Helsinki Fleet 481 Open

Action-packed farewell to the summer

Helsinki. September 20, 2015. Report and photos by Pekka Tarmio

Final Snipe regatta of the season, the Helsinki Snipe Fleet 481 Open, was sailed in the trailing end of the tropical hurricane Henri. Gusts seemed to ease up in the morning, but accelerated high again during the day. So, unfortunately the race had to be abandoned after two races.

Before the pull out a couple of boats had capsized and the wind was blowing over 14 m/s, so the call off was well justified. What made this autumn storm unusual, was the doubled wind speed during the gusts, making sailing very challenging. But don’t we love challenges! Safety boats were enjoying to watch the boats flying, while the fearless crews were struggling to keep their boats upright even going upwind. Triangle course secured foamy speeds during the reaches and the jibes were hair-raising even for the top boats.

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Mr. Snipe, Clapa Carpelan with his crew Timo Järvinen had it under control even in these harsh conditions and won both races and the Fleet 481 Championship. After the finish of the second race the committee boat asked Clapa to give his opinion about the conditions and even he, the master of the high winds, thought that it was becoming too tough. Even though his interests were on continuing, because after three races this regatta would have counted as a Ranking Series race and grant him a few extra point to win the Finnish Ranking Series. Now he had to settle with the second position in the 7 race National Series.

While some of the competitors had to focus on keeping the boat right side up through the tacks and jibes, Clapa could analyze the race course and the wind conditions during the race and so made some changes to the routing for the second race. And also he was able to play with the outhaul trim of the jib lead to find the optimum setting for the high wind. So the victory was well deserved triumph of experience, tactics and technology.

Hanna-Leena ja Juha Lehtinen sailed surely to the second place before Reino Suonsilta and Veera Sundberg on the third place. Kari and Ruusu-Maria Nyqvist were used to tough conditions while sailing in their home waters at the Sea of Bothnia and improved nicely while the weather got harder and ended up at fourth place in the 8 boat fleet. Four boats played it safe and stayed in the shore.

Challenging sailing was followed by sauna, barbeque, beer and good laughs and exciting stories.

Summer is over, but the Snipe season continues until the sea is too solid to sail!

Story and photos by Pekka Tarmio

Helsinki Snipe Fleet 481 Open 2015 results

1. Claus Carpelan & Timo Järvinen
2. Hanna-Leena & Juha Lehtinen
3. Reino Suonsilta & Veera Sundberg
4. Kari & Ruusu-Marja Nyqvist
5. Antti & Matias Mikkonen
6. Pasi Kalliala & Mai Järvinen
7. Hanna Lieto & Severi Virtanen
8. Maija Arponen & Nick Dorra