Luna II is the latest 8mR newcomer in HSS, which is now having the largest 8mR fleet in the world.

Luna II is the latest 8mR newcomer in HSS, which is now having the largest 8mR fleet in the world. With this new Charles E. Nicholson designed beauty, the total number of 8mR yachts is rising up to 11  in the famous classic dock of HSS. After two intensive training camps in Setubal, Portugal, where the boat was builded, the Luna II crew is getting ready for the 2012 Worlds in England.

“Cowes is our waypoint towards Helsinki 2013″, says Harri Roschier, a longtime ocean sailor and the skipper of Luna II. Due to a mast crash during the second training camp, Luna II  will not have time to come to Helsinki before the Worlds in Cowes but it will be shipped straight to England from Portugal, with a brand new wooden mast. “The mast accident was a pity, but luckily it happened only in the last days of the training camp. So we did not miss many important training days”, Roschier says.

“Of course we go with high expectations to England but in Helsinki were going to win a medal, that is the official target”, he reflect! s. When Helsinki got the 2013 Worlds few years ago, 8mR class was a natural choice for the next challenge for Roschier, who’s been racing for more than 40 years. “The aesthetic of the boats and the high quality competitors, combined with the very well organized regattas – these are the reasons why we decided to try the 8mR class”, Roschier sums.

“I’m sure the large and active 8mR scene, together with the great facilities of HSS will attract a lot of boats to Helsinki”, he says. “And hopefully it will because it is always more precious to win when there’s many boats on the starting line”. It sounds like the challenge has been set.

17/9/2012 12:27