Flying Dutchman World Championships at Largs Sailing Club - Day 1
by Alan Henderson 14 Jul 2014 19:48 BST
14-19 July 2014
The fleet heads to windward on day 1 of the Flying Dutchman World Championships 2014 © Alan Henderson /
www.fotoboat.com
The 2014 Flying Dutchman World Championships started at Largs, Scotland on Monday 14th July. Competitors withstood a tough introduction, in a war of attrition with the conditions. Southerly winds of up to 22 knots in gusts and heavy rain gave a stirring start, with many boats capsizing and suffering gear breakages.
Only half of the fleet of 42 boats were still standing and able to answer the call for the second of the two races sailed today. The first race was held over a long initial leg of two miles, but after visibility closed in, the second race was over a reduced course size of just one mile, but sailed over three rounds of the shorter course, rather than two large rounds.
But the change in course size made no difference to former World Champions Szabolcs Majthenyi and Andras Domokos, of Hungary, who opened the week with two emphatic race wins to establish an early lead in the Championship. They won both races by over two minutes to show their class in these fresh wind conditions.
Also scoring very well were current World Champions Enno Kramer and Ard Geelkerken from the Netherlands. They opened with a third place, then improved with a second place in the second race.
To complete a formidable trio of current or former World Champions at the top of a very competitive event, former World Champions the brothers Jorgen and Jacob Bojsen-Moller, from Denmark, lie in third overall.
The depleted fleet in the second race meant opportunities for those who remained, and for instance Germany's Jan Lechler and Jens Salow took an eleventh place in the second race after opening with a 19th place.
"Championships are meant to be challenging; this was true Championship sailing", said Austria's Philipp Zingerle.
Racing among this international gathering from eleven countries worldwide will continue tomorrow with another two races.
Race 1, top 3 boats:
1. Szabolcs Majthenyi/ Andras Domokos, HUN
2. Kilian Konig/ Johannes Brack, GER
3. Enno Kramer/ Ard Geelkerken, NED
Race 2, top 3 boats
1. Majthenyi/ Domokos
2. Kramer/ Geelkerken
3. Jorgen & Jacob Bojsen-Moller, DEN
Supporting sponsors
The class would like to thank Championship sponsors Clamcleats, Design Berlin, Banks Sails, Ronstan, Magill & Co Ltd, Old Pulteney, Allen Bros, Musto.