Soto 40 Association announces European Championship

?The annual meeting of the European Soto 40 class owners was held in Valencia on the 13th of December. The balance of the 2011 season was made, and the future of this exciting One Design in Europe was discussed.

?Looking ahead at the next season European Soto 40 class owners unanimously agreed to create for 2012 the Soto 40 European Championship. It will consist of five events, including Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre in Palma de Mallorca in mid-July, and the European Finals with double scoring in the Port America's Cup of Valencia in late September. This competition will crown two winners: the Soto 40 European Champion and the Soto 40 Owner Driver European Champion.

?The meeting also sealed the creation of the European Soto 40 Owners Association, an ongoing project that has been under development since September. It will serve to govern the interests of its members by promoting the class in Europe and tie bonds with other international associations, especially with the International Soto 40 Class.

?Soto 40 Class was born in Argentina in late 2008 and was recently recognized by the ISAF as International Class. It is currently in a major growth phase throughout the world and now has 33 units in countries spanning from Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Japan, United States, Britain, Germany to Spain.  Its leap to Europe in the hands of the MedCup 2011 has made the support of this boat of 12.3 meters. One of the main features in the Soto 40 is the fact it's a One Design which cannot be altered, so all units are identical leveling real time performance among the boats with a guarantee of cost containment.?

Events such as the Asia Cup, Mitsubishi Sailing Cup, Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week and the South Atlantic Circuit already have the Soto 40 boat as a star. New addition for 2012 includes the just born Soto 40 European Championship.