J80 World Championship at Kieler Yacht Club

J80 World Championship at Kieler Yacht Club - Overall

by Martina Nebelung 13 Jul 2015 10:24 BST 5-10 July 2015

Spanish team win

The proud Spaniards are wearing the crown of the J/80 class. At the end of the World Championship off Kiel the two Iberian top teams staged a dramatic final, in which the crew of "Princesa Yaiza" around Skipper and owner Rayco Babares Alvarez brushed past their countrymen. Marc de Antonio, skipper of the beaten "Bribon Movistar" was thoroughly disappointed – he had led the races from the very first day onward. The 3rd place was secured the French "Co-Pilotes" (Maxime Mesnil) against the strongly emerging team from Bremen of the "Procedes Diva" around Björn Beilken.

Hotel Princesa Yaiza wins the J/80 Worlds at Kiel - photo © Sven Jürgensen / Mittelmann's Werft

In a weather scenario which caused the 50 teams of 8 nationalities difficulties over the entire World Championship, conditions from light to strong wind, the crews were really challenged on the last race day. The storm of the previous day had died down on Friday morning, but strong gusts of up to 30 knots blew across the racing course. The race officer, Fabian Bach, signalled an earlier start for sailing and left no doubts that he wanted to increase the competition load, getting three fast races underway. "Everything went down well; the competitors were also quite satisfied. Many of them offered their thanks at the finishing line", the race officer explained. The wind conditions were challenging but the basic wind force was stable, Bach explained, who hoisted the black flag after a premature start on the 1st day's race, bringing the crews under tightened terms across the starting line. At the end of the week he voiced satisfaction with his team's work. The praise was echoed by Thore Hansen, the managing director of the marketing agency POS: "The entire team worked perfectly in the preparation and execution of the World Championship. We are proud to have such volunteers from the Kieler Yacht-Club and the German J/80 Class Association gathered together". The conditions provided a great World Championship. "We started with light winds for the practice race, and then had spectacular scenes during the following races. Kiel put on its smiling face and offered good conditions for all sailors. The race committee showed, by planning the course close to the shore, sailing at one's fingertip and by doing so furthered the recruitment for Kiel as venue", Hansen explained, who was delighted with the presence of the local and trade press: "The "Segler-Zeitung" as media partner of the Worlds showed competence and thoroughness in the reporting of the event. The support of the SZ reporting daily of the World Championship contributed to making the event a medial success".

Especially on the last day the visitors to the Olympic Center at Schilksee were offered quality sport directly off the jetty, as the crews in gusty winds turned around the luff buoy and hoisted their genakkers. The perfectly working team of the Rayco Babares Alvarez didn't miss the big chance of displaying quality seamanship: "We are a family crew, sailing together for many years, integrating the tasks" explained the overjoyed skipper of the "Hotel Princesa Yaiza" on reaching the harbour. "We prefer a little less wind, but in the first two races of the day everything simply worked better than for our competitors for the title". With a victory at the start of the day and a 4th place in the following race, the team from Lanzarote on the Canaries had already secured the crown. The 6th place became the voided result for Alvarez, who also had his wife on board. "This title means unbelievably much to us. It's our second victory since 2009. We came to win, but knew it would be difficult fighting our compatriots. In the first few days we had to come to terms with the charter boat. During the Championship we gradually found our best trim". Contrary feelings prevailed on the "Bribon Movistar", who even with a win in the last race could not secure the victory, after dropping back to the 6th place on the previous race. "Today of all days – the most important one – our manoeuvres were not good, and we made wrong tactical decisions. The starts were generally ok, but at the luff buoys we had already lost the race", skipper de Antonio explained. "The win at the end improved our spirits but in general we are very disappointed". Even though the finish of "Procedes Diva" (fellowship of the Wappen von Bemen) didn't secure them a place on the podium, the crew around Björn Beilken showed satisfaction about the World Championship: "A place on the podium would have been perfect, as this was our final competition in this class", tactician Jork Homeyer explained: "But we're satisfied. We aimed at a placing in the top ten and toward the end came very close to secure a medal, which we didn't even dare to hope for. And then to win a day's race in the World Championship was great". Five points were missing at the end for a 3rd place for the French team of the "Co-Pilotes", which, with a 13th and a 10th placing in the last two races, had to cast some feathers.

Diva during the J/80 Worlds at Kiel - photo © Sven Jürgensen / Mittelmann's Werft

The good performance of the "Procedes Diva" on the last day forced the decision of the internal German duel distinctly. The club members of the "Bootswerft Winkler Campaign" with skipper Sven Vagt, with 15 points down, had to contend themselves with a 5th place. The "Pike" of the local hero Martin Menzner (Kieler YC) lost a further place and landed on 7th place. "Everything went wrong today. Firstly the compass broke down, which in Strander Bay could be compensated. But then the top batten slipped out of the sail. We had to focus on ignoring the flapping to not be distracted", Menzner explained, and then, looking at the results list, realizing that the breakage of the tackline of the gennacker just before the last buoy cost us so many points so that the French "Dunkerque VADK One" overtook us onto the 6th overall placing.

Andreas Rose, chairman of the German Class Association, summarised the World Championship in these few words: "It was a great week with difficult conditions, but also with light-wind competitions. In any case we had a lot of fun". Kiel's Lord Mayor, Dr. Ulf Kämpfer, was impressed at the Prize Giving Ceremony: "You presented great sport and superb sportsmanship. It was an honour to have had you here. Once more you have put Kiel in the focus of German sailing".

The chairman of Kieler Yacht-Club, Karsten Krage, thanked the competitors of 8 nationalities: "Thank you very much for coming to Kiel and offering us such thrilling races. We are looking forward to seeing you next year at Kieler Woche".

The State Capital remains in focus over the next few days, as from the 11th to the 18th of July nearly 200 catamarans will be staging the Formula 18 World Championship off Schilksee.

The J/80 Worlds are sponsored by Helly Hansen, Faber+ Münker, RWE, the Friesischen Brewery of Jever, Pantaenius Yacht insurance, the "Segler Zeitung", "WetterWelt", the "Offenen Kanal Kiel" and the State Capital Kiel.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Skipper	Boat Name	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	Pts
1	ESP 783	Rayco TABARES ÁLVAREZ	Hotel Princesa Yaiza	Real Club Naútico de Arrecife	3	2	4	2	3	1	2	1	4	‑6	22
2	ESP 1519	Marc de ANTONIO	BRIBON‑MOVISTAR	RCNB‑RCNS	1	1	2	1	6	‑12	1	6	6	1	25
3	FRA 453	Maxime MESNIL	CO‑PILOTES	yacht club cherbourg	4	3	1	4	1	‑23	4	5	13	10	45
4	GER 1107	Björn BEILKEN	Procedes Diva	SKWB	5	4	3	14	‑20	13	3	3	1	4	50
5	GER 1027	Sven VAGT	BOOTSWERFT WINKLER ‑ campaign	SKWB Segelkameradschaft "Das Wappen von Bremen"	10	5	7	‑51	2	9	15	9	5	3	65
6	FRA 1289	Rémy HURDIEL	Dunkerque VADK One	Dunkerque Yachting Club	11	9	‑19	3	13	2	12	8	14	8	80
7	GER 614	Martin MENZNER	PIKE	KYC	2	7	6	13	15	‑19	11	4	10	12	80
8	FRA 874	Périg DONNARD	MARINE BREST 1	Club Nautique Marine Brest	6	13	8	11	4	8	‑30	13	9	11	83
9	GBR 1363	Jon POWELL	betty	warsash sailing club	8	11	12	17	11	7	6	14	‑25	7	93
10	FRA 881	Victor MIGRAINE	team espoir PAPREC	SRH	12	‑51	9	7	12	6	14	7	11	15	93
11	ESP 1116	Javier CHACÁRTEGUI	HM‑hotels	CN Arenal	9	8	‑51	5	9	28	5	11	3	16	94
12	GER 853	Hauke KRÜSS	tak for turen	WVH	20	19	13	10	14	14	8	18	7	‑51	123
13	ITA 1143	Massimo RAMA	Jeniale! Akewuele	LNI Sestri Levante	25	10	10	9	16	10	7	16	24	‑51	127
14	DEN 1168	Johnny JENSEN	BHJ‑FONDEN	Sønderborg Yacht Club	14	18	15	20	8	11	17	12	15	‑51	130
15	FRA 797	Martin BERTRAND	CHARLY	Société des Régates Rochelaises	7	6	5	22	7	27	44	‑51	12	5	135
16	FRA 639	Patrick BOT	ECOLE NAVALE CG 29	CVAILEE	‑51	51	11	12	22	18	10	2	8	2	136
17	GER 885	Martin CHRISTIANSEN	Woolpower	KYC	15	12	‑51	30	26	20	9	19	2	13	146
18	FRA 1337	Christian FREZE	ATRIA	CN MARINE TOULON	26	16	20	23	5	15	‑29	15	23	17	160
19	GER 1183	Olav JANSEN	NORNA	KYC	16	17	16	‑41	18	22	19	17	17	23	165
20	GER 1033	Christian SCHUH	Macoca	KYC	17	14	23	8	21	30	21	23	20	‑51	177
21	GER 616	Meinhard BRAEDEL	Filou	LYC	‑32	23	22	18	27	4	18	21	27	21	181
22	GER 529	Fritz WASSNER	Bibelot	KYC	13	15	‑51	33	10	16	39	22	18	24	190
23	SWE 469	Lars GELLERHED	MK‑Produkter	VSS	23	21	17	32	30	33	16	10	‑36	19	201
24	FRA 168	Gaetan le GUIL	Hotel MIRAMAR	56018	24	27	14	26	23	‑35	35	27	28	18	222
25	GER 1406	Maximilian GEBHARD	Marama	LYC	19	20	24	24	‑51	31	27	34	30	26	235
26	GER 1254	Carsten TOPF	Fonty	SVAOE	36	30	29	16	25	3	37	39	22	‑51	237
27	GER 900	Tim HUEMME	Jim	KYC	21	26	18	‑38	32	32	26	30	33	20	238
28	GER 1380	Kai‑Gunnar KERSTEN	Gjøa	CKA	‑51	33	31	27	24	5	38	28	42	27	255
29	DEN 1131	Lars Solberg WOLLESEN	Karaboudjan	Sejlforeningen Vikingen	31	35	32	35	19	26	‑40	24	32	28	262
30	GBR 309	Michael EAMES	Jalfrezi	Strangford Lough Yacht Club	‑51	22	21	25	51	29	24	36	29	31	268
31	GER 1071	Finn JANSEN	Barandon	KYC	‑51	51	51	34	51	24	13	29	16	9	278
32	NED 838	Pp de VRIES	led2lease	watersportverbond	28	31	27	40	29	37	36	38	21	‑51	287
33	GER 1371	Moritz POHLMANN	Jupiter	DHH‑RG	27	29	30	39	‑51	39	31.2	32	34	29	290.2
34	GER 1073	Dr Matthias HERZBERG	Laetitia	KYC	18	28	‑51	51	51	42	22	31	19	30	292
35	DEN 1028	Flemming DJERNÆS	Blue Water Shipping	Sønderborg	22	25	25	36	28	25	32	‑51	51	51	295
36	GER 903	Gerhard HENßEN	Joytoy	ASV i. Aachen	34	32	26	42	‑51	40	23	42	38	25	302
37	GER 1032	Torsten VOSS	Frida	FYC	30	‑51	51	21	33	44	20	25	31	51	306
38	DEN 1358	Folke GALSGAARD	Gefion	Nivå Bådelaug	35	24	‑51	28	51	38	51	26	26	35	314
39	FRA 1501	Lehmann ERIK	HARIS	CLUB NAUTIQUE DE LA MARINE TOULON	‑51	51	51	31	31	34	33	37	35	14	317
40	GER 560	Karsten THODE	Jottflott	HYCL	29	‑51	51	29	51	41	28	20	37	34	320
41	GER 389	Andreas ROSE	true grit	KYC	‑51	51	51	15	51	17	34	40	40	33	332
42	GER 1369	Milena MÜLLER	Antares	DHH‑RG	‑51	36	28	37	51	21	41	51	39	32	336
43	GBR 726	Rachel WOODS	Jumblesail	N/a	37	34	33	44	‑51	43	25	41	43	36	336
44	DEN 769	Niels FEERUP	Sur Aqua	Nakskov Sejlklub	‑51	51	51	19	51	51	42	33	44	22	364
45	GER 1057	Falk SCHNEPEL	Sleipnir	KYC	38	‑51	51	43	17	45	43	51	51	51	390
46	DEN 1357	Claus RINDOM	Ce‑Ju	Vedbæk	33	‑51	51	51	51	46	31	35	41	51	390
47	GER 578	Sören HADELER	The Beast is back!	SVGM	‑51	51	51	6	51	36	51	51	51	51	399
48	GER 1297	Hans‑Juergen WEIDEMANN	Jette	RKCW	‑51	51	51	45	51	51	51	51	51	51	453
49	SWE 434	Mikael ANDERSSON	Team Vallagruppen	LBS	‑51	51	51	46	51	51	51	51	51	51	454
50	FRA 1420	Brezellec ERIC	COURRIER JUNIOR	CN SAINT CAST	‑51	51	51	51	51	51	51	51	51	51	459