5.5 World Championships at Helsinki, Finland
by Thierry S. Huguenin 17 Aug 2011 08:28 BST
31 July - 5 August 2011
Kenneth Helen (helm), Thomas Hallberg and Robert Nyberg win the 2011 5.5 Metre worlds © Esko Kilpi
Decided after only six races
Kenneth Thelen, Thomas Hallberg and Robert Nyberg from Finland won the 5.5 Metre World Championship 2011 which concluded on August 5th in Helsinki, Finland.
This year edition of the 5.5 Metre World Championship marked the 50th Anniversary milestone of the Class. Nine nations were represented in the regatta hosted by the NJK yacht club.
The Finnish team took the lead the first day and kept leading the fleet the entire championship totalizing 12 points after six races allowing them to not compete in the last race.
This is the first ever victory of a Finnish boat in the 5.5 Worlds!
“Winning the Worlds before the last day was a fantastic feeling.” said helmsman Kenneth Thelen. “The 5.5 is a very tactical and sensitive boat, I sailed a lot of different boats in my life but the 5.5 Meter is probably the best of them all.” Kenneth added.
Finishing in second position: Norwegian and multiple-time world champion Kristian Nergaard with 16 points and in third place Swiss Jürg Menzi with 31 points.
In the Evolution division, Germany finished in first place and the winner in the Classic division is Italy.
Full results can be found here.