After a closely fought 3 days, including an offshore leg to Guernsey, Trustmarque Playing Around takes the biggest title in the Calendar - the European Championship, 25-27 Sept.

Race 1 in the Solent.

Wind was a light SW 10kts, and Trustmarque Playing Around quickly got into her stride, rounding all marks in 1st position, gradually extending away from the fleet as the trimmers worked overtime, teasing out all the boatspeed they could. As we approached the penultimate mark, the wind started dropping, 8kts... 6kts 4kts...we rounded and hoisted the Asail to the finish. Would we make it? Sadly the wind shutdown totally for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, the fleet caught up and whilst we were left wallowing in no wind, the tail-enders were first into the new breeze leaving us to be be releived with a 3rd. This was a no-discard series and all races counted.

Race 2 - passage to Guernsey

Starting in a SW10kts at 19:30, TPA quickly disappeared down the Solent leaving the rest of the fleet as distant lights by the Needles. During the night the wind built, peaking at 20kts at times, requiring a jib change in the pitch dark. A few tacks near the Casquets, through the steep sharp waves of the race, and a fast but lumpy drive into Guernsey. TPA finished in 17hrs, over 1hr ahead of the 2nd placed boat.

Race 3 - around Herm, Sark

Monday dawned with a light drizzle and a patchy 10kts. A fast dowwind start saw us again power away from the fleet, and some slick tactics of gybing near rocks allowed us to extend our lead. A change to the Asail and we continued driving away at over 7kts. By midrace, we'd pulled out 30mins over our nearest rival! Could we hold it to the finish? Would the wind stay? As we rounded the North end of Sark, and headed towards the finish, the light 5kt wind held and we drifted over the line. Fortunately for the rest of the fleet, the wind just held out for them too and they all managed to finish.

We'd done it! Trustmarque Playing Around is crowned European Champion 2011!