Hey, bit late but you gotta blog 'em up! Crazy regatta with Jack a last minute no show and Justin stepping in and doing an absolutely marvelous job. Actually ultimately highly rewarding with Pistol and Justin getting me round and on to the podium in second place for the second year running. Seven won – comfortably in the end – but along the way we showed enough speed and smarts to take a few races from them.
Beautiful venue too, Malcesine is quite a venue now their new club and grounds are done.
Anyway here's a press release to tell the story….
Mounts Bay SC 18 foot skiff SLAM places 2nd at 2010 European Champs
WA 18-foot skiff SLAM was one of three Australian boats to fill the podium at the European 18-foot skiff championships at Malcesine Sailing Club on Lake Garda in north Italy from May 31 to June 5.
Helmed by Grant Rollerson, the Mounts Bay Sailing Club-registered SLAM finished in second place to Sydney-based world champions Gotta Love It 7, steered by Seve Jarvin.
Sydney boat Applicances Online rounded off the podium, and first European skiff was the ever improving Hungarian boat Liberty Sailing in 5th with Miklos Ujhelyi Gaspar at the wheel.
SLAM skipper Rollerson said he was tickled pink with the result.
"We got off to a couple of false starts when the container with the Aussie boats turned up late, just a day before the regatta, and additionally when our middleman Jack Young had to dash back home for personal reasons.
"At the 11th hour Justin Healey stepped in.
"He's a top notch skiff sailor from Sydney, now resident in London although two years out of practice.
"So in the context of things second overall and taking a few fastests off world champs Gotta Love It 7 was beyond expectations.
"We had world champions in numerous classes behind us including skiff wunderkind Euan McNicol and established warhorse Howie Hamlin.
"The winds were challenging and the venue is stunning, so absolutely no complaints.
"These are the fastest racing dinghies in the world so there's never a dull moment.
"As always it's a team boat, we were very fortunate to have Peter Nicholson and Justin on board, keeping the skiff tracking."In addition we competed with the new SLAM range of technical dinghy clothing, and are pleased to say they more than ticked all the boxes. It's very very good gear."
This is the third year the SLAM skiff has contested this event, placing 1st, 2nd and now 2nd again.
SLAM Advanced Technology Sportswear has been active in Australia for many years. As sponsors to the Australian and New Zealand Olympic teams, and as partners with the successful Oracle America's Cup challenge they are at the forefront of dinghy and big boat sailing apparel.
Western Australia has a long tradition in the 18-foot skiff class, stretching back to victory in the Australian Championships in 1907, won by Mounts Bay skiff Aeolus, helmed by Ted Tomlinson. Aeolus was the first ever WA yacht to win an Australian Championship. For further information about 18ft skiff racing in Perth, email wa18footers@gmail.com or contact Scott Glaskin on scott@agenda.iinet.net.au. 
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