Warnemuende, 12.07.2008

Press release 71 WARNEMÜNDER WOCHE 12 July 2008

Purdies dream comes true

It was a dark and stormy front that set an early end to racing on Saturday in Warnemuende. Only one final race was sailed in the Bombardier OK class world championship due to the upcoming weather. With a slightly diminished lead Karl Purdie finally took the title after nine races.
Warnemuende, 12 July 2008 – Five-Three-One reads his sail number and Karl Purdie from New Zealand took it as a sign. He finished fifth in the Worlds 2006 in Australia, became third in Poland last year and now headed for the title in the OK-Dinghy class. He set his new sail in Warnemuende to make a dream come true. With a constant and impressive performance the sailors from New Zealands capital Wellington sailed to win the series.
„I did not yet realise, what I have received, it took a long way to win the title”, Purdie said happily. “Nick gained a lot in today’s first race and it would have been really tight, in a second”, he said.
Nick Craig from Great Britain, who won the title in the last three years, was beaten by the Kiwi competitor to take second. His effort to attack was ruined by the weather. “Sure I am a bit disappointed that there was no second run today and I did not get the chance to catch up, but Karl was very strong”, the Vice Champion proved to be a fair second.
The battle for bronze was won by Australian Andre Blasse, who left the two times World Champion Karsten Hitz from Germany on fourth place.

In 14 classes one or two races where sailed in strong winds and sunshine in the morning until the thunderstorm came up and they had to head for shelter onshore.
Alexander Hagen (Hamburg/Germany) could extend his lead in the international championship of the Star boat class and surfer Romy Kinzl (Kiel) showed her form in the RS:X class. In both classes titles will be decided tomorrow. The Finn Dinghy class finishes racing on Sunday as well. Masters World Champion Andre Budzin scored the bullet of today’s race. Lutz Stengel took the lead in the BMW sailing cup.
On Sunday 13 classes will race in on the last day of the 71th WARNEMUENDER WOCHE.

Schedule, results and further Information: www.warnemuender-woche.com

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