Press release 71WARNEMUENDER WOCHE 9 July 2008
OK-Worlds: Purdie extends lead
Offshore sailors fight against west winds
The water was boiling on Wednesday – on the second day of the OK-class World Championships a highly motivated fleet of 90 boats was challenged by strong winds and big waves. The remaining 52 yachts in the Bornholm Round race had to cope with a long tack back home against heavy west winds. Onshore the organisers prepared for the start of the second half of the 71th WARNEMUENDER WOCHE
Warnemuende, 9 July 2008 –The weather forecast produced big grins in the morning on some of the sailor’s faces. Especially the Kiwis seemed to like the previewed conditions. On course Bravo the OK class Worlds started into its second day in strong Westerly’s of six Beaufort and waves of one and a half metres. But some of the starters struggled with the heavy weather and had to quit early.
Bernd Käther, race officer of course Bravo started two races. With two second places Karl Purdie from New Zealand, who won the Pre-worlds at the beginning of this week, could extend his lead. He collected not more than six points after four races.
The defending world champion showed his title ambitions scoring a bullet and a fourth place on the second race day. Craig counts 14 points for now, ranking second overall. “It was exhausting and pretty challenging today but I love strong winds although I am more of an all rounder”, said Craig. For 17 year he sails in the OK-Dinghy now – the long friendship was rewarded with one European and three world titles. The 34-year old sailor dominated the class for long. “The Kiwis have come up strongly and the races are getting tighter, but it will be interesting to see, what happens when the wind is getting lighter”, he said. “Karl Purdie is very strong in all conditions and Karsten Hitz is among the favourite as well, I guess”, so the British sailor, who is based near London. The first race of the day went to 27-year old Steve McDowell from New Zealand, now placed seventh. Australian Andre Blasse collected 18 points so far and ranks third overall.
“The sailors experienced great and very challenging sailing conditions, which is adequate for a world championship and very common in Warnemuende”, states Dirk Kaiser, principle race officer of the WARNEMUENDER WOCHE. “But for some of the sailors it was a little too much today.”
Martin Kringel from Rostock succeeded in being first ship home in the long distance race round Bornholm, but the record of the 270 sea miles-race couldn’t be won by the blonde skipper of the Volvo 60-Yacht “Rostocker”. The current record was set up by former employer’s union president Klaus Murmann with his “UCA” in 2001, when he finished the passage around the Danish island in 28 hours, 37 minutes and 23 seconds. Due to the strong westerly winds, the yachts arrived at Bornholm fast, but then they had to take a long tack back home. The 18 meter long “Rostocker” reached Warnemuende on Thursday night at 11.34:56 p.m. thus it took five hours too long to establish a new record. “I was actually satisfied about having more wind than the forecast said, but it was clear that we had to struggle on the way back so that the record was too hard to achieve”, said Kringel after arriving. Close on his heels of them, the 56-foot-yacht “Scho-ka-kola” of Uwe Lebens from Norderstedt followed. Kringel and his crew frequently changed the leadership with them. The racer in light-grey arrived half an hour later in Warnemuende.
So far, 14 of the 66 started yachts had to abandon the race.
Preview for Thursday, 10 July
OK-class World Championship continues until Saturday 12 July.
Finish of the long distance race
Start of the team Worlds of the INT 14 class.
Star class German championship
Start of the Beneteau 25 class,
Schedule, results and further Information: www.warnemuender-woche.com
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