Antti ja Matias Mikkonen ylivoimaiseen voittoon Kotkan ranking-avauksessa

Summer season started in Finland

Kotka Open (Ranking event 1 of 2016) was held this past Saturday and Sunday on the waters just outside the Kotka yacht club in the shadow of the Fort Slava sea fortress. Fifteen boats competed in the six scheduled races (four on Saturday and two on Sunday), making the event a great start into the Finnish Snipe season. The hard work of the Finnish Snipe Association in recruiting new active members was bearing much anticipated fruit.

Conditions on the water were challenging, with spotty winds making it hard to predict the favoured side of the track and leading to big gains and losses, keeping the races interesting to the last minute. The undisputed overall winners were father-and-son team Antti and Matias Mikkonen, with five points from six races after one discard. Jukka and Eija Kotisalo came second with eleven points before Claus Carpelan and Risto Valjus with eighteen points.

We want to take this opportunity to also send a big thank you on behalf of all competitors to the volunteers in the race organisation, who made the event possible with their tireless contribution!

The Finnish ranking circuit continues in Tuusula on the 18th - 19th of June, and the Open Finnish Nationals in Helsinki on the 1st - 3rd of July, see separate English and Finnish invitation in the calendar.

Nick Dorra - Fleet Captain, Fleet 481 (Helsinki)