Demanding sailing conditions characterise
71st Warnemuender Woche
Sailors from five continents showed up in nine days of racing at the Baltic port of Warnemuende. More visitors than ever came to watch the high class sailing event and enjoyed a huge entertainment program onshore. In total 2444 competitors from 30 nations crowned their champions in 180 races. Among the highlights of the second half was the Bombardier OK-Dinghy World championship and the German championship of the Olympic star boat class.

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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.

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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.

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Leigh from Canada wins Laser Europa Cup
90 OK-Dinghies took off into worlds
On day five of the WARNEMUENDER WOCHE the sailors experienced showers and sunshine in turns. Increasing west winds up to six Beaufort challenged not only the Laser Europa Cup fleets. Canadian Mike Leigh snatched the title from leading Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Bernaz. Jon Emmet (GBR) sailed to a clear victory in the Laser Radial class, with Sarah Steyaert from France winning the women’s competition. Karl Purdie (New Zealand) scored two bullets to take the lead in the offbeat of the OK-worlds.

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Australians Kivell/Taylor secure 470er victory – Laser Europa Cup showdown - 66 yachts start long distance race round Bornholm

The fourth race day of the WARNEMUENDER WOCHE started with the long distance race of 66 offshore yachts, which set their spinnakers to reach for the Danish island of Bornholm. Shortly afterwards the eight classes went of to their courses. Sam Kivell and Max Taylor from Australia sailed to a victory in the 470er class. The sailors of the Laser Europa Cup start into their deciding races on Tuesday.
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