September 27, 2002
2 minutes reading time
Jens Kroker (GER) Retakes Lead
Things are hotting up for a tight final day at the IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championship in Medemblick today.
Things are hotting up for a tight final day at the IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championship in Medemblick today.
It was all change yesterday at the top of the leader board in the Sonar fleet on day four of the Championship. After a further two races, Andy Cassell (GBR) switched positions with Jens Kroker and his team from Germany.
In the tricky conditions, with the wind ranging from 5-8 knots and flicking through 40 degree shifts, some of the top sailors faltered allowing the points to close up and make for a more exciting last day.
Jens Kroker sailing with Hans Peter Reichl and Ludger Grother of Germany took the first race of the day in front of last year’s gold medallists, Brian Mackie/Brian MacDonald/Paul Tingley (CAN). John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Mike Hawker finished in third place. Overnight leader, Andy Cassell, sailing with Brian Harding and Ed Suckling crossed the line in eighth place.
In the second race of the day, racing was even tighter, with big gains and losses to be made. Towards the end of the race some of the top names were looking deep in the fleet, which would make for interesting overall results. First to finish was Swedish sailor Carl Gustaf Fresk, followed by a gaggle of ten boats all finishing within 30 seconds of each other. Australian Stephen Churm crossed in second with Paul McCarthy (IRL) third. Andy Cassell crossed in eleventh place, just behind Kroker, handing over the overall lead.
There are only three points separating gold and bronze medal positions.
Two races were also sailed out on the 2.4mR fleet. Paralympic gold medallist and last years convincing World Champion Heiko Kroger retains the lead after scoring a first and a ninth place. Damien Seguin (FRA) has moved back up the leader board now that a discard has come into play and he can omit his OCS, although he is carrying a 22nd place. Jostein Stordahl of Norway is in third place overall.
Top 10 Results
Sonar (After 7 Races/1 Discard)
| Position | Nation | Skipper | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Total |
| 1 | GER | Jens Kroker | 2 | 1 | 1 | -12 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 23,0 |
| 2 | GBR | Andrew Cassell | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 8 | -11 | 24,0 |
| 3 | CAN | Brian Mackie | 5 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -14 | 26,0 |
| 4 | USA | Tim Angle | 4 | (ocs) | 8 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 36,0 |
| 5 | AUS | Noel Robbins | 8 | 5 | 2 | 3 | (ocs) | 6 | 15 | 39,0 |
| 6 | IRL | Paul McCarthy | 6 | 11 | 3 | 11 | -17 | 7 | 3 | 41,0 |
| 7 | AUS | Stephen Churm | 14 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 6 | -16 | 2 | 47,0 |
| 8 | GBR | John Robertson | 13 | 7 | 5 | -18 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 51,0 |
| 9 | ISR | Shimon BenYaakov | 9 | 12 | 10 | -19 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 52,0 |
| 10 | IRL | John C. Twomey | 10 | (ocs) | 4 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 52,0 |
2.4mR (After 7 Races/1 Discard)
| Position | Nation | Helm | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Total |
| 1 | GER | Heiko Kröger | 1 | 2 | -12 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 16,0 |
| 2 | FRA | Damien Seguin | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | (ocs) | 22 | 2 | 34,0 |
| 3 | NOR | Jostein Stordahl | 3 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | -17 | 34,0 |
| 4 | USA | Tom Brown | 5 | 11 | -22 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 38,0 |
| 5 | NED | Thierry Schmitter | 9 | 7 | -28 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 40,0 |
| 6 | DEN | Jens Als Andersen | 6 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 1 | -17 | 11 | 44,0 |
| 7 | AUS | Michael McLean | 13 | 3 | -20 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 45,0 |
| 8 | AUS | Peter Thompson | 4 | 25 | 7 | 4 | 5 | (ocs) | 1 | 46,0 |
| 9 | NOR | Bjornar Erikstad | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 13 | (ocs) | 16 | 52,0 |
| 10 | GER | Christian Gehrke | 14 | -36 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 58,0 |