Lancing Sailing Club were hosting the Europe National Championships and it was in this class that Laser and Pacer national champion Littlejohn coached Shirley Robertson to a British gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Under the Europe class association auspices, he gave a training day on Friday.

Five from Belgium entered at Lancing and accounted for the title and two other top-five finishes from a fleet completed by 15 helms from the UK. Summer broke out and a daily programme of three back-to-back races were sailed in constant sunshine and a gradually increasing sea breeze, on Saturday and Sunday.

Ideal conditions, and Cristophe de Bliecke proved their master with a win on either day. His compatriots, daughter and father Maite and Mario Colombie, from Ostend, claimed fourth and fifth spot.

For the host nation, Chris Gill from Bristol took second place and, with it, the UK title. In third, from the north west, was Gareth Williams of Leigh & Lowton.