Kiel Week conditions challenging

by Kieler Woche on 24 Jun 2012 'The conditions were challenging and tricky', said Kieler Woche Race Director Peter Ramcke, who was happy to have had all boats except for the seaworthy keel yachts back in the harbour before the dark cloud with gusts up to 28 knots appeared. The athletes demonstrated continuity, there were hardly any changes in the top ranks of the fleets.

Star sailors Johannes Polgar/Markus Koy crossed the finish line as the first boat in nine races.

The Spanish 29er team with Carlos Robles/Florian Trittel also have an impressive performance. The only way to stop them would be a false start. Out of ten races, they have won nine and were disqualified in one race, which will be their discard.

Steffen Stegger from Denmark is continuing with his series of victories in the H-Boat. The day’s winner in seven races allows him to dominate the class.

Top of the 505 fleet are Wolfgang Hunger/Julien Kleiner (Strande/Munich). In the Contender, the podium place seems to be safe for Soeren Dulong Andreasen from Denmark. With changing results he is still leading followed by former World Champions Andrea Bonezzi (Italy) and Jan von der Bank (Eutin).

In the OK-Dinghy, the top ranks remain unchanged. Thomas Hansson-Mild from Sweden is leading, followed by Greg Wilcox from New Zealand. Reigning World Champion Nick Craig (Great Britain) did climb up on rank three.

Per Joergensen from Denmark is preparing another Germans’ defeat on their home territory in the Folkeboot. But his lead before the finals is only a fraction in front of rival Ulf Kipcke (Strande).

Leading Laser Radial sailor Tobias Hemdorff from Denmark has kicked himself off the top rank. After two disqualifications for a false start and one missed race, he is only on rank ten, while Theodor Bauer (Roebel) took the chance to place himself in front of his national rival.

Very random for Kiel Week, the 420 is currently dominated by a South American team. Nadja Horwitz/Francisca Fuente from Chile were amongst the first four places in all nine races and now have the chance to continue with the tradition of the last five years, where winners came from different nations and three continents. Only America and Africa are still missing in this winners’ list.

In the Flying Dutchman, hopes of Laser star Philipp Buhl (Sonthofen) and his crew Adalbert Netzer still remained unfulfilled to beat the leading team Szabolcs Majthenyi/Andras Domokos from Hungary and be the day’s winner. The World Champions from Hungary were always in the top row, but were disqualified once for a false start

Full results at Kieler Woche website