Kieler Woche - 505 and International Classes wrap

by Herman Hell/amended Sail-World.com on 29 Jun 2009 After a strong breeze the days before conciliate conditions on the last day of the SAP 505 European Championship, as part of the 127th Kieler Woche, last two races brought the event to a thrilling end.

With a comfortable seven points margin ahead of his rival competitor Jan Saugmann/Morten Ramsbaek (DEN), Wolfgang Hunger/Julien Kleiner (GER) may have started the day a bit too relaxed. After a victory by the Danish team in the second last race, the sixteen time winner of the Kieler Woche, Hunger came into a tie on points, and had to change his tactic from defence to attack. And work it did. With a victory in the last race for Wolfgang Hunger/Julien Kleiner (GER) and a fourth place for Jan Saugmann/Morten Ramsbaek (DEN), the German team took the title with a lead of four points, and set a new Kieler Woche record. Hunger has won the Kieler Woche title seventeen times and is now the most successful Kieler Woche sailor ever.

Third on the podium of the SAP 505 European Championship are Jorgen Bojsen-Moller/Jacob Bojesen-Moller (DEN). On the third day of the SAP 505 European Championship heavy winds and high waves forced the race officer to cancel the races for that day. But most crews agreed that it was wise not to sail.

Former 505 World Champion Ian Pinell/Carl Gibbon (GBR) came in sixth.

Full results: http://www.kieler-woche.de/eng/livecenter/505.php

It was the final day as well for the International classes of the 127th Kieler Woche.

In the Folkeboat class Christoph Nielsen (GER) took his third Kieler Woche victory ahead of namesake Heines Nielsen (DEN). He will now ship his 36 year old boat to San Francisco to be part of the Folkeboat Cup in September.

For the fifth time, the best Contender sailor of Kieler Woche since 1995 was Jan van der Bank (GER) who celebrate his comeback in this class after a one year break. 'Maybe that is the secret of my success - not to sail too much Contender over the last year. So I was very keen to race in Kiel', Jan van der Bank (GER) explained.

Another successful comeback was made by Greg Wilcox (NZL). The former OK World Champion from 2002, won the OK class and it was his third Kieler Woche victory over the past few years.

The young sailors in the 29er class coming to Kiel found challenging conditions with 12 knots on the final day.

Top of the podium was Kevin Fischer/Glenn Gouron (FRA), with the two UK-teams Bleddyn Mon/Nick Redding (GBR) and Max Richardson/Alex (GBR) behind them.

All International Classes results: http://www.kieler-woche.de/eng/livecenter/international.php