sure that examining brain tissue is really that relevant. Maybe one day I’ll find a way to bring it into what I do in sailing but for now I’m just happy to be finished with my studies and getting back on the water. It will be my first time competing in Denmark and I’m looking forward to it.”
The Laser Radial Europeans is one of a number of high profile sailing regattas taking place in Denmark this summer as part of wider festival of different sports, called Denmark’s World of Sport. To do their utmost to ensure that their events are held to the highest possible standards the Danish Sailing Association is working with the support of the insurance company CODAN (part of Sun Alliance Group), to provide TracTrac tracking during the Laser Radial Europeans, Finn Gold Cup, EUROSAF Match Racing Europeans and 470 World Championship. The Danish Sailing Association has purchased 150 state of the art GPS tracking devices, allowing races to be followed in real time over the internet.
Last year the TracTrac tracking of the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Aarhus, Denmark was followed by nearly 30,000 viewers from 69 countries all over the world.
To follow the TracTrac tracking for the Laser Radial Europeans (starting from the second day's racing through to the finals) go here: http://www.tractrac.com/elr
For more information about the Laser Radial European Championship 2009 visit
http://www.skovshoved-sejlklub.dk, or contact Johanne Rosenquist, press officer. Tel: +45 2049 7527. Email: lremsks@gmail.com
For more information on Denmark’s World of Sport visit http://www.sporteventdenmark.com
or contact: Christian Ankerstjerne. Tel: +45 3051 0096 Email: ca@sporteventdenmark.dk
For more information on the Danish Sailing Association visit http://www.sejlsport.dk/
or contact Christian Borch, press officer. Tel: + 45 2360 0680 Email: christian@sejlsport.dk
For the women on the Olympic circuit, 2009 represents the first of a four-year cycle building up to the next Olympic Regatta in Weymouth 2012, and already some patterns are emerging. From not even being represented in the Laser Radial class last year in Qingdao, a spirit of close co-operation and shared training is already bearing fruit for a Danish squad that is growing in strength and confidence. For example in May Alberte Lindberg and Maiken Schütt finished 2nd and 4th respectively at the ISAF Grade 1 event in Holland, the Delta Lloyd Regatta. Here in Copenhagen they will have the benefit of greater knowledge of the waters where the racing will be contested, in The Sound, the stretch of water that lies between Denmark and Sweden.
These waters have been the training ground for perhaps more Danish Olympic medallists than any other, not least Paul Elvstrom, the most successful Olympic sailor of all time with four gold medals to his name. He trained in the Finn and to this day lives just a few kilometres south of Skovshoved Yacht Club in Hellerup.
While the Danish contingent will enjoy racing on home waters, they know that there are many sailors who have the skill and experience to deal with whatever conditions come their way - whether the steadier breezes from the east or the shiftier westerlies blowing off the northern suburbs of Copenhagen. Among the favourites for the women’s title are Paige Railey, the American who dominated Kiel Week at the end of June.
Despite both women having been more focused on their university studies in recent months, Evi Van Acker and Charlotte Dobson scored 2nd and 4th respectively at Kiel Week, so they cannot be ruled out of contention despite their lack of practice. Van Acker won the European title two years ago and was third last year, so has one of the best track records of any athlete in this event. “I’m really looking forward to competing in Denmark,” said the Belgian. “I haven’t sailed in this part of Denmark before but I was last here in 2002 at a Youth Europeans in the Europe class, and my coach was Danish. I have some happy memories of the country - friendly people, everyone riding around on bikes, a nice place to be.”
But Van Acker is not putting any pressure on herself to excel on the water. “I don't have any expectations, I’ve been full time studying at university, working around the clock, so to get 2nd in Kiel after two months behind my desk was a nice surprise. Of course I’d like to do well at the Europeans, but I won't be disappointed if I don't win.”
Van Acker is studying bioengineering and food technology, while Dobson from Great Britain has just completed a degree in psychology. Could this stand in her good stead for the mental pressures of competition in the Europeans? “I don’t think so,” laughs Dobson from Scotland. “I’m not sure that examining brain tissue is really that relevant. Maybe one day I’ll find a way to bring it into what I do in sailing but for now I’m just happy to be finished with my studies and getting back on the water. It will be my first time competing in Denmark and I’m looking forward to it.”
The Laser Radial Europeans is one of a number of high profile sailing regattas taking place in Denmark this summer as part of wider festival of different sports, called Denmark’s World of Sport. To do their utmost to ensure that their events are held to the highest possible standards the Danish Sailing Association is working with the support of the insurance company CODAN (part of Sun Alliance Group), to provide TracTrac tracking during the Laser Radial Europeans, Finn Gold Cup, EUROSAF Match Racing Europeans and 470 World Championship. The Danish Sailing Association has purchased 150 state of the art GPS tracking devices, allowing races to be followed in real time over the internet.
Last year the TracTrac tracking of the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Aarhus, Denmark was followed by nearly 30,000 viewers from 69 countries all over the world.
To follow the TracTrac tracking for the Laser Radial Europeans (starting from the second day's racing through to the finals) go here: http://www.tractrac.com/elr
For more information about the Laser Radial European Championship 2009 visit
http://www.skovshoved-sejlklub.dk, or contact Johanne Rosenquist, press officer. Tel: +45 2049 7527. Email: lremsks@gmail.com
For more information on Denmark’s World of Sport visit http://www.sporteventdenmark.com
or contact: Christian Ankerstjerne. Tel: +45 3051 0096 Email: ca@sporteventdenmark.dk
For more information on the Danish Sailing Association visit http://www.sejlsport.dk/
or contact Christian Borch, press officer. Tel: + 45 2360 0680 Email: christian@sejlsport.dk