A sea breeze of around 10 knots had set in by midday, enabling the race to get underway on time. With similar conditions on the race track to the previous day, most boats were keen to start early and get to the left-hand side to take advantage of the weaker current and the anticipated wind shift to the south. However, many skippers got carried away by going to far left and although the leaders at the first mark were Lutz Stengel and Frank Feller (Germany) who had been amongst the early starters, also in the top group were Howard Hamlin and Peter Alarie (USA), who had started about a third of the way along the gate, and the pathfinder, crewed by Christian Kellner and Klaus Stammerjohann (Germany), proving that there was no particular advantage to either end of the start line.

The fleet split on the next downwind leg with a few of the leaders electing to sail high and fast, but Hamlin and most of the middle of the fleet electing to sail a slower but more direct course. Although this led to some place changing in the chasing pack, Stengel and Feller increased their advantage. Others prominent amongst the challengers were McCosh and Lapham of Zimbabwe and Rosen and Wenrup of the host nation.

The breeze was oscillating through about 15 degrees but most of the fleet preferred the comfort of the left side rather than chance their arm on looking for the shifts on the right. The main excitement came on the final beat when Hamlin and Alarie broke through Stengel and Feller, with the two boats engaging in a close tacking duel approaching the finish line. The Americans took the gun by about four lengths. However, further disappointment was to follow for the German pair when they discovered that they were to be disqualified for hitting the starting mark and failing to take a penalty turn.

Final Result

1. Hunger / Jess GER 12 pts, 2. Bergstrom / Barne SWE, 23 pts, 3. Hamlin / Alarie USA 30 pts, 4. Riber / Buhl DEN 41 pts, 5. Kellner / Stammerjohann GER 42 pts, 6. Pinnell / Hunt GBR 52 pts.

Source: Chris Thorne