Scandinavians dominate first races in OK Dinghy at Kieler Woche
by Robert Deaves 19 Jun 2023 00:15 BST
17-20 June 2023
Thomas Gabs, from Denmark, has taken the early lead in the OK Dinghy class in Kieler Woche after two light wind races on Sunday. Laban Soren, from Sweden, is second with Jesper Bendix, from Denmark, in third. The races wins went to Gabs and Bendix.
The class is racing on the inshore Golf course for the first time in a long time, just 15 minutes sail from the club, but light winds meant all racing on Saturday was cancelled. There was also a long delay on Sunday but eventually a warm sea breeze filled in and two races were possible before it again became too light to race. Kiel has been sweltering in a high temperatures and very little wind for several days and while it is forecast to get even warmer, there is more wind forecast as well.
Hans Elkjaer, from Sweden, was the early leader in Race 1, but Gabs passed him on the second beat to take the win from Elkjaer and Michal Strumnik, from Poland.
Bendix then led Race 2 from start to finish to win from Gabs and Soren. It was a rather Scandinavian day on the Kieler Förde.
Despite the World Championship starting in the UK at the end of the week, 35 OK Dinghy sailors from five countries made it to Kiel this year. A number of them will travel to Lyme Regis in the UK mid-week. The world championship starts on Friday. A full preview of that will follow.
Racing in Kiel continues until Tuesday with better wind forecast for the next two days.
Full gallery available here.
Results after two races here.