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Shuffling in front of the race office at the Ancora Marina in Neustadt, the IMS 600 sailors could hardly await the official results. At 2055 local time, they were at last delivered - including two bitter pills for Al Cap One III and Transit Express. The Spaniards had produced a number of witnesses who had seen the critical incident on the second beat of the last race. Sailing legend CAMPOS explained the situation: 'We had the right of way with wind from starboard when the Norwegians approached us and were about to collide. If we hadn't given way, there would have been a crash.' The international jury shared their point of view and turned Al Cap One III's win into a 'DSQ'. And so the precious Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date timepiece went to the Mediterranean.

The decision for rank three was extremely close. It was merely a quarter point that kept the surprising up-start crew of Transit Express, that won the podium place in the last second and was more than happy. 'We were disqualified the day before. Now it was someone else's turn,' said helmsman Albert SCHWEITZER, 'decisions out on the water are always extremely close.' The final racing day with wind up to 25 knots definitely suited a world championship. SCHWEITZER: 'But we had already lost the title in the long-distance race.' The same happened to Horst MANN'S (GER) L+M Hispaniola. Her crew had been very convincing in the ten up and down races, but in the end, she came only fifth, half a point ahead of the Ocean Warrior and Moonshine, who had been in second place after the long-distance race. 'We haven't managed to improve our Rodman 42 any further', explained helmsman Nils HeDyde from L+M Hispaniola, 'but the outcome really goes back to a tactical mistake in the long-distance race.'

At the Hanseatic Lloyd Dragon World Championship, the triumvirate of Harm MÜLLER-SPREER/Markus WIESER/Thomas AURACHER kept their overall lead by achieving two fourth ranks on Thursday. After three races, the Hamburg-based helmsman is the only one with three top-ten ranks. Hard on his heels is the current champion Vincent HOESCH (GER) with his crew Harro KNIFFKA and Max SCHEIBMAIER and 17 points back. 'Compared to coming 15th on the first day, we were on target today,' said HOESCH.

He benefited from a 20-per cent penalty (ZFP) for the winner of race three, Thomas ANDERSEN from Denmark, who had had a premature start under flag Z in a general recalled race start before. Two-times German Olympic medallist Ulli LIBOR and his crew Gunnar BAHR (GER) and Jan SCHOEPE (GER) pushed ahead to rank five. 'Unfortunately, we were passed down from second to sixth place in the end,' reported LIBOR after a wet and cold, but thrilling race day.

Results of the Rolex Baltic Week on Thursday, 24 August 2005

IMS 600 World Championship

Final results (after twelve races):

1. Movistar, Pedro CAMPOS (ESP) 41,5 points;

2. Al Cap One III, Einar SISSENER (NOR) 49; 2.;

3. Hanseatic Lloyd, Christian PLUMP (GER) 74,25;

Hanseatic Lloyd Dragon World Championship

Overall results (after three races):

1. MÜLLER-SPREER/WIESER/AURACHER (GER) 9 points,

2. HOESCH/KNIFFKA/SCHEIBMAIER (GER) 26,

3. HENDRIKSEN/JOHANNSEN/LEIFEL (DEN) 27,

Dragon World Week

Overall results (after four races):

1. JACOB/GUSEK/BIRKNER (GER) 6 points;

2. METZING/BUHTZ/LÄUFER (GER) 13,

3. MANKOWSKI/HEBBEL-SEEGER/FOCK (GER) 13.