43 boats from 7 Nations such as Brazil, the UK, Sweden, Italy, Holland, Hungary and Germany enjoyed close racing on the choppy and windy waters of Neustadt, with gusts up to 30 knots. Due to these shifty conditions, races sometimes had to be postponed due to local weather systems delivering wind shifts with more than 40 degrees. This was all well managed though by the race officer, Oliver Mose, from the hosting club Norddeutscher Regatta Verein.

This year’s event was in fact the 25th European Championship of the J/24 class and brought with it a grand new trophy truly worth for such an internationally active and hard racing one design class as the J/24. The new John Adams trophy – an 1821 Victorian silver plated Wine cooler – was introduced as the winner’s trophy for all European Champions to come. A sports trophy even older than the all famous Americas Cup trophy, the “old mug”!
The next European Championship for the J/24 sailors will be held on lake Balaton of Hungary in September 2008.

MAN Roland Open Championship final results after 12 races:

SAILNUMBER:          TEAM:                                    HELMSMAN:

1. BRA 46          Bravissimo                              Daniel A.S.Glomb
2. GBR 4177       Inmarsat Hedgehog               Ian Southworth*
3. ITA 460          Botta Dritta SLAM                Pasquale Mario Di Fraia
4. GBR 4255       J-Whizz                                   Gareth Robinson      
5. GER 5266       ROTOMAN                            Greg Wilcox
6. GER 5412       Vitesse                                     Carsten Henzel
7. NED 62           J-Spot                                      Ivo Kok
8. GER 5281       United 5                                   Jan Kähler
9. GER 5279       Panta Rhei                               Jan Hössermann
10.  SWE 5330    Sailing Planet                           Rydlöv / Hölzer

*European Championship Title Winner

Full results and further information on the event will be posted on the event website www.j24europeans2007.com

All press enquiries to:
HEADQUARTERS | HAMBURG KG
Philip Nann
Stadtdeich 27
20097 Hamburg
Germany

Tel. :    +49 40 8787 99924
Fax:     +49 40 8787 99999
pnann@hqhh.de

After 12 races with windy and shifty conditions on the race course, the title of European Champion and winner of the John Adams trophy once again was awarded to team Inmarsat Hedgehog. Helmsman Ian Southworth and his crew fought hard with the overall regatta winner of the open entry team Bravissimo of Brasil and helmsman Daniel Glomb. After winning the title three times already – the latest wins in 2005 and 2006 – this year’s win marks a milestone in J/24 history. “We are very happy and proud over this victory for the fourth time” as Chris McLaughlin of Inmarsat Hedgehog puts it. The title of European Champion is awarded to the top finishing European team at the annual European Championship Regatta.