35 X-35s

Brits lead World Championship with racing lost yesterday to lack of wind

The first two races of the X-35 World Championship were sailed on Wednesday with the 35 strong fleet counting eight nations racing as part og Kieler Woche on the German Baltic coast.

Racing took place in an easterly breeze decreasing to 10 knots during the second race which consisted of a shortened course. It was all action the windward mark with the fleet of 35 yachts rounded very closely but sailed ultimately two fair and clean races were sailed. The race officer Claus-Otto Hansen, was thrilled with the disciplined racing he had observed amid this X-35 fleet, and commented; “No false starts, two excellent courses. This is a good beginning to the Championship”.

One of the four British entries, Cool Runnings owned by Thorkild Juncker is currently leading the Championship having completed the first two races in 1st and 2nd place. Hermes-X from Estonia, owned by Mati Sepp, is presently in 2nd place with René Villefrance, from North Sails Denmark, amongst his crew. Closely following in 3rd place is last year’s Gold Cup winner, Nic Bol from the Netherlands in his Quantum Racing.



Unfortunately the wind evaporated on Thursday and the racing was postponed – however there is a more positive forecast for Friday and it is hope the Championship will continue. A maximum of 10 races (and a minimum of 6 races) will be sailed with one discard. It is intended to conclude racing on the 23rd, however with a day lost the organisation may choose to sail too on the reserve day Sunday June 24th.

1 GBR 4835R Cool Running, Mark Richmond, 1 2, 3
2 EST 425 Hermes – X, Mati Sepp, 5 1, 6
3 NED 16 Quantum Racing, N. Bol, 2 4 6
4 NED 117 BRS X, Cees Wieringa .V.Sliebre, 3 7, 10
5 GBR 1035R Perfect Ten, Sam Carter, 4 6, 10
6 GER 5735 Celox, Achim Griese, 7 8, 15
7 GER 124 Xen, Torsten Bastiansen, 12 5, 17
8 NED 18 Audi, Fred Imhoff Schevening, 14 11, 25
9 NED 57 Just 4 fun, Albert Kooijman, 15 12, 27
10 NED 122 Magic Marine, Martin Baas, 25 3, 28