Pinnell and Gibbon are 505 World Champions

by Simon Reffold on 17 Oct 2008

505 Worlds 2008 Vincenzo Baglione http://www.albaria.com/

After the hooter on the start boat (which coincidentally sounds exactly like the sick horn of a 1966 Fiat 500) sounded thrice, signalling the cancellation of race seven of the 505 Worlds, the British team of Ian Pinnell and Carl Gibbon, (Hayling Island Sailing Club), threw their hands up in glee - then Gibbon promptly chucked Pinnell in the Mediterranean to celebrate their World Championship victory.

This has been a tough series for all involved - with winds in Mondello, Sicily, rarely reaching above six knots and many races were run with crews folded and contorted to leeward. Today's highlight (apart from Pinnell's victory) during the extensive on-water delay, was a game of boat Cricket using a tennis ball and paddle and involving most of the 14 strong Australian contingent and the popular bikini clad German girl's crew.

There is still one race to go tomorrow and that will decide the minor places - with weather forecasts differing dramatically, its hard to know for sure what the outcome will be.

But so far the perennial runner up, and previous World Champion, Howie Hamlin and his crew Andy Zinn from Newport Beach, California look pretty good in second. They are closely followed by another previous World Champion Wolfgang Hunger and Julien Kliener (Germany) and the Bojsen Moller brothers from Denmark. Rounding out the top five are the immediate past World Champions Jan Saugmann and Morten Ramsbeck, also from Denmark.

It would be true to say that things here in Sicily don't exactly run at a blistering pace. There are few clocks visible, people don't wear watches and things tend to be measured in geological time rather than the more common hours, minutes and seconds. That all being said, its pretty easy to forget the troubles of the world here in Mondello where the azure Mediterranean challenges even the most literate to conjur accurate superlatives and the sun worshipping locals' easy, relaxed nature is infectious. Except when you want something done... but otherwise the locals complete lack of stress is only matched by the tranquil ocean's windless beauty.

505 Worlds 2008 © Vincenzo Baglione http://www.albaria.com/

Laid back would also best describe Ian 'Nellie' Pinnell's demeanour. Nellie has won numerous Worlds in other classes, but counts this 505 Worlds as his greatest triumph. And for Nellie, it was never really in doubt. His results have been consistent - currently his worst race is a ninth with all the other results in the top four. Truly remarkable and completely unique in this series.

From the outset, with a win in the first race, a second in the second then a second and fourth the next day he sprinted to an early and substantial lead where others weren't nearly as consistent. He never really looked in doubt, but when questioned after racing he took it all within his stride, with a typically casual approach, and simply said he'd... 'had a good day and got a bit lucky'. Day after day after day.

When we talked to Ian after the non-race today, he was enjoying a foaming Sicilian Birra, he had this to say about the regatta; 'Well, obviously I am really happy. I guess the biggest thing for us was we were able to be in the right place most of the time and got solid results, where the other boats were a bit up and down. It was our time I guess.

'My crew Carl has been tremendous - the feedback I get from him is invaluable and I don't think any one got past us downwind, he really keeps the boat fast no matter what the conditions.'

Mixed results is right - all of the top boats are carrying some really big numbers, with the series only going to a maximum of seven races there is only one drop which has put the noses out of many boats that were scored DNF
on the second day. More than 80 boats didn't finish within the time limit (did we say it was light here?) of race three. But still as they say, the cream rises and there is no doubt that the top 10 have earned their results.

RESULTS: 505 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

AFTER 6 RACES

Total Points Exclude One Discarded Race Per Boat

No	Number	Surnames (Helmsman, Crew)	Points	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	GBR 8960	PINNELL, GIBBON, Male	13,0	1	2	4	2	4	(9)
2	USA 8762	HAMLIN, ZINN, Male	30,0	(56)	1	6	11	5	7
3	GER 8957	HUNGER, KLEINER, Male	40,0	4	3	(18)	6	15	12
4	DEN 8962	BOJSEN - MOLLER, BOJSEN - MOLLER, Male	45,0	5	15	3	(54)	3	19
5	DEN 8964	SAUGMANN, RAMSBAEK, Male	53,0	10	6	15	20	2	(27)
6	USA 8714	MARTIN, NELSON, Male	54,0	6	18	(35)	13	6	11
7	GER 8721	CHRISTOPHERSEN, SALEIN, Male / under 25	59,0	7	9	12	(41)	26	5
8	AUS 8817	DAVIS, DUFFIELD, Male	64,0	12	4	27	8	(28)	13
9	GER 8693	DAISENBERGER, LAUTENSCHLAGER, Male / under 25	69,0	21	11	19	(48)	16	2
10	GER 8651	KELLNER, SCHOLER, Male	69,0	15	(35)	20	7	23	4
11	AUS 8920	QUIRK, REFFOLD, Male	72,0	45	(dnf)	5	3	9	10
12	DEN 8826	BOJLAND, FRIIS, Male	78,0	9	29	1	18	(61)	21
13	GER 8728	SCHOMAKER, GORGE, Mixed	87,0	2	27	14	10	34	(55)
14	GER 8927	GORGE, RIX, Male	89,0	29	7	31	21	1	(48)
15	USA 8883	MOORE, FALSONE, Male	90,0	8	14	42	4	22	(60)
16	SUI 8954	STAUFFER, JACOT, Male	93,0	24	25	8	29	7	(46)
17	GER 8875	FINDEL, TELLEN, Male	95,0	31	5	(47)	40	18	1
18	AUS 8840	CAMERON, BOWDEN, Male	95,0	30	(dnf)	7	16	20	22
19	SUI 8543	BART, MARTI, Male	98,0	13	21	2	24	38	(dsq)
20	GER 8947	NIEDIEK, HEISING, Male	98,0	22	16	9	(44)	25	26
21	USA 8715	BIXBY, BOOTHE, Male	102,0	17	23	30	1	31	(44)
22	USA 8830	KEY, BUTTNER, Male	104,0	(52)	26	32	12	19	15
23	GER 8751	BIRKNER, STENGER, Female	108,0	11	10	24	39	(dsq)	24
24	GER 8975	SCHEDER - BIESCHIN, JESS, Male	112,0	3	20	34	42	13	(47)
25	USA 8919	GOSCH, McKEIGE, Male	116,0	34	19	25	9	29	(40)
26	FIN 8466	HYYSALO, SALONEN, Male	119,0	(65)	12	11	26	27	43
27	ITA 8916	CIFERRI, NATALI, Male	127,0	38	13	40	15	21	(53)
28	GBR 8835	WALTERS, CRAM, Male	128,0	19	34	(39)	31	30	14
29	GER 8958	KOCHLIN, ACHTERBERG, Male	129,0	14	(dsq)	21	36	50	8
30	GER 8807	LEHMANN, OEHME, Male	133,0	23	(41)	17	35	35	23
31	FIN 8923	LINDGREN, WOLONTIS, Male	134,0	(40)	36	13	19	32	34
32	GBR 8526	BIRD, NURSE, Male	138,0	50	(dnf)	28	37	17	6
33	USA 8937	TAUGHER, BELL, Male	144,0	54	(dnf)	37	5	45	3
34	GER 8720	TASCHE, TASCHE, Male / under 25 / under 21	149,0	37	17	16	(74)	11	68
35	GER 8672	CONTAG, VON WALTER, Male	152,0	33	8	62	17	(79)	32
36	AUS 8801	CHAPPELL, GILL, Male	160,0	35	(dnf)	22	34	10	59
37	IRL 8961	BARRY, DWYER, Male	165,0	18	24	(52)	32	40	51
38	FRA 8900	GUBRI, DI PEDE, Male	169,0	25	30	(46)	46	37	31
39	USA 8822	HOLT, EDWARDS, Male	197,0	55	(dnf)	45	33	46	18
40	GER 8669	BOGER, SCHONER, Male	199,0	47	(dnf)	10	25	52	65
41	USA 7875	MILLER, SMITH, Male	199,0	67	22	(89)	27	41	42
42	GER 8599	DUWE, HELMS, Male	201,0	16	(dnf)	44	47	53	41
43	GER 8580	WEIGELT, HENNING, Male	205,0	(72)	33	49	59	39	25
44	FRA 8844	BROISE, DES JAMONIERES, Male	205,0	26	(dnf)	33	65	36	45
45	GBR 8935	SHORT, SHORT, Male	206,0	20	37	36	49	(70)	64
46	AUS 8922	CUNEO, WARLOW, Male	209,0	43	38	56	43	(83)	29
47	DEN 8828	ANDERSEN, ANDREASEN, Male	212,0	57	(dnf)	41	78	8	28
48	GER 8965	PLATTNER, ALARIE, Male	213,0	58	(dns)	23	30	63	39
49	AUS 8921	LOTT, FRANKS, Male	214,0	53	39	57	28	(67)	37
50	GBR 8881	SCUTCHER, DIEBITSCH, Male	220,0	32	(dnf)	38	14	12	raf
51	SUI 8613	PETERMANN, GROB, Male	231,0	61	(dnf)	43	63	14	50
52	GBR 8701	NAPIER, PEARSON, Male	244,0	28	(dnf)	65	64	33	54
53	AUS 8853	JACKSON, HOLDEN, Male	246,0	59	(dnf)	74	22	71	20
54	GER 8665	SCHLOMKA, WIHLFAHRT, Male	246,0	60	(dnf)	26	55	42	63
55	GBR 8905	TURNBULL, LUNN, Male	254,0	64	42	59	23	66	(78)
56	AUS 8968	HANSEN - KNARHOI, ATTWELL, Male	259,0	70	31	50	38	(72)	70
57	FRA 8270	GACHET, VALERY, Male	261,0	44	(dnf)	53	50	78	36
58	FRA 8950	DE KERGARIOU, CAMUSSON, Male	270,0	71	(dnf)	55	56	58	30
59	IRL 8514	SCANNELL, O' SULLIVAN, Male	277,0	42	(dnf)	29	45	65	96
60	GER 8775	HOLZAPFEL, ENGEL, Male	282,0	68	28	76	77	(100)	33
61	FRA 7771	LOYAL, DETAPPE, Male	284,0	27	(dns)	66	53	62	76
62	FRA 8748	AGRAPART, AGRAPART, Mixed	292,0	49	(dnf)	69	69	43	62
63	GER 8825	TROCH, KONIG, Male	296,0	89	(dnf)	51	51	44	61
64	GBR 8708	GOULT, RUSSELL, Male	306,0	79	(dnf)	48	67	56	56
65	USA 8831	JEANGIRARD, VON GREY, Male	309,0	62	(dnf)	63	75	51	58
66	FIN 8768	NIEMINEN, LEHTONEN, Male	322,0	93	(dnf)	75	61	24	69
67	GER 8929	WALDHEIM, BUSSENIUS, Male	324,0	48	(dnf)	85	87	69	35
68	FIN 8924	RAITA, NURMELA, Male	330,0	(95)	40	84	72	57	77
69	ITA 8097	BOSIO, SUPERINA, Male	333,0	36	(dnf)	54	79	73	91
70	FRA 8949	FAUCHEUX, DUQUESNE, Male	337,0	69	(dnf)	77	58	48	85
71	FRA 8321	NEVO, BOUTON, Male	340,0	99	(dnf)	72	66	87	16
72	GER 8956	FORSTER, NEUSS, Male	345,0	75	(dns)	61	71	64	74
73	FRA 8895	DEVAUX, DUBUC, Male	347,0	39	(dnf)	88	52	81	87
74	FIN 8057	LINDFORS, HALONEN, Male	356,0	74	(dnf)	86	76	82	38
75	POL 8358	JOZEFOWSKI, BARANKIEWICZ, Male	361,0	51	(dnf)	64	57	97	92
76	AUS 8781	ALEXANDER, GREGG, Male	371,0	97	(dnf)	87	60	60	67
77	AUS 8588	SMITH, SMITH, Mixed	376,0	66	(dnf)	81	80	92	57
78	AUS 8855	STOWELL, BAILEY, Male	391,0	84	(dnf)	60	73	99	75
79	GER 8513	KONIG, BRACK, Male	393,0	63	(dnf)	73	93	74	90
80	ITA 8743	GIRALDI, CORBELLINI, Male	400,0	85	32	(dns)	101	80	102
81	FRA 8402	BLEUEZ, ROUCAYROL, Male	400,0	78	(dnf)	82	82	76	82
82	USA 8441	SCHLUTER, SCHLUTER, Male	401,0	46	(dnf)	80	86	109	80
83	AUS 8501	FINCH, SHINER, Male / under 25 / under 21	403,0	105	(dnf)	71	81	75	71
84	GBR 8955	ILIFFE, LAKE, Male	413,0	80	(dnf)	83	92	49	109
85	FIN 8053	EBELING, HEIMSCH, Male	422,0	73	(dnf)	101	70	54	dns
86	GER 6816	JUNGCLAUS, LAUDAGE, Male	427,0	82	(dns)	67	83	102	93
87	IRL 8679	BARRY, LANE, Male / under 25	428,0	83	(dnf)	97	90	59	99
88	USA 8904	GUY, TOTH, Male	431,0	91	(dnf)	108	108	107	17
89	POL 8130	GRABOWSKI, OLKO, Male	433,0	94	(dnf)	78	62	94	105
90	POL 8416	ZAGORSKI, JUCKIEWICZ, Male	434,0	77	(dnf)	98	89	104	66
91	IRL 8542	KENNEALLY, DUNLEA, Male	443,0	41	(dnf)	100	100	88	114
92	AUS 8185	RIDGWAY, ROSS, Male	443,0	98	(dnf)	dns	85	55	81
93	FRA 8847	BOIRY, GOUGEON, Male	443,0	86	(dnf)	92	94	98	73
94	AUS 8893	ROBINSON, PENFOLD, Male	445,0	87	(dnf)	68	91	95	104
95	GER 8772	TANNER, TANNER, Mixed	448,0	102	(dnf)	91	68	89	98
96	GER 8744	KANDZIA, DEUTSCHER, Male	459,0	96	(dnf)	70	111	93	89
97	ITA 8127	GAMBARDELLA, CANDELA, Male	460,0	81	(dnf)	111	99	86	83
98	GBR 8497	GEORGE, CARTWRIGHT, Male	469,0	108	(dnf)	58	110	96	97
99	GER 8598	VON MERTENS, VON HOYER, Mixed	471,0	109	(dns)	112	96	47	107
100	GER 8712	LABENZ, LABENZ, Male	475,0	106	(dnf)	105	88	90	86
101	AUS 8628	CROFT, RUSHTON, Male	483,0	114	(dns)	90	119	108	52
102	ITA 8882	GALLO, LOCE, Male	484,0	101	(dnf)	79	dsq	85	95
103	ITA 8944	MANZI, ANNESE, Male	485,0	120	(dnf)	95	118	68	84
104	GER 8862	HANSGEN, RUPPRICH, Male	488,0	113	(dnf)	102	103	91	79
105	AUS 8177	PAYNE, EDMONSTON – FEARN, Male	497,0	90	(dnf)	93	113	77	dnf
106	AUS 8498	WARNE, SCHOLES, Male	497,0	88	(dnf)	94	102	112	101
107	GER 8370	STUMPEL, STUMPEL, Mixed	502,0	103	(dnf)	116	114	120	49
108	GER 8433	ANTON, DENECKE, Male	513,0	92	(dnf)	107	98	105	111
109	GBR 8907	BERRY, BARNES, Male	515,0	115	(dns)	103	95	84	118
110	GER 8500	HENGE, FEDDE, Male	515,0	117	(dnf)	104	97	103	94
111	GER 8730	WILTS, HOLM, Male	516,0	76	(dnf)	106	107	119	108
112	USA 8577	VAN DEVENTER, LALLI, Male	520,0	107	(dnf)	99	104	110	100
113	AUS 8682	HYDE, EDNEY, Male	522,0	100	(dnf)	118	84	117	103
114	GER 8282	LEMPP, RAUNER, Male	535,0	104	(dnf)	109	106	101	115
115	GBR 8591	BELL, WARD, Male	537,0	119	(dnf)	96	105	111	106
116	USA 8245	DORE, PITTACK, Male	544,0	112	(dnf)	115	116	113	88
117	USA 8939	WYLES, RENDA, Male	561,0	(dns)	dnf	110	109	106	112
118	USA 8821	LONG, LONG, Mixed	568,0	(dns)	dnf	dns	dns	dns	72
119	GBR 8745	MCGALE, PEARSON, Male	573,0	118	(dns)	113	117	115	110
120	CAN 8910	JANIDLO, JANIDLO, Mixed	574,0	111	(dnf)	117	112	118	116
121	GER 7732	FELDMANN, HARTMANN, Female	575,0	110	(dnf)	114	120	114	117
122	GBR 8423	WRIGHT, YOUNG, Male	579,0	116	(dnf)	119	115	116	113
123	ITA 4970	INGOGLIA, INGOGLIA, Male	615,0	(dnf)	dns	dnf	dnf	dnf	119