2015 Danish Championship, Bønnerup Strand, Denmark

Lundeborg 21-13 August

12 min Video of the event by Sam Jedig

Complete results
Equipment used by top 10

Report by Thomas Kvist and Stefan Myrälf

The Danish Championships 2015 OK dinghies started on Thursday evening with the opening ceremony in the clubhouse. Most of the participants showed up and Deputy Mayor ´Bo Hansen´ welcomed us with the following words: “In Lundeborg it is with great pleasure to welcome you to the OK championships and we are proud to be able to attract this event to one of Svendborg Municipality Ports. For a small town and yacht club is a huge and demanding task to arrange a championship for 75 sailors.”

Friday

The day started with a joint breakfast and an opportunity to prepare lunch to take afloat. The first start was scheduled for 13:00, so there was plenty of time to fix final details on the boats.

The weather forecast for the day was light air 2-3 m/sec. all day. On the water, there were 75 sailors, who were all fired up and ready for the first race. And, maybe there was someone (read: many), a little to fresh as there were certainly many who were over the line before the start and the race was quickly called off – general recall … (A later comment by course manager, Morten Halberg proclaimed: you sailors are utterly disrespectful…)

Next start showed the U-flag, but many sailors were over the line at the second attempt. Therefore, also this gave a restart, and now we saw the “Black Flag” In the third attempt which came off with success, and the race was completed in light but reasonably steady wind.

1st race top 3: Frederik Svendsen, Niels-Kristian Terkildsen; Jens Lauge

The second race was started in the traditional way, but again the referee had to call back fleet … and then another U-flag followed up by a black flag. The start went of with 17 boats too fast on the trigger. But, at fourth attempt the fleet came clean off the line and the race was settled in choppy seas and little wind.

2nd race top 3: Jørgen Svendsen, Oliver Gronholz (GER), Marek Benat (POL)

The evening included a Lundeborg-classic: Glazed ham with creamed potatoes, which was a strong desire from OK Dinghy club sailors

The weather forecast for the next day promised some more wind, but still as a beautiful summer day.

Saturday

From the early morning we saw fresh wind and sunshine from a cloudless sky. The weather forecast had promised 4 m/s and those who like medium wind condition went out with a big smile. There was not quite the same at the scheduled start time. Sailing from the slipway in Lundeborg port to one of Denmark’s best racing waters is less than 5 minutes.

As many would expect the first race was launched with a high number of boats over the line. Prompt reaction from the committee boat after a general recall was the black flag in the next race.

Perhaps the swift intervention (17 disqualified) with the black flag the previous day had made an impression on the sailors, as the next start went perfectly – without any boats over the line. Despite the weather forecast the race was settled in very light wind and was won by “The family Svendsen.”

3rd race top 3: Jørgen Svendsen, Niels-Kristian Terkildsen (brother in law to Jørgen), Frederik Svendsen

In the second race, the first three boats across the line (Jørgen Svendsen, Stefan Myrälf and Niels-Kristian Terkildsen) were noted to have been over the line, and Jorgen Lindhardtsen who otherwise crossed the finish line in fourth, was awarded first place.

4th race top 3: Jørgen Lindhardtsen, Frederik Svendsen, Jens Lauge

The wind picked up a little before the fifth race, and again the fleet was thinned out a little, as some boats got black flag – and since it was the last race of the day, there were a number of sailors who returned early to the harbour. However, the remainder of the fleet came well off in the next attempt, and the wind finally freshened up a bit.

5th race top 3: Jørgen Svendsen, Frederik Svendsen, Stefan Myralf

Sunday

The weather forecast predicted fine windy conditions, and those who like to hike were not disappointed. With an average of 8 m/s in the morning meant that there was a little more quiet at the camp site than had been heard the other days. You could just sense that the focus was already a little out on the course. Someone with a focus on hitting the right wind jumps, while others might rather focus on how to get through the day without capsizing.

The dinghies were in the water in good time, and the races were started on schedule. As usual, the first start gave a general recall. Just as seen the previous days, the black flag was set at the subsequent start. The fleet started in perfect sailing conditions: medium strong wind and waves to play with off the wind. For the first time in the regatta we saw Bo Petersen in the top 3.

6th race top 3: Bo Petersen, Jørgen Lindhardtsen, Christian Olesen

The fleet was now gradually decreasing, after several had “gored eel” in the first race. But the weather was stable, and the constant wind and waves from Langeland gave the sailors a final opportunity to get sea spray in their hair and a little more tired “hanging-legs”. The last race was won by Oliver Gronholz (Germany) from Bo Petersen and Stefan Myralf number three.

Back on land, the big packing up day was underway, and all the while dinghies, tents boxes etc were being packed together, the organisers prepared for prize giving in the clubhouse. Tension on the podium was released, and it was three happy medalists each received gifts and cups on the terrace of Lundeborg.