Kiel Week - Polgar and Koy on course for success

by Kieler Woche on 23 Jun 2012 Kieler Woche 2012, the final ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta, had sunshine, wind and one race after the other, all to be finished before the big thunderstorm in Kiel Schilksee. It was the second day in a row with almost perfect conditions for the international classes at the Kiel Week. Having managed again three races, the sailors are looking at a promising last weekend.

The German crews may take quite a few places on the podium, they are leading in six of 15 classes. Once more, record Kiel Week winner Wolfgang Hunger (Strande) with Julien Kleiner (Munich), found the way to gold and is aiming for his 20th victory in the 505.

The German stars in the Star Johannes Polgar/Markus Koy (Hamburg) are clearly on a course for success. Six starts, six first places: the impressive resumé in the Olympic class.

Looking at their dominating position, Hunger/ Kleiner even have to take their three second places as a gaffe. But the World Champions from 2011 also were three times the day’s winner. One of the strongest rivals are 49er sailor Tobias Schadewaldt (Kiel) and Martin Schoeler. 27-year-old Olympic starter Schadewaldt had to get used to the interim class.

For the German Europe sailors, it turns out to be tough to beat the international competitors. Best German Europe sailor Sverre Reinke (Bremen) is currently on rank six, two places before German Champion of the previous year Janika Puls (Luebeck). On the leading position of the fleet of 73 women and men is John Diedrichs from Sweden. Danish teams are leading in the Folkeboot and the H-Boat with Per Joergensen (Folkeboot) and Steffen Stegger (H-Boot).

Former World Champion Jan von der Bank (Eutin) had to give away the leading position in the Contender. A continuous series in the fleet of 35 sailors is not enough to keep up with Soeren Dulon Andreasen from Denmark, who became first three times in a row on Friday. Record World Champion Andrea Bonezzi (Italy) could overtake von der Bank and is currently holding the second place.

There is still room for further gains for the German 29er sailors. Two Spanish teams are currently leading.

In the OK-Dinghy, it turns out to be a competition between the former World Champions for the top rank. Thomas Hansson-Mild form Sweden, global titleholder from 2009, is currently leading after six races, having overtaken Greg Wilcox from New Zealand, who became World Champion in 2002. Four-time World Champion and current titleholder Nick Craig (Great Britain) is on rank three, followed by Joergen Lindhardtsen from Denmark, who already became World Champion in the OK in 1978.

Great performance can be also seen in the Flying Dutchman. The victory will be pretty sure for Syabolcs Majthenyi/Andras Domokos from Hungary, the World Champions from the previous year. Laser star Philipp Buhl (Sonthofen), who is sailing with the crew of his dad Adalbert Netzer, has not yet found the way to get ahead of the strong Hungarian Kieler Woche website