Grand Masters 2024 – post-report

Written by L53. Photo credit Sophie Marc-Martin.

The sixth edition of the DN Grand Masters Cup was sailed at the end of February in Finland. 39 skippers representing 8 nationalities gathered in Säkylä, which is the one of the best locations for our sport in Finland. The lake Pyhäjärvi is big and wide and the base, Kristalliranta resort, can accommodate the whole fleet as well as offers all services and support we need, directly on the shoreside.

The event started with registration and opening ceremonies on Monday evening in the Kristalliranta restaurant. The memory of one of the founders of the GM concept, S-713 Richard Gustring, was honored with a moment of silence.

The first race day, Tuesday, offered thick fog and next to no wind. The fleet waited at the landing site for the conditions to improve. Lunch was served in the restaurant and because the weather did not change, the day on the ice ended with sausage, beer and music at the landing site. Naturally followed by sauna and dinner. The atmosphere was relaxed because everybody knew that better days would follow.

Wednesday offered good wind and two starts were sailed before lunch break at the restaurant. In the afternoon, the fleet sailed back to the racing area and had two more starts. After-sail sausages, beer and music were again available at the landing site party tent. Before the dinner, there was a panel discussion, featuring the top sailors offering their best hints and tricks about the trimming of the yacht. This event was much appreciated by the audience.

Thursday was the final racing day. We conducted two good starts in increasing wind in the morning. After the lunch break at the restaurant the fleet sailed back to the course, to find the wind further increased. In the spirit of the Grand Masters concept, the race committee followed the feelings of the skippers and decided that unnecessary risks need not to be taken. The regatta was declared completed after six successful starts. Everybody seemed to be happy with the decision and the fleet returned to the base for prize giving ceremonies, sauna and dinner.

P-36 Karol Jablonski won the regatta with a clean series of victories. Also the Best Nation trophy went to Poland by P-235 Adam Baranowski being at 6th position. Z-39 Jean-Claude Vuithier took silver and L-601 John Winquist bronze medal. Special medals were handed over for the most frequent participation in the GM Cups (L-37 and L-65), longest traveling to the site (M-100) as well as to our hosts at Kristalliranta resort, Eija and Matti.