Weather-Capers At Schilksee For The J/80 Worlds

The Kiel Fjord has everything in store for the 50 sailors of eight nationalities. Sailing was stopped for two hours due to lack of wind on the competition course, but it finally came late in the afternoon with might.

The Race Officer Fabian Bach called the yachts back into the shelter of the harbour. After consultation with the graduated meteorologist Meeno Schrader from “WetterWelt” the following races were cancelled.

Closer than previous, the Spanish “Bribon Movistar“ managed to hold the first place, just one point ahead of the second place currently held by the Spaniard Rayco Babares Alvarez. Marc de Antonio was quite satisfied with the day’s racing, “Again we sailed well, our competitors from the Princeas Yaiza did too. They are closing in on us and Friday should be a very thrilling final,” explained Marc de Antonio straight after the two races.

The third place is, with 17 points, held by the French ”Co-Pilotes“ ahead of the best German team around Björn Beilken from Bremen. Beilken profited from the first discard result after seven races which the crew can choose after a bad result. The remaining races will counted. And so Beilken was able to overtake the so far best German, Martin Menzner.

“At strong winds we have the boat well under control and although we did a spin-out, at the end we were third,” explained Beilken. A spin-out is when the yacht is no longer steerable and inclines excessively.

The skipper of the “Procedes Diva” added, “Today we were sailing in Strand Bay where the swell was light but wind gusts prevailed. We sailed to our tactic and tried to cash in on the wind changes”. The crew has sailed in the current formation since 2012 and took home in the World Championship both in 2011 and 2012 the 11th place.

Beilken commented after three day’s racing, “We know Kiel and we enjoy sailing here. The judges responded to adverse situations speedily, thus cancelling the only “pig’s race” on Tuesday. The on-shore organization is super. The food tasted good and everyone was satisfied”.

With a six-point gap, the “Bootswerft Winkler-campaign“ was able to enter fifth place in the results list. Helmsman Sven Vagt was able to delete his 51st placing which he pocketed after a protest, and jumped from the 11th to the 5th place.

Martin Menzner with his crew is the third best German team with taking the 8th place in the overall score of the second racing day.

Still after three successful racing days there is no definite favourite in sight. And also between the German teams it remains thrilling.