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NORDIC FOLKBOAT GOLD CUP 2018
S
unshine and light winds seem to be
a recurring European theme this
summer. The 2018 Folkboat Gold Cup
was hosted in the picturesque setting
of Simrishamn on the South East coast
of Sweden. Some 40 boats made the
trip, representing six countries. The
Gold Cup is effectively the unofficial
world championship event for the class
and, where possible, brings together
the best Folkboat sailors Internationally.
This year’s numbers were down on last
year, which had seen the class celebrate
some 75 years of the Gold Cup. This
being said, the fleet was packed with
past winners and regional champions,
being one of the pinnacle events on the
Folkboat calendar.
Competitors were greeted with a steady
and encouraging 12mph wind on the first
day and with hindsight, it was the best
racing day of the entire event. Rules
state the first beat at the Gold Cup must
be no shorter than 1.8nm, this allows for
a degree of fleet separation. Two races
were held in bright, sunny conditions
and the breeze remaining steady at 10-
12mph. Per Buch DEN 926 came out
on top in the first race of the day, which
didn’t surprise many having won the Gold
Cup in a fleet of 80 boats last year. The
Danish sailor Per Buch in Geppeline was
followed by a fellow Dane, John Wulff
in Sultnelajma and in third the German
fleet class Captain Jurgen Breitenbach
in Till GER 417. All conditions remained
consistent for the second race following
a 20 degree shift to the south. Again,
Per Buch DEN 926 came out strongly
with a second and the winner of Kiel
Week, Sonke Durst GER 564 taking the
win, with a solid third again for GER 417
Jurgen Breitenbach.
