Kiwi OK sailor second in Germany

by Robert Deaves (GBR) + Richard Gladwell on 12 Jul 2005 New Zealand OK sailor Greg Wilcox has finished second in Warnemünder Woche sailed in Germany.

Wilcox finished one place adrift of World #2, Nick Craig (GBR) who added this championship to his wins in the Medemblik Spring Cup and Kieler Woche to dominate the International OK scene so far in 2005. Thirty five boats mostly from Germany and Denmark competed in the regatta.

Going into the last race, Craig finished in second place, compared to Wilcox’s 5th – allowing him to move past Wilcox who had led the regatta throughout. was enough to move ahead of the series leader from day one. Interestingly Wilcox was the only skipper to win two races, and Craig turned in a very consistent performance to win the regatta without winning a single race.

The regatta opened on Friday 8th July in light and sometimes quite variable winds. Martin von Zimmerman (GER) got away in race 1 to score the first of a consistent series while Wilcox started an excellent day with a 2nd after taking 15 places on the final offwind legs of the inner loop trapezoid course. Wilcox rounded up the day with two emphatic wins in the very tricky conditions. Craig recovered from a mediocre 5th in race 1 to score two seconds.

Occasional race leader Jörgen Lindhardtsen (DEN) suffered from the vagaries of the wind to dramatically drop out of the three in two races to post a 20-4-12 scoreline for the day.

A special word for Lindhardtsen. Great to see him still winning races in this very competitive class. The former world champion's competitive life goes back into the 1977 World Championships at Takapuna, and beyond.

Saturday’s racing was the traditional and expected conditions that sailors travel to Warnemünder for – big waves and solid winds up to force 5. The left side was consistently the way to go and Oliver Gronholtz found the right track to lead throughout with Lindhardtsen 2nd and Craig 3rd. Lindhardtsen, who turns 60 this year, then revelled in the fantastic sailing conditions in race 5 to hold off Craig to win. Wilcox’s overnight lead had diminished to two points after placing 7th and 3rd.

With all to play for on the last day, Nick Craig set the pace in the light but strengthening breeze although Thomas Glas (GER) overtook briefly on the run. Wilcox was back in 8th. Craig led until the final offwind legs when Johansen Mogens (DEN) showed exceptional offwind pace to take the lead and extend it to win comfortably. Craig held onto second, which was just enough – with Wilcox unable to climb higher than 5th – to take the event by one point.

Next weekend the fleet moves on to Bisserup in Denmark for the Danish Nationals before the World Championships in Skaelskør the week after.

Source: www.kiwispy.com