Outteridge claims overall championship

Simon Payne adds yet another title to his collection - Syz & Co Moth European champion

Australian Nathan Outteridge has won the Syz & Co Moth Europeans in the Open category, ahead of American Bora Gulari and Australian Scott Babbage. However Britain's Simon Payne is the new European Champion, adding this to his World Championship title earned in March in Dubai. Payne in turn leads two Swiss sailors, Arnaud Psarofaghis and Matthias Renker in the overall results.

The Europeans concluded with two races today - Bora Gulari, the 2009 World Champion claiming victory in the first and Nathan Outteridge the second. Lake Silvaplana warmed up with sun and clear blue skies and a 10-15 knot wind finally filled in at just after 2pm.

“I was not very good in the first race," said Outteridge. "I was winning, but I made a mistake on a tack and Bora and Simon took advantage of it and overtook me. Then, I managed to pass Simon again, but not Bora. Between the two races, Bora told me he was not feeling too well and that he was thinking of giving up the second race. He nevertheless tried, but had to stop. I still decided to go on full speed, because I wanted to win the last race of the championship.”

The former 49er World Champion continues: “I am happy because I got much closer to Bora. I changed boat and material and I feel much nearer to Bora. I was second at the World Championships in the USA last year, but I was not as close. I intend to participate in the next year’s Worlds at home in Australia and hopefully I will win again! ”

Outteridge started sailing the foiling Moth two years ago, while concentrating on his preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games once again in the 49er. Last week he won the 49er class at Skandia Sail for Gold, before driving through the night to get to the European Championship.

Suffering from food poisoning, Bora Gulari commented: “I did not have the strength to finish the second race. I am however happy with my second place, because I decided to come here a last minute. I’m going back home and will get ready for the next World Championships in Australia and I intend to take my revenge on Nathan!”

Top Swiss finisher and outgoing European Champion, Arnaud Psarofaghis finished to Simon Payne among the European competitors: “I had no speed today. I fought more against my boat than against the other competitors. I could not really go for it.” He continues: “The week was fantastic, with very varied and very tactical conditions. It was fantastic to sail with the other competitors, we had so much fun! ”

The new European champion Simon Payne commented: “I am really happy, it has been a fantastic year for me so far! Three important victories this year, the World Championships, the British Nationals and now the European championships, I am really happy!

I had a good day, also I was not very fast down-wind. I was very carefully watching Arnaud’s position. I sailed in a very conservative way, in particular in the second race, when the general recall and the black flag was announced. I made a very careful start, but I succeeded to overtake Arnaud at the last mark. »

Jean-Pierre Ziegert, organiser and President of the Swiss Moth class was happy with the regatta: “I was hoping for a superb championship, but the reality went beyond all my hopes. The weather conditions, the number of races, the quality of the navigation on the water, the atmosphere, all has been there. The week has been extraordinary. I couldn’t have dreamed better!”

Ziegert finished in fifth place in the Europeans (11th overall): “I started the championship with a surprisingly good results. I started full speed, since the sailing came as liberation after the stress of the championships’ organization. However as the days went by the tiredness took over and I finished the championships with a superb result, but not as good as I thought at the beginning of week.”

Ricardo Payro, the Head of Communications of the Syz  & Co Private Bank, shares his impressions: “One absolutely splendid week for everyone! For the organisers, as the European championships were at the level of a world championship, with exceptional athletes competing. For the competitors, all the conditions were met: they sailed under idyllic conditions, with wind and flat water. For the public on-site, it was amazing to be able to watch this spectacle from the shore, in the beautiful Engadin region. A large public has also followed the races on Internet thanks to the GPS tracking system. If everyone is happy, then the title sponsor is obviously happy!"

Full results here