2018 Europeans Officially Opens before VOR Finish

Lots of excitement today in Sheveningen, Netherlands (The Hague) with the official opening of the 2018 Optimist European Championship and the finish of the final winner take all leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. 

264 sailors from 44 different countries took part in the nation parade from the South Pier just across from the VOR venue to the beach in front of the championship venue. In addition to the nation parade, certainly a highlight of the opening ceremonies was the New Zealand Team Haka, which is becoming quite a tradition at many IODA events. 

The Opening Ceremonies took part early in the day so that the teams could go to the VOR venue to watch the incredibly exciting finish to the race.  Dongfeng played a brilliant tactical move along the coast to steal the win from Mapre and AkzoNobel who were battling it out. 

Racing for the Boys and Girls fleets starts on Monday, June 25th.  

Check out the microsite for the event  http://2018europeans.optiworld.org. to watch the live feed, get results and the tracking.