Dinghy racing is one of those rare corners of sailing where there is no expectation of having come up through the junior ranks. Sailors can arrive at the Europe Class at any point in their lives, and what counts most is simply time spent on the water. Antje Muller, whose passion for the sport runs deep, spoke to the culture that makes the class distinctive: a "friendly atmosphere ashore, everyone helping each other – even at the Worlds. The competition on the water is tough and no quarters are given, but we all want as many people as possible on the water and help each other out when things need fixing. This even extends to sharing knowledge about trimm and technique."
The Europe Class Nationals alternate between two venues: the Napier Summer Regatta, which takes place on the final weekend of November, and the Whakatu Regatta. Transporting boats across Cook Strait is a significant undertaking, and contending with the ferries is no straightforward matter either. Even so, both Tim Scott and David Davies have indicated they are keen to make the journey to Napier for the November regatta.
