Exciting day with intense battles in all classes at 2016 Hansa Worlds

by 2016 Hansa Worlds on 8 Jun 2016 It was an exciting day in all classes at the fifth day of the 2016 Hansa Worlds. Some battles are decided already and in some classes still anything can happen. But nog only outside on the water, there was excitement. In the harbour the organisation had a real ‘clog sailing’ competition going on. Supporters, helpers and even some sailors were participating in this typical Dutch sailing competition.

World champions made up
In two classes the world champions are almost made up. Sarah Dunckley knew how to manage the waves and the cold weather in her Liberty, she finished in first place both times. Now she is leading the fleet with nine points advantage. In the Hansa 2.3 it’s the Malaysian Al Mustakin Matrin who has such a big advantage he only has to start tomorrow to become World champion.

For the other competitors it’s hard, they almost didn’t have a change for the Gold medal. Pedro Carvalho is one of these competitors. “I’m not really satisfied with my results, I’m in sixth place now. It’s my first world championship, so for me it’s also good practice.”

It’s exciting in the Hansa 303 double, the Swiss team with Patrick Maurer and Christian Hiller is partly satisfied with their result: “A sixth and a first place. It all depends on tomorrow.” The Portuguese team is also excited for the last racing day, Pedro Reis and Ana Cunha had some bad luck this week with some bad results after protests. “Today was a good day, a first and third place. Now we’re still in the race for a medal tomorrow, so we’ll get an early night sleep.”

Real exciting racing in SKUD18
A really exciting battle is playing out with the Biritsh Alexandra Rickham and Nikki Birreland the Polish Monika Gibes and Piotr Cichoki in the SKUD18. Both on nine points after discard, but the British is in the lead with the most recent bullet.

Clog sailing competition
While the sailing was going on outside, there was also a competition going on in the harbour; the Dutch ‘clog sailing’. The president of the clog sailing foundation, Jan Volbeda, tells what clog sailing is: “The clog sailing is originally a game for child and was played with original clogs they wear in Holland. The founder of the sailing clogs adjusted the clogs for sailing. Later a special foundation was established and many championships are being held with the clogs. It would be great if we can get children to start sailing ones they started the clog sailing.”