It's all over... yesterday was the last raceday of the FISLY European Sand Yacht Championships which is being being hosted by the BFSLYC at the Wirral LYC homebase at Hoylake. It's been an interesting event with a mixture of some frustrating days and some extreme racing such as Wednesday's Force 6 outing where the  sand flew as fast as the yachts! The championships kicked off last Saturday, September 17 and concluded yesterday (Friday, September 23).

Over 120 people from across Britain, Ireland and Europe  competed in the five race classes of landyachts (c2, c3, c5, Class Standart and Class Promo) for the European Championship titles. They came from near and afar with competitors from Ireland, Germany, Belgium, France and even a representative landsailor from the Southern Hemisphere in Colin Palmer from Auckland, New Zealand, who competing in the Class 2 category in KZ11, a  borrowed landyacht from Gareth Rowland.

THE VERY LATEST...

FINAL RACE RESULTS:

Final Class 2 Results

Final Class 3 Results

Final Class 5 Results

Final Class Standart Results

Final Class Promo results

COUNTRY RESULTS:

Class 2 Country Results

Class 3 Country Results

Class 5 Country Results

Class Standart Country Results

Class Promo Country Results

EXCITING PHOTOS:

And, don't forget to check out photographer Walter Carel's amazing race images, taken every day throughout the event. Walter's website is:

Walter Carel's View of the 2011 Euros

PLUS our daily updates & photos further down the page...

This page has "broadcast" the news, reviews, results and photographs as the event progressed.

Thursday Sept 22 (9.11am):

Brown trousers several times yesterday. Wind picking up and blowing sand. Lots of sand blowing making visibility poor, not good when looking for soft sand areas on the beach.

All the recent reports, pix and results to hand:

Friday Sept 23 (9.39am):

Today is last race day. Forecast a Force 3 to 4, no rain. We (Class 2) race at 1pm. Then a long pack up and home.

(Have posted some of Wednesday's wild racing pix below)

regards to all
Gareth (K800)

Thursday Sept 22 (8.46am):

Force 6 to 7 yesterday. Still shaking and digging sand out of my eyes.Two close calls while hiking. Will look at trying another mast today. My mast broke as I was towing in with no sail! Not happy sailing with someone else's rig in today's moderate winds.

Wednesday Sept 21 (9.30am):

Today it's Class 5 on the grid first followed by the Standarts. Wind forecast today up around 20 to 25 mph.

Tuesday Sept 20 (8.23pm):

Promos had the best race 1st thing. We (Class 2) were 2nd race. Sailed in light winds, I finished in third place. Then the wind dropped but picked up last minute to run a Class 3 race is a moderate breeze, but the tide was coming in on a gully. The photographers had all gone home, but I hadn't (see some of the racing pix from the last race of the day below).

Monday Sept 19 (7.24am):

Good wind this morning but with dark clouds around. Hope to file a report from the beach.

Sunday Sept 18 (8:09pm):

Forgot my mobile so using Gareth's. I'm a bit stuffed from pushing my heavy yacht (Gareth's Class 3) and too much Turkish kebabs. We're hoping for better conditions tomorrow.

Sunday Sept 18 (8:07pm):

In Antib, a Turkish place with Colin and Bev Palmer from New Zealand. I was 1st in the Class 2 lap then race cancelled. Cat among the pigeons!!

Saturday Sept 17 (evening):

Having Gammon and Eggs for dinner with another "Wytchfinder" (check out the Wychwood Brewery in Oxfordshire at www.wychwood.co.uk). Beach is now better. We'll be on outer banks tomorrow as the inside pan is too wet Typical Hoylake. Have a two-hour window.

Saturday Sept 17 (late afternoon):

Registration, scrutineering and briefings all done. No sailing. Having "Wytchfinder" ale at Hoylake Lights (Wetherspoons) pub in Hoylake. We (Class 2) are on first at 10.00am so early to bed tonight.