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Championnat du Monde de Yole-OK 2008 4/5

Warnemünde, Allemagne, le 11 Juillet 2008


Mise en ligne :
11 juillet 2008

par Frédéric Lamarque

OK Dinghy World Championship day four

Mixed fortunes for front runners at OK Worlds

On the penultimate day of the Bombardier OK Dinghy World Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, Nick Craig (GBR) sailed the best of the day with a race win and a fourth place, while regatta leader Karl Purdie (NZL) struggled with a 16th and a 7th. However, the Z-flag took its toll on more than half the top ten, including Craig, leaving Purdie with a 16 point lead going into the final day.

After two general recalls, race seven started in 10-12 knots from the sea. The forecast Force 6-7 never materialised, so the sailors enjoyed near perfect conditions for this race. Nick Craig (GBR) led out of the committee boat end, never to be seriously challenged during the race. He extended on each leg and with the wind relatively stable for a change, controlled the fleet easily from the front. Second place was dominated by Pawel Pawlaczyk (POL), while third at the first mark, Terry Curtis (GBR) dropped to sixth before climbing back to third on the final beat.

Race eight was where everything changed. Before the fleet finally got underway under a black flag there were three general recalls under the Z-flag. In a slightly decreased wind, Purdie led round the top mark from Thomas Hansson-Mild (SWE), Matthew Steven (NZL) and Craig. Greg Wilcox (NZL) found the best route on the reaches to move ahead by the gybe mark, and then led all the way to the finish to record yet anther Kiwi race win. As the race progressed, the wind dropped to virtually nothing and the final upwind leg was shortened as the boats got slower and slower. Wilcox remained in front, with Hansson-Mild in second and Steven in third. However many of the front runners received Z-flag penalties, Wilcox got one, Steven got two and Craig got one. In a fleet of 91 boats this means a scoring penalty of 18 points per infringement.

Craig came ashore thinking he had closed the gap on Purdie and set up a last day showdown. However his scoring penalty could cost him dear as Purdie has extended his lead despite sailing his worst day so far. However, Purdie is not getting too excited yet. He said, "I have a bit of breathing space, but anything can happen tomorrow."

Tomorrow’s forecast is 15-18 knots when the final two races will be sailed and we will know who will be the 2008 OK Dinghy World Champion.

About the event

The Bombardier OK Dinghy World Championship is being sailed as part of Warnemünder Woche, in Warnemunde, Germany from 8-12 July. There are 91 sailors from seven nations competing for the title.

Class website
Event website

© Robert Deaves, OKDIA Publicity

Photos : Norbert Petrausch