27th Jul - 1st Aug 2008, Stellendam, Holland.
A fleet of 60 Sharpies arrived to the superb facilities of Marina Stellendam to compete for the 45th European Sharpie championships on Haringvliet water.

	A strong contingent of 18 British boats tried to master the difficult conditions, a high pressure system on a coastal venue, resulting in shifts & bends, the worst of which resulted in the fleet approaching the windward mark on two wind patterns 180 degrees opposed!
The practice race superstition led to former champion Klaus Eisenblatter opting to decline to finish, leaving James Case to unwittingly win, consoled by two sharpie prints as prizes. The ten race series quickly developed into a two horse race, with Tom Weller posting four top 4 finishes before the mid week lay day, and Jan Pieter Braam matching him with four top 3 results. Last years champions Chris & Tim Gibbs were still in the hunt posting two 4ths, and a 1st in race four. Paddy Spink finally found his form to win race five, sniffing out the arrival of the sea breeze to relegate Weller to fourth having previously led by a country mile.
	Thursdays 3 races proved to be decisive, with the local meteo expert briefing another expected wind turnaround, the fleet set sail in 30 degree heat, and a land breeze, nervously scanning the course for the expected sea breeze. It didn`t arrive! Weller held his nerve to end the day with a 6 point lead , scoring two bullets to Braams one.
The wind finally arrived with a vengeance overnight, resulting in a skip full of parascending gazebos, and white caps & short steep waves on the lake. A two hour postponement unnerved over half the fleet sufficiently to withdraw, with boats & reputations in tact. This allowed the race committee to be confident of the safety cover, & sent the apprehensive fleet afloat. Most survived the rigours, with seamanship prevailing over competitive spirit, with these cherished ex olympic gaffers. Race wins by Daan Versteeg & Eisenblatter boosted their overall positions,however Wellers last race 3rd was enough to secure the title, and give a Dutch top three overall.

For more pictures see the media gallery. 

Overall Results:

1st Tom Weller & Jeroen Van Veen, NED, 19pts
2nd Jan Pieter Braam & Jeroen Liesveld, NED, 21pts
3rd Daan Versteeg & Mark Van Wilk, NED, 35pts
4th Chris Gibbs & Tim Gibbs, GBR, 37pts
5th Klaus Eisenblatter & Sven-Owe Baumgartner, GER, 38pts
6th Patrick Van Raalte & Jaimie Van Dorst, NED, 54pts
7th James Case & David Frary, GBR, 65pts
8th Bart Kraan & Lisa Kraan, NED, 67pts
9th H.rudiger Bussing & Axel Busch, GER, 90pts
10th Christian Fischer & Tobias Ross, GER, 95pts