OK Dinghies at Kieler Woche - Overall
by Robert Deaves 1 Jul 2024 08:02 NZST
27-30 June 2024
Niklas Edler, from Sweden, has won the OK Dinghy class at Kieler Woche after a wet and cold final day. Three more races were sailed to complete the series in a cold northerly with incessant drizzle and rain through the day.
Denmark's Steen Christensen won the first race of the day to move up to second and maintained that, while Benjamin Hammero, from Sweden took third place overall by just four points from Germany's Oliver Gronholtz. David Bourne won the second race before Edler wrapped up the series by winning the final race.
In the first race, Edler rounded the top mark in about sixth. He was up to fourth at the gate and then moved to third on the final round to extend his lead overall. The race was led most of the way by Jens Christian Schaarup, from Sweden, who finally finished second with Christensen in third.
David Bourne has put together a great week and produced a race win in the next, this time with Christensen second, with last year's winner, Michal Strumnik, from Poland, in third.
Then an unexpected third race was sailed, to complete the series. Edler put the title beyond doubt with another race win, while Germany's Stefan Hoffman had his best race with a second, and the ever consistent Christensen produced another third, his seventh top three placing in a row.
Bourne, who had been third overall going into the final race, couldn't reproduce the same form and [silly boy] failed to properly complete a penalty turn and dropped to 10th overall. Hammero, who had put together his best day of the event with three top 10 placings, ended third overall.
As usual, Kiel provided a range of challenging conditions, from light to windy, flat to wavy, hot to cold. The class was delighted to attract a huge entry of 71 boats from seven nations, for one of the biggest fleets in Kiel this year.
Overall Results: (top ten, 11 races)
1 SWE 71 Niklas EDLER 23pts
2 DEN 24 Steen CHRISTENSEN 31pts
3 SWE 72 Benjamin HAMMERÖ 87pts
4 GER 72 Oliver GRONHOLZ 91pts
5 THE 1604 Claus MORTENSEN 94pts
6 SWE 139 Hans BÖRJESSON 103pts
7 GER 886 Stefan HOFFMANN 110pts
8 POL 777 Michal STRUMNIK 124pts
9 GBR 33 Tom LONSDALE 134pts
10 GBR 17 David BOURNE 141pts