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Close racing at Intl 505 Worlds
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| Int`l 505 World Championship - Close racing at Intl 505 Worlds |
| MALMÖ, SWEDEN-(27-7-2003) Day 2 of the 505 World Championship at Malmo brought more exciting conditions and close racing. With only one race scheduled the Race Committee set a longer course that involved crossing the shipping lane on the first beat, which brought some extra excitment when the late running Malmo – Travemunde Ferry came across the fleet during the starting sequence.
The race started in a 20 knot south easterly which set a stiff test for competitors and their gear alike. The USA team of Ali Meller and Jesse Falsone made the most of their role as pathfinder to lead the fleet around mark 1. The following downwind leg was fast and furious and rewarded those who got their gybing angles and course selection right. After much place changing the Germans, Christian Kellner and Claus Stammerjohann, came through to lead by Mark 3. However, multiple world champion, Krister Bergstrom, crewed by Johan Barne both of Sweden, were in close pursuit and broke through to head the 85 boat fleet on the second lap. The wind was beginning to moderate and there was considerable place changing amongst the leading group. At the start of the last upwind leg, Kellner and Stammerjohann held pole position, but lost out to both Bergstom and the early championship leaders Wolfgang Hunger and Holger Jess, who correctly picked a shift to finish first and second respectively.
Provision positions after 3 races of 9
1 Hunger/Jess (GER)
2 Hamlin/Alarie (USA)>br>
3 Scutcher/Diebitsch (GBR)
4 Bergstrom/Barne (SWE)
5 Lehmann/Scholer (GER)
6 Riber/Buhl (DEN)
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Source: Chris Thorne |
