Flying Dutchman World Championships 2001 Overall Report

by Peter Doran 4 Jul 2001 13:05 BST

The Flying Dutchman Worlds were held from 20-28 June at Gilleleje in Denmark. 69 entries from 14 Nations included previous World champions and Olympic medallists. The event was sponsored by Semcor and well supported by the Gilleleje Sailing Club, the local community and tourist office. A good social program included music every night in the large boat shed next to the modern clubhouse on the edge of the harbour.

Racing was held a short distance from the harbour with traditional triangle sausage format, and windward legs of between 1.2 and 1.5 NM

The first race was held on Friday 22nd in approx 16 knots of wind from the NW. After two general recalls the race officer produced his Black flag with the desired effect of a clean start. The Race was led from start to finish by the Danish team of Jorgen and Jacob Bojsen-Moller(DEN 21), who were pressed hard by the Hungarian team of Szabolcs Majthenyi and Andras Domokos(HUN 70). Further back the rest of the fleet had good racing with many place changes on the shifty conditions.

The two races scheduled for Sat were abandoned due to 30 plus knots and large waves.

On Sunday morning Race 2 was held in overcast conditions with 12-15 knots and some large and difficult wave patterns. The fleet got away the first time and again the Bojsen Moller brothers led the way with the Hungarian team again second. The third race was held back to back, with the Boysen Mollers repeating their performance but this time the Hungarians were beaten by the 2000 Worlds second placed team of Hans-Peter Schwarz and Roland Kirst (GER 87). Behind these three leading boats there was strong competition from Germany, USA, Spain and Holland.

Monday 25th had races 4 and 5, in similar conditions to the previous day. In race 4 again the Bojsen Mollers were in front, followed by the Hungarians but this time the third boat was the Dutch team of Bas and Marc van der Pol (NED32 ) . Race 5 had the Danes still in front but this time Martin Krings and Joachim Brodda (GER52) were second.

Following a Reserve day, with no racing, two races were scheduled for Wednesday 27th. Following a two hour postponement the wind settled to 10 knots from the North in bright sunshine. Race 6 started after a general recall with several boats disqualified with the Black flag. At the windward mark NED 3 Albert van Vianen and Rob Taal were the leading boat followed by Ger33 Hans Genthe and Henri Kramer. These two were closely followed by the usual leaders of HUN 70, DEN 21 and GER52.

Several place changes followed in a tight race. At the line the GER 210 Jorg Witte and Stefan Madicke won from HUN 70.

As the fleet made its way back to the next start the wind died and race 7 was abandoned to the following day.

Races 7 and 8 were now scheduled for the last day Thursday 28th. The wind was very unsettled in the bright sunshine. After a postponement on the water of 1.5 hours the fleet returned to shore and waited. At 13:45 the last two scheduled races were abandoned leaving Jorgen and Jacob Bojsen Moller popular World Champions. They will be defending their title in Portugal in 2002.

Event Photos: (click thumbnail for full image)