Thomas Hansson-Mild has won his 17th Swedish national title after a close fought event at Varberg from 20-23 August, hosted by Varbergs Segelsällskap. Early leader, Niklas Edler had to settle for second with Daniel Björndahl taking third.
After two races in great conditions on the opening day, Niklas Edler held a narrow lead from Hansson-Mild in second with Daniel Björndahl third. The race wins and gone to Mikael Björndal and Edler.
Saturday was a long day afloat with one light wind race, a 2 hour wait and the a second in a building breeze that topped t at 24-25 knots. Edler extended his lead at the Swedish. after convincingly winning the opening race and then third in the next behind Daniel Björndahl and Hansson-Mild.
After four races it was turning into a three-horse race, but Hansson-Mild dominated the final day winning all three races, with few mistakes upwinds and great speed downwind.
Thomas picks up the story, “Going in for the last day I knew that I basically had to win all races in order to win. I told myself that it is possible if I could pull off good starts and keep my focus as high as possible. In the first race I started tight with Edler at the pin in order to keep it tight and take full advantage of the line favours. It became a tight race where I managed to win it and with a close battle for second and third.
“Points were now closer and by the second race the wind had started to pick up more and so also the current, and the right seemed to pay off. I think Edler started a bit further down the line and ended up a bit on the backfoot on that race having his first big drop finishing 7th. I still had to win and had a close battle with Daniel Björndahl who had showed good speed and was still in the hunt. I managed to win that race and now things were down to the last race.
“All three of us could win. The last race I chose to start next to the starting vessel where also Edler had positioned himself. We had a hard beat towards the right but at the top mark I was lying fourth and I had to win again in order to win overall. I took two boats including Edler on the run and started the second beat in second behind Björndahl. He held on to his lead until I think took him on the long reach going on the last lap on the outer loop. So did Edler, who came to round up just behind me before the short beat up to the finish. And so, a three in a row strike had happened.
“The level of high-class sailors keeps adding to the OK Fleet. That means I have to be on top of my game and to be able to claim my 17th title is kind of hard to digest and but somehow it’s probably harder for others. It was a great regatta arrangement with great people on and off the water.
“New material from Ceilidh and Turtle Sails with the hull from Ovington have clearly been a help and new inspiration for an old dog like me. I have sailed North successfully for ten years through great companionship and so with Turtle before that for eight odd years so the change back have been smooth.”
He paid tribute to the PRO, HP Hylander, “HP’s influence has been more than catches the eye for this humble low key man. He has not only been an extraordinarily good race officer for numerous years and championships but he’s also a good sailor who not only took bronze medal and top finishing places at World championships. Added to that he has also been highly involved in the OK dinghy development with the HP hull who took gold at home waters in 1996 worlds sailed by Sweden’s Christian Carlsson.
“I started my career in the OK dinghy class 37 years ago in Varberg and I swam so much that HP came up to me and tossed me a rope with an anchor and told me, “Hold on to this, I have to start the others!”
Results here: https://www.sailarena.com/sv/se/club/vass/sm-finnjolle–ok-jolle-2026/
Day 1 gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720335233451
Day 2 gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720335271444/
Day 3 gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnclassphotos/albums/72177720335262880
