OK Dinghy Europeans - Petersen claims the lead after day 3

by Robert Deaves on 25 Jul 2013 At the OK Dinghy European Championship in Carnac, France, after six races sailed, Bo Petersen (DEN) can discard his BFD from Tuesday and takes the overall lead, helped by a first and second in very tricky conditions on Wednesday.

The fleet left the beach on time but the first race was postponed a short while until the wind settled. After one general recall the Danish team hit the right hand corner very hard and were nearly all in the front group at the top mark. Bo Petersen had a small lead which he extended around the course to win from Stefan Myralf (DEN) and Greg Wilcox (NZL). Thomas Hansson-Mild (SWE) the overnight leader was somewhere in the 50s at the first mark but recovered to 15th.

The second race started in very light winds and young David Kania (POL) got a good start and was first to the right hand corner. Petersen was also there with Myralf and they were the first three at the top mark. After the reaches the wind died completely and the fleet flopped around at the bottom mark. The leaders had wind though and just disappeared. When the wind finally came back there was so much separation in the fleet that a lot of boats could not manage the time limit against the tide in a dying breeze. Of course the sea breeze filled in so everyone could get back to the harbour.

Lindhardtsen said, 'The right hand corner worked well today for me. The second race was a bit unfair for those who didn't make the time limit but for the front few it was ok.'

Hannsson-Mild was philosophical about the day, 'The first race for me was really bad as I got a bad start and then went the wrong side as there was no chance to get to the right. I fought back to 15th but when Bo and Stefan are always up the it makes it very hard. The second race was ok and I was reasonably happy to get fourth. Tomorrow it is all on as the forecast for Friday is not so good.'

Returning former world champion Jim Hunt (GBR) is in 11th but impressed by the quality in the fleet. 'It is fun out there with so many really good sailors. I have just got back into the class and have a distinct lack of practice which is showing. Still from here it can only get better I hope.'

The championship continues at 13.00 on Thursday and continues through until Friday, with a total of 10 races scheduled.

Results after six races:

1 DEN 1421 Bo Petersen 11.00
2 DEN 6 Stefan Myralf 14.00
3 SWE 100 Thomas Hansson-Mild 17.00
4 POL 1 Tomasz Gaj 22.00
5 NZL 544 Greg Wilcox 24.00
6 GBR 2150 Nick Craig 35.00
7 GBR 2152 Lee Child 37.00
8 POL 27 Dawid Kania 40.00
9 DEN 1280 Jorgen Lindhardsten 40.00
10 DEN 1393 Rene Johannsen Sarabia 42.00
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