Day Five

OK Dinghy World Championships - day five

Craig takes third OK World title in style

Photo: Ania PawlaczykIn Leba, Poland, Nick Craig (GBR) won his third consecutive OK Dinghy World Championship after scoring a second and a first in extreme conditions that tested all the sailors to the limit.

The fleet set sail this morning to the sound of a passing thunderstorm and of a loud rock band practicing on shore. An hour postponement to allow the wind to settle was followed by the first start in around 8 knots of wind. The forecast was for it to go right, and half way up the beat this happened in dramatic style. The wind veered 10 degrees and increased by 10 knots in a matter of minutes. Those on the right just got richer and it was Thomas Hansson-Mild (SWE) leading round the top mark from Jorgen Lindhardtsen (DEN). Unfortunately Hansson-Mild broke his tiller and by the time he had fixed it was well back down the fleet. Lindhardtsen led round the bottom mark after the wind increased to some 25 knots. The next beat was the decider with Mark Perrow (NZL) taking the lead on a gruelling upwind leg in the still increasing wind and larger seas. Event leader Nick Craig (GBR) managed to pass Lindhardtsen and moved up to second and the places stayed the same on the run. Interestingly Craig was the only boat in the top five to attempt the gybe. Most of the fleet wore round. However, Perrow led up the final beat, with Craig second and Lindhardtsen in third.

The second race started in 20 knots and proved to be even more of a test for the sailors. Craig proved what world champions are made of and led out of the start to the right side before coming back to cross the fleet and lead round the top mark. Perrow took the lead on the screaming first reach but broke his tiller and was forced to retire. At the gybe mark, most of the fleet could not see the buoy in the massive waves and again most of the fleet tacked rather than gybed in the extreme winds. The next beat and run were hard work for those that remained afloat or upright but Craig proved why he is world champion by winning the race and the championship in style from Andre Blasse (AUS) and Karsten Hitz (GER).

This championship has been one of the most open for a number of ears with five nations in the top ten. In the top 20 there were six from New Zealand, clearly showing form in the breezy conditions as well as four from UK, three from Germany and two from Denmark.

When Craig receives the world championship trophy tonight he will be only the second person in the 50 year history of the class to win the title three years in a row. From 1991-1993, Bo Staffan Anderson (SWE) won three of his four world titles. Craig is now in a position to rewrite history at the world championships next year in Warnemunde, Germany.

Final Results:

Place Sail Surname Name Date Country Place in races Score
number birth 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. GBR-2116 CRAIG NICK 74 GBR *3 2 1 3 1 1 2 1    11.0
2. NZL-527 PERROW MARK 78 NZL 1 1 2 8 3 11 1 *DNF    27.0
3. NZL-502 PURDIE KARL 66 NZL 2 3 7 1 5 5 4 *9    27.0
4. GER-727 HITZ KARSTEN 61 GER 5 *11 8 4 7 2 5 3    34.0
5. NZL-517 RHODES PAUL 62 NZL 4 8 3 11 *19 8 6 4    44.0
6. GER-672 ARNDT GUNTER 67 GER 6 5 5 7 *10 6 10 7    46.0
7. DEN-1364 LINDHARDTSEN JORGEN 45 DEN *15 7 9 2 9 9 3 8    47.0
8. NZL-524 STECHMANN MATT 74 NZL 7 6 4 *15 11 13 12 6    59.0
9. AUS-727 BLASSE ANDRE 64 AUS 12 4 17 10 2 *22 15 2    62.0
10. GER-717 GRONHOLZ OLIVER 77 GER 11 10 6 6 18 4 *24 10    65.0
11. GBR-2118 CURTIS TERRY 67 GBR 9 *21 14 5 8 3 13 14    66.0
12. GER-693 VON ZIMMERMANN MARTIN 67 GER 14 *17 15 14 6 7 9 11    76.0
13. GBR-2122 FISH JONATHAN 80 GBR 19 19 11 13 14 10 8 *27    94.0
14. NZL-522 WILCOX GREG 60 NZL 8 13 18 12 12 *19 16 16    95.0
15. NZL-523 POREBSKI JOE 59 NZL 16 15 10 22 21 *28 11 5   100.0
16. POL-14 PAWLACZYK PAWEŁ 64 POL 13 9 16 16 23 20 *30 12   109.0
17. GBR-2119 DEAVES ROBERT 67 GBR *DNF 16 13 17 33 21 7 13   120.0
18. POL-16 JAROCKI MAREK 70 POL *45 14 12 23 29 27 29 19   153.0
19. GER-690 BEHRENS SONKE 69 GER 25 23 19 24 16 *30 22 25   154.0
20. DEN-1324 TEGLERS BO 75 DEN 18 12 21 21 *36 29 33 21   155.0
21. POL-31 PAWŁOWSKI ANTONI 67 POL 26 25 23 29 20 *38 17 15   155.0
22. GBR-2101 CHILDS SIMON 64 GBR 27 24 *37 27 25 18 14 23   158.0
23. DEN-1340 OLSEN CHRISTIAN 82 DEN 39 29 22 20 17 12 *41 20   159.0
24. POL-1 GAJ TOMASZ 67 POL 21 22 *DSQ 19 27 17 23 51   180.0
25. GBR-2084 MEADOWCROFT JOHN 72 GBR 33 *39 30 38 15 23 19 29   187.0
26. NZL-525 MCDOWELL STEVE 81 NZL 10 *DNF  DNF 9 4 14 18 18   193.0
27. NZL-497 PRYCE TRENT 76 NZL 36 33 25 28 *41 33 20 22   197.0
28. GER-731 GLAS THOMAS 73 GER 23 28 *DNF 35 28 32 28 35   209.0
29. NZL-515 WILDE MIKE 61 NZL 20 18 *DNF 34 24 53 37 26   212.0
30. GBR-2105 HARRIS IAN 64 GBR 38 27 32 32 31 25 27 *48   212.0
31. NZL-474 O`CONNELL LUKE 86 NZL 24 31 29 26 34 *40 39 36   219.0
32. GER-656 PICH ANDREAS 66 GER 37 35 26 30 *49 45 34 24   231.0
33. GBR-2121 RICH TONY 75 GBR 35 40 *54 33 22 43 21 49   243.0
34. SWE-33 QVIST JONAS 72 SWE *OCS 32  DNF 31 13 15 25 17   253.0
35. AUS-726 BUCHANAN BOB 48 AUS 22 30 31 41 53 37 *59 46   260.0
36. GBR-2117 SCOLES ALEX 81 GBR 41 41 24 39 59 *74 26 33   263.0
37. SWE-66 NYSTEDT JAN-ERIK 53 SWE *76 26 36 25 50 24 74 30   265.0
38. GBR-2085 WALDRON GAVIN 64 GBR 28 38 28 49 46 46 35 *50   270.0
39. POL-10 STOBIŃSKI JANUSZ 68 POL *DNF 44 38 46 35 36 49 45   293.0
40. GBR-2120 AGER DAN 71 GBR 30 43 27 42 62 34 56 *DNF   294.0
41. SWE-99 ELKJAER HANS 59 SWE 40 37 50 51 *63 49 45 28   300.0
42. POL-424 PRZEWOŹNY PIOTR 60 POL 47 42 33 54 40 *60 47 38   301.0
43. GER-576 TIETJE RALF 60 GER 43 34 *DNF 61 54 41 42 32   307.0
44. SWE-123 NYSTEDT MAX 81 SWE 46 *62 41 45 39 50 36 53   310.0
45. GER-670 RIES HINNERK 73 GER 50 71 *DNF 36 38 44 38 39   316.0
46. AUS-713 LYNCH PETER 65 AUS 29 56 *DNF 43 45 63 32 57   325.0
47. POL-5 KRAŚ DARIUSZ 67 POL 44 45 39 59 *74 54 50 34   325.0
48. SWE-2767 HANSSON-MILD THOMAS 71 SWE 17 20 20 18 *OCS 16  DNF  DNF   331.0
49. GBR-2125 GOODHEAD NEIL 69 GBR 57 51 *DNF 67 42 48 40 42   347.0
50. GER-539 SASS CARSTEN 69 GER *59 59 34 58 55 55 44 44   349.0
51. SWE-2741 DAGERBRANT ULF 70 SWE 49 52 *DNF 57 61 35 61 37   352.0
52. GER-726 SYLVESTER JORG 65 GER *68 48 35 56 56 65 53 40   353.0
53. GER-735 GERICKE DIRK 64 GER 63 36 42 78 78 *79 31 31   359.0
54. GER-694 SPECHT GUNNAR 77 GER 51 61 *DNF 62 44 62 55 52   387.0
55. POL-27 KANIA JAKUB 75 POL 56 47 *DNF 63 58 56 60 47   387.0
56. GER-665 STEPHAN PETER 66 GER 42 50 46 48 48 39 *DNF  DNF   393.0
57. AUS-720 O`DONNELL DAVE 90 AUS 62 66 47 68 70 *72 46 41   400.0
58. DEN-1214 HOLM JORGEN 53 DEN 52 54 40 44 30 66 *DNF  DNF   406.0
59. GER-645 LINDEMANN ARNE 76 GER 71 58 *DNF 55 51 57 62 62   416.0
60. GBR-2107 EDWARDS MIKE 68 GBR 69 *DNF  DNF 50 32 31 52 63   417.0
61. AUS-724 YATES GLENN 57 AUS 61 53 55 70 *88 75 51 59   424.0
62. AUS-641 HUNT DARREN 83 AUS *DNF  DNF 43 47 52 52 48 69   431.0
63. AUS-694 FURNEAUX RICHARD 53 AUS 65 67 56 71 64 61 57 *DNF   441.0
64. DEN-1339 BORUP JONAS 75 DEN 73 63 57 40 37 59 *DNF  DNF   449.0
65. GER-666 HARTMANN JAN 71 GER 85 *DNF 44 76 66 58 65 65   459.0
66. DEN-1335 JOHANSEN MOGENS 50 DEN 31 *DNF  DNF 37 26 26  DNF  DNF   480.0
67. POL-15 POPŁONYK MIECZYSŁAW 72 POL 77 64 *DNF  DNF 60 51 66 43   481.0
68. POL-44 DROŹDŹIK RADEK 67 POL 64 57 *DNF 88 71 76 69 56   481.0
69. GER-695 BORG ERIK 70 GER 66 72 45 74 81 80 68 *DNF   486.0
70. GER-225 POSPIECH RAINER 53 GER 92 60 48 83 79 *DNF 70 54   486.0
71. POL-190 GÓRKA ADRIAN 88 POL 75 70 52 *91 91 83 67 55   493.0
72. POL-201 KUJAWIŃSKI DONAT 67 POL 53 68 *DNF 64 67 71 58  DNF   501.0
73. GER-632 GRONHOLZ FABIAN 76 GER 70 *DNF  DNF 53 65 42 43  DNF   513.0
74. GER-120 HARTMANN CHRISTIAN 63 GER 79 69 *DNF 79 68 82 77 61   515.0
75. GBR-1985 BYERS KEITH 56 GBR 32 46 *DNF 65 69 64  DNF  DNF   516.0
76. GER-577 KAMINSKI YVES 81 GER 58 *DNF  DNF 69 80 70 63 58   518.0
77. GER-659 HAGEMANN FALK 66 GER 87 76 51 84 76 *91 81 72   527.0
78. POL-101 RAKOCY BARTOSZ 90 POL *88 74 53 87 86 77 87 67   531.0
79. GER-723 MACKMANN RALF 61 GER 74 55 *DNF 82 73  DNF 73 60   537.0
80. GBR-2099 DUTTON KEITH 59 GBR 55 49 49  SCP  SCP  SCP 54 *DNF   539.0
81. GER-688 DAME DIRK 63 GER 67 65 *DNF 60 57 69  DNF  DNF   558.0
82. GER-699 HOFFMAN JULIANE 80 GER 78 *DNF  DNF 75 72 85 72 64   566.0
83. DEN-1347 SCHUBERT C.JOE 61 DEN 48 *DNF  DNF 66 43 81  DNF  DNF   598.0
84. POL-4 BOJANOWSKI JERZY 63 POL 83 *DNF  DNF 81 85 84 76 70   599.0
85. GER-606 HUSS KATHARINA 80 GER 86 *DNF  DNF 89 83 86 75 66   605.0
86. POL-30 BAJOŃCZAK PIOTR 89 POL 91 73 *DNF 97 99 101 82 73   616.0
87. GBR-2104 LOVEGROVE DERYCK 59 GBR 72 75 *DNF 77  DSQ 87 71  DNF   622.0
88. GBR-2087 BURNHAM JULIAN 72 GBR 96 *DNF  DNF 73 77 73 64  DNF   623.0
89. SWE-11 STROMBERG BENGT 54 SWE *DNF  DNF  DNF 52 47 47  DNF  DNF   626.0
90. POL-46 MIŚKO MACIEJ 88 POL 82 *DNF  DNF 95 90 97 79 68   631.0
91. POL-62 PEAZŁA MACIEJ 88 POL 54 *DNF  DNF 72 89 68  DNF  DNF   643.0
92. POL-45 FALCZYŃSKI PIOTR 88 POL 98 *DNF  DNF 99 97 100 83 71   668.0
93. POL-47 PRZYBYSZ BARTOSZ 88 POL 84 *DNF  DNF 86 75 67  DNF  DNF   672.0
94. GER-651 RIDDER HEINZ 59 GER 89 *DNF  DNF 90 94 90 78  DNF   681.0
95. POL-24 DWORNICZAK JAKUB 81 POL 80 *DNF  DNF 93 96 93 89  DNF   691.0
96. AUS-715 PEARCE TOM 52 AUS 81 *DNF  DNF 80 93 78  DNF  DNF   692.0
97. DEN-1265 MALTE PEDERSEN ERIC 56 DEN *DNF  DNF  DNF 96 82 88 85  DNF   711.0
98. GBR-2092 BRADBURN WILLIAM 51 GBR 94 *DNF  DNF 85 84 92  DNF  DNF   715.0
99. GER-404 WILLMANN TOBIAS 92 GER 97 *DNF  DNF 104 95 95 84  DNF   715.0
100. BEL-214 VERRIJDT PAUL 58 BEL 90 *DNF  DNF 92 87 89  DNF  DNF   718.0
101. GER-660 WILLMANN BERND 64 GER 93 *DNF  DNF 94 92 94  DNF  DNF   733.0
102. GER-714 HUSS CHRISTIAN 75 GER 60 *DNF  DNF  DNF  DNF  DNF 86  DNF   746.0
103. AUS-625 SWALES DAVID 43 AUS *DNF  DNF  DNF 100 103 102 88  DNF   753.0
104. SWE-222 JEANSSON PER 56 SWE 34 *DNF  DNF  DNF  DNF  DNF  DNF  DNF   754.0
105. GER-33 KNORR SEBASTIAN 89 GER *DNF  DNF  DNF 103 102 103 90  DNF   758.0
106. BEL-220 POELMAN RONNY 57 BEL *DNF  DNF  DNF 98 100 96  DNF  DNF   774.0
107. GER-609 KOSTKA JENS 66 GER *DNF  DNF  DNF 102 98 99  DNF  DNF   779.0
108. POL-81 CZYŻ WALDEMAR 55 POL *DNF  DNF  DNF 101 101