Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
The Open Swedish Championship Star Class 2024, arranged by The Royal Swedish Yacht Club & The Rasta Star Fleet.
Winning a Swedish Championships title in the Star Class is tough! Especially when the regatta attracts a number of international Stars. As if this was not enough, the wind direction at Baggen Bay this weekend was Westerly, meaning very gusty with huge shifts…
However, an experienced racing committé under former Olympic Champion Jörgen Sundelin managed to keep things in order.
22 boats arrived to Saltsjöbaden on Thursday before the weekend. Among these were Tonci Stipanovic and Tudor Bilic from Croatia. Tonci has a Silver at the Olympics in the Laser class and also a Silver at the Worlds in the Star Class.
Beside them he startlist was full of Swedish sailors with great racing records. Veteran Tom Löfstedt was crewed by Johan Tillander. Together these two summed up an impressive 27 titles in various classes, at the Swedish Nationals, before this regatta.
Mike Hecky had travelled all the way from the US to compete together with Jercy Sukow from Poland, and from Germany we welcomed sailmaker Daniel Fritz together with Jesper Spehr as well as Christopher Opielok and Killian Wiese.
After seven races Tonci and Tudor were clear Winners of the International Swedish Championships. The 2024 Swedish Champions are Löfstedt and Tillander, Swedish Silver goes to Erik Dahlén and David Nogén, and the Bronze to the “comeback-team” Fredrik Ljungkvist and Daniel Alm.
Leif Carlsson was awarded the “Knotted revolver” from Non Violence foundation, also called the Fair Play Trophy.
Before the Prizegiving, a ceremony sending a flower arrangement out to sea, honored the Star legend Sune Carlsson who passed away in July. The ceremony was held in the presence of Sune´s wife Solveig, the godmother of the Star Class in Sweden. This ceremony was followed by a delicious local food regatta buffet.
Thanks to everyone involved in making this regatta great!
As the sun was setting in Saltsjöbaden there were many happy faces, already looking forward to the 2025 edition of the Swedish Championships. Perhaps on the Westcoast of Sweden?
Until then, take care!
Thomas Gross, Secretary Rasta Star Fleet.
