A splendour of sailing on the coast, for both the Cup Races and the World Championship. Those who have followed the daily NRV News messages, excellently preprared by Deike Flemming, are on top of things; those who wish to read them now, will find the details on the NRV website and on our Int. 5.5m Class website.
How did it all begin? Boats were arriving by road to Boltenhagen:
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| "Traumfänger" near to the harbour |
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| "Silver Fox" in the marina |
Then came the craning, with a truly mobile unit and its fabulous driver:
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| "Stradivarius" flying high |
Others arriving over sea, with approximate 115sm distance & numerous tacks:
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| "Sturmvogel" & crew relaxing along the jetty bar party |
The whole event has been professionally organized on sea and land by a big team of NRV sailing enthusiasts, whom we do herewith send another VERY BIG THANK YOU! Measuring checks became a serious part of the game and were well received. Regularely flowing after race beers were joined by Grill & Paella food, plus the unique Swiss Cheese & Wine afternoon [MERCI VIELMALS!] and so the whole event was full of surprises.
A multitude of pictures have been published (NRV & Int. 5.5m website as well as in several Sailing Magazines and online services), giving the International 5.5m Class a good media coverage. The action-loaded pictures of the official photographer, Nils Bergmann, have just been added to the Int. 5.5m Class website.
From the 38 boats on the list, in the end 37 boats have been racing. The oldest was the 1953 built Boesch boat "Sim-Sala-Bim" (owned by Eduard Egli in 1959 as "Django") to the latest 2011 Wilke built Seb Schmidt design "Shaolin" owned by Rolf Kellenberger.
Precious metal went to Jussi Gullichsen (Scandinavian Gold Cup), Matti Muoniovaara (Hankoe Evolution Cup), Lutz von Meyerinck (Royal Kaag Classic Cup). Hans-Peter Schmid & Crew won the guest race and the top 3 in the Worlds resulted Kristian Nergaard & Crew, Flavio Marazzi & Crew and Jochen Schümann & Crew. The return of Jochen to the 5.5m Class has been giving the chance for many happy reencounters. The Fazer Trophy was won by Gavin McKinney & Crew, the honours for best Evolution boat went to NRV President Andreas Christiansen & Crew and to Lutz von Meyerinck & Crew as best Classic boat.
All sailors have been tested by a good selection of wind & wave conditions and by Thursday evening the Worlds found an illustrous end in yet another evening party.
After an impressive clockwork style craning process presented by Marina Boltenhagen, the last boat at the jetty has been awaiting favourable winds to return sailing home across Lübeck Bay:
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| "Corona", a VATOR built jewel |
So now, those of you who have won it, polish your silver and bring it back to Curacao, those who have not, go for it - in January!
