Laser 2 World Championships, Warnemuender Woche

Nigel Skudder & Keith Hills win the Laser 2 worlds at Warnemuender Woche © Warnemünder Woche / Pepe Hartmann

Brits supreme in the big winds on the Baltic Sea

The Laser 2s had travelled to the Baltic previously for a European Championships during Travemunder week and enjoyed excellent sailing alongside a wonderful festival of the sea and celebration of life and fun. This year a further trip to the Baltic for the World Championships was planned and this proved to be an equivalent event for all concerned with the organisation, entertainment and the weather conditions coming up trumps yet again.

Practice Race, Sunday 8th July

Sunday afternoon’s practice race was postponed by a few hours due to strong winds and big waves in the bay of Mecklenburger. The 470s, 420s and OKs were also held ashore whilst the winds abated slightly. There was the usual concern about risking the boat and the possibility of gear failure before the Championship proper. In the event a sailable Force 4 provided a good shake down for all crews and race organisers alike with no damage or horror stories resulting. The top teams all showed their prowess with the German team of Lisa Buddemeier & Matthias Duwel in 2nd and the British team of Nigel Skudder & Keith Hills taking line honours. Winning the practice race at the start of the event is not always a good thing, as the superstitious will tell you all too frequently.

Day 1, Monday 9th July - 3 Championship races scheduled

Light breezes (force 1-3) and messy / choppy seas were evident from the shore, following some strong overnight winds, so a first day nightmare was pending for the heavier crews and a veritable jamboree expected for the lighter weight teams. Rigs were firmly upright compared to the previous day and sails set full for the drive through the expected chop. All classes including the Tempest’s, Micro cuppers and the other dinghies set out for a full day on the water.

The German partnership of Lisa Buddemeier & Matthias Duwel (GER 10591), showed their light weather skills notching up an impressive series on Course H, some 45 mins. sailing out into the bay, and posted 2 strong 2nds and a 3rd. Ralf Terheyden and Oliver Vorberg (GER 10610), had a good day initially with a 1st and a 4th but over enthusiasm at the start of the 3rd race led to their first early discard. The British team of Nigel Skudder & Keith Hills (GBR10588), counted some valuable low scores on the day recording a 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the difficult conditions.

Day 2, Tuesday 10th July - 3 Championship races scheduled

The forecast lighter breezes (force 1-3), were evident, but somewhat flatter seas would make the sailing more even for all crew sizes. Rigs were set up much the same in the quest for power and drive through the expected choppy seas.

The German team of Lisa Buddemeier & Matthias Duwel (GER10591),were the people to beat on the day posting a credible 1st and 2nd, but Nigel Skudder & keith Hills (GBR10588), virtually equalled this fine performance with a 1st and 3rd of their own, keeping in close touch with the current regatta leaders. They were being hotly pursued by an improving German team of Marian & Daniel Scheer (GER5460). During the day Ralf Terheyden & Oliver Vorberg (GER 10610), had ditched their earlier OCS and climbed back into 3rd overall behind the British team. The 3rd race of the day was postponed due to forecast thunder storms which did not materialize and all boats were sent ashore for the day. All crews sat on the beach watching a beautiful force 4 in sunshine lost. The weather omens looked poor for the forthcoming days and all other classes suffering similar conditions across the bay.

Day 3, Wednesday 11th July - 3 Championship races scheduled

Moderate winds opened the morning but both the sea and wind mounted to a blustery force 5/6, ending up as “big Wednesday” – enter the “big boys!”

During the ever increasing winds the order of merits on the day shifted with the Dutch partnership of Hidde Dijkstra & Jeroen Schoenmakers (NED10416), scoring 2 solid 2nd places and the ever improving German team of Marian Scheer & Daniel Scheer (GER 5460). Ralf Terheyden & Oliver Vorberg (GER 10610), also scored well, as did Yens Hilker & Oliver Korte (GER9967).

The day started the change in fortunes of the 2 leading teams, shifting the title hunt, with the Germans struggling in the strong winds and the piling waves, whilst Nigel Skudder & Keith Hills (GBR10588) revelled in the powerful upwind legs and storming downwind reaches posting 2 well earned 1st places and a further solid 3rd place, a good series was taking shape in the varied conditions.

The days racing meant that Nigel Skudder & Keith Hills (GBR10588) leapt above the leading German pairing of Lisa Buddemeier & Matthias Duwel (GER10591) and the Dutch team of Hidde Dijkstra & Jeroen Schoenmakers (NED10416). The German teams of Marian & Daniel Scheer (GER5460) and Ralf Terheyden & Oliver Vorberg (GER 10610), closed the gaps between 2nd 3rd and 4th places by the end of play.

Day 4, Thursday 12th July - 3 Championship races scheduled.

The strong winds forecast materialised providing a further crucial day in the formation of the Regatta. In the event only two races were held, due to the ever increasing force 5/6 plus winds, this with the long waves providing yet again very testing conditions in which the Laser 2 truly excelled and delighted both the crews and organisers alike with some storming airborne moments both up and down hill. Conditions were hard and tough and the race officer constantly meant business to provide a proper test of determination and willpower for all the determined competitors.

Nigel Skudder & Keith Hills (GBR10588), sailed well and scored a further 1st and 2nd, the Marian & Daniel Scheer brothers (GER5460), scoring similarly and the 2nd place German team of Lisa Buddemeier & Matthias Duwel (GER10591) sailing more consistently now with a 3rd and a 6th place. The Dutch team of Hidde Dijkstra & Jeroen Schoenmakers (NED10416), scored well and moved up into fourth overall at the end of the day. The winds failed to moderate during the day so the race officer bravely sent the crews ashore to lick their wounds for the time being. A decision was taken to abandon racing for the day and sail the championship out on the Friday.

Day 5, Friday 13th July – 3, possibly 4 Championship races scheduled.

With an early start scheduled for 10am and a last race cut off time set for 2pm. the Nigel Skudder & Keith Hills team (GBR 10588), with a 10 points lead and a 3rd and 4th discard set, were in a commanding position. It was still possible however for the Lisa Buddemeier & Matthias Duwel team (GER10591), to win. The weather conditions were forecast at 3-4 but this did not materialise and light winds prevailed falling into the hands of the lighter crew. The German team prospered in the light winds to win all 3 races on the day but Nigel Skudder and Keith Hills secured the World Championship by scoring a comfortable 2nd place in the first race of the day and an uncomfortable 6th place in the 2nd race. Critical gear failure during the latter stages demanded quick thinking to stabilise the rig due to a broken shroud fixing making the closing stages of the event very uncomfortable. This forced retirement from further racing for the British crew on the day and the 2pm time cut off prevented further racing and the Championship was secure. There was great joy in the British camp, tempest supporters and all, as the title was last secured by GBR in 1993, a long overdue victory.

As well as the usual prizes there was a special award by the International Class to Ralf Terheyden of Germany, for services to the class over many years which was well received.

Overall Results: (after 13 races)

1st Nigel Skudder & Keith Hills (GBR 10588) Starcross, 23 pts
2nd Lisa Buddemeier & Matthias Duwel (GER 10591) ASV-Hbg, 27 pts
3rd Marian/Daniel Scheer (GER 5460) SC Hatti, 44pts

Full results available on the Warnemuender web site results pages.