Category Archives: IOM European Championships

2020 European Championship awarded to ITA. 2-10 October

On behalf of IOMICA I would like to thank both NCAs for there excellent bids. It truly has been a difficult decision for Scott and myself (Olivier  kindly stood aside due to conflict of interest).
The events committee felt that the bid from ITA NCA was the best all round bid, which presented competitors with a better race course with all possible wind directions. Another crucial part was the lower entrance fee (€380) offered and a better date moving the event away from the Marblehead worlds.
Although the FRA bid was a very good detailed bid we felt there was potential for a slightly restricted race course in certain wind conditions.
We would encourage a future bid from the FRA NCA with the proposed venue of Calais. 

May I take this opportunity to offer our congratulations to the ITA NCA and we all forward to a great event at Orbetello with the agreed dates of 2-10 October 2020 which have been verified by IRSA.

Rob Walsh

IOMICA VC Events

2020 IOM EC Championship: New Bids

The events committee is please to confirm that two bids have been received to host the IOM European Championship 2020. The bids have been received from the ITA and FRA NCA.

Olivier Cohen has agreed to step aside from his position on the sub committee in order to avoid any conflict of interest.
A decision on who will host the event will be made as soon as possible by the remaining members of the committee.

Rob Walsh
IOMICA VC Events

2020 European Championship: Bidding reopened

It is with great regret that IOMICA has to inform its members that the bidding for the 2020 Continental Championship will be reopened effective immediately.
This is due to administrative issues with the Orbetello bid.
All NCA’s are invited to submit their bid to the the events committee chairman (vcevents at iomclass.org) by 25th August.
It is hoped that this will allow all NCA’s time to prepare their bids or previous bids resubmitted.
Rob Walsh
IOMICA VC Events

2020 European Championship awarded to ITA – Orbetello.

Dear colleagues,

The IOMICA Events Committee (EC) has received a total of three 3 bids from 2 two National Class Associations (NCAs). One bid from Portugal, and two independent bids from Italy to host the 2020 European Championship.

On receipt of the bids the EC challenged the NCA of ITA as to why two signed bids had been submitted. After much communication and in-order to not get involved in the NCA of ITA internal politics it was agreed by the members of the EC to accept both bids and judge them independently on their own merits.

The EC reviewed the three following submissions:

  • Castiglionese ITA
  • Póvoa do Varzim POR
  • Orbetello ITA

The EC reviewed the bids and produced a follow up questionnaire. It was at this stage I regret to inform the executive committee that the NCA for POR withdrew their bid due to a change in circumstances with the proposed host club. The EC would like to put on record it’s thanks to the NCA of POR for their bid and would like to encourage a future bid from the NCA.

The two bids from The NCA of ITA returned their questionnaires promptly and continued to answer all questions generated by the EC. The EC analysis of both locations included reviewing weather wheels, contacting fellow sailors and the information provided by the proposed hosts. These are the findings of the EC.

  • Castiglionese: A good prevailing wind with a good alternative course if required. However it can suffer from weed growth.
  • Orbetello: The Prevailing wind is from a South / South West direction with an excellent course for South west wind but limiting from North/South. Has provided evidence for all wind eventualities however some will be from fixed point of sailing.
  • Orbetello is closer than Castiglionese for airport links and both venues have large quantities of close accommodation.

Despite both ITA venues submitting strong bids, it is the opinion of the EC that based on the venue location providing a navigable course (100% weed free) and strong recommendations from other skippers. Both of these factors supported the EC’s ultimate selection to award the 2020 European Championship to NCA ITA – Orbetello (25 April to 2nd May provisional dates to be confirmed in NOR).

The EC would like to put on record it’s thanks to all involved in the Castiglionese bid for yet again submitting a strong bid, however would like to raise a matter of concern relating to the IRSA Events Committee Chair trying to pass influence of the IOMICA Events Committee to look favourably on Castiglionese due to it not being selected to host the Radio Marblehead World Championship 2020. The IOMICA EC would like to state that all future IOM Championship venues need to be awarded solely on merit, and merit alone.

Rob Walsh

IOMICA VC Events

2020 European Championship: Bids

IOMICA is welcoming bids to host the next IOM European Championship in 2020.
Bids are welcome up to and inclusive of 30th September 2018.
Bids to be submitted using the current questionnaire template.
Please send bids to vcevents”at”iomclass.org .

Rob Walsh
Vice Chairman Events