RM

Results

SWEDISH CHAMPIONSHIP 1998

The fleet was small but the competition was very, very good. Jan Saugmann & Morten Ramsbaek was close behind Krister/Thomas and if there had been racing on the last day it could well have been a Danish victory this year. Jorgen Schonherr and Anders Kaempe had teamed up together and was up there chasing these guys. The racing was held on the waters outside Åhus in strong wind. We had two days of racing only, on the last day it was too much to go sailing and be sure to bring yourself & the boat back.

The 5th race was really tough. 15 m/s steady breeze with 21 m/s puffs! Krister was hit close to the eyes by the spinpole end (in a take-down). He looked real nice with blood all over when returning to the harbour and I think Kalle Nilsson was glad to see that motorboat which came to his rescue and saved his life... Kalle was in the drink with a big hole in the drysuit and had lost contact with the boat just before they had crashlanded on the shore. One boat got damaged, SWE8619, the hull is anyhow in good hands at Holger Jess and the rig at Jacob Bojsen Moller to be repaired in time before the container transport to Hyannis.

We all recovered and Johan, Anna & Dietrich did a great job fixing the barbeque at Johan's and Anna's home. In the evening after the first day of sailing we had an international football game between helmsmans and crews. The helmsmans won the game surprisingly easy with 5-3 (using Norwegian tactics) but lost the penalty-kick final. Of course its better with a big crew to cover up the goal than a tiny helmsman...

Congratulations to Krister Bergstrom and Thomas Moss! and Many Thanks to Johan Arvedson and all the folks involved at Åhus KappseglingsClub.
Ebbe Rosen, Secretary, Swedish 505 Association