After a thrilling final settlement, Krister Bergström and Per-Anders Hallberg surfed home the gold to Sweden and GKSS. It was the fourth gold medal for Krister, who last won the World Cup in 1989, even then with Per-Anders in the trapeze. Photo: Dan Ljungsvik

The championships were preceded by the Pre-Worlds/International Swedish Championship which was inaugurated on Friday July 26th. The inauguration was held in Korvetten's garden, where GKSS chairman Gunne Dellborg and competition leader Bengt Grävare gave a welcome speech. 68 boats participated in the open Swedish Championships. Before the WC, 15 were added so that the starting field then consisted of 83 boats.

The English "Swedish champion"

Monday's two races were canceled due to non-existent wind, but with four races completed so far, a winner could still be crowned. The winner and "Swedish champion" were the Englishmen Ian Pinnell/Mark Darling. These two would later prove to be one of the worst competitors to our Swedish favorites in the battle for the World Cup gold. We found the best Swedes in ninth place: Stockholmers Ebbe Rosén and Olle Wenrup. Our main favorites from GKSS were found in 12th place: Kalle Nilsson/Frank Bach on 32nd place. Krister Bergström who sailed with his brother Rasmus during the Swedish Championships. Due to trouble with, among other things, the big event, the brothers could not complete any of the races on Sunday and this of course reduced the result.

Marstrand's harbor is growing

For the first time, the Marstrandsverken shipyard area was used as a parking place for the boats. It worked well and with three ramps it was also quick to get the boats in the water in the mornings. Press Office was also on the Koön side and this was also a premiere. It worked very smoothly; the journalists who came did not have to take the ferry over, but press boats were on hand just outside the Press Office, which was located in FEAB's old office premises.

A wonderful bunch

The atmosphere among the 505 sailors is relaxed and you can feel the spirit of a friend even as an outsider. Everyone shares their trim solutions and ideas instead of hiding them from each other. It is a wonderful group that is very easy to have and do with and fun to work with. For me as a novice in the function, it was a positive experience and I am happy to be an regatta official supporter again. When you have fun when you work, you can make a little extra effort and nothing feels impossible.

Party with happy speeches

Tuesday and Wednesday were measurement days and on Wednesday evening, July 31, it was the inauguration of the World Cup at the fortress, solemn and grandiose, worthy of a World Cup, with, among other things, guiding a man in a typical Carolingian uniform. Then it was dinner in the ballroom. After a couple of formal welcome speeches by, among others, the Swedish Sailing Federation's Erkki Persson, there was also an opportunity for a representative from each participating country to say a few chosen words. These were less strict and raised the mood considerably and the slightly nervous speakers received good support through happy shouts, laughter and applause. Most applause and whistles were received by the Belgian representative, a cute blonde – one of the few girls who participated.

When will the wind come?

Most days there was perfect spectator weather. Ie radiant sun, warm and around 5 m/s. The sailors, on the other hand, wanted more wind. When the weather report in the mornings was posted on the notice board in the harbor, you could hear deep sighs from the sailors – no strong wind today either... Of the 83 boats that participated in the WC, 18 were Swedish. There were sailors from ten countries and the crews that were considered the most interesting were Swedish, Danish, American and Australian. Other participating nations were England, France, Germany, Finland, Belgium and Switzerland.

Many candidates for the gold

The great Swedish hope was of course Krister Bergström – already three-time world champion 1987-89 and his crew P-A Hallberg, who won gold in 1989. Would this combination prove unbeatable even in Marstrand? Kalle Nilsson/Frank Bach, the seniors in the class and with many fine merits in their luggage would surely like to have a say in the game. Like last year's gold medalists Jörgen Schönherr/Anders Kaempe from Denmark. The USA had the victorious duo Howard Hamlin and Steve Rosenberg and Australia several strong cards. Dean Blatchford, won the Worlds in 1984 and this year he sails with his brother Todd, Terry Kyrwood, world champion in 1983 who this time sails with Charles Spence. Brothers Chris and Darren Nicholson were a third very good candidate for the gold. Or would the Swedish Championship winners Pinnell/Darling also take home the World Cup?

The World Cup's most bad luck

Some of the participants were already here in 1974, when the 505 world championships took place in Marstrand last time. Those who did not experience this themselves have at least heard of it. Then it is said that "the five-oh's flew high over the Marstrands fjord", with various more or less serious accidents as a result. This summer, most survived some major injuries. A couple of rudder crashes were probably the worst incidents. The worst affected were the Danes Kim Christensen/Sören Overbeck. During the World Cup's first race, they were up in the lead, but on the last reach came such a strong wave that the helmsman could not parry it properly. The crew fell on him and the rudder came loose. But not in the pin gudgeon but a large piece of the transom broke off. There was no more sailing for these poor boys that day.

The Swedes took the lead

The first race was instead won by Krister Bergström and P-A Hallberg and in second place Kalle Nilsson and Frank Bach. Double Swedish in the lead. And double GKSS. Even after day two, there was a double Swedish lead, but the order was the reverse: Kalle and Frank were first. This race had been won by Schönherr/Kaempe who was now third. The Danes also won the third race and took the lead. The fourth and fifth races were won by Pinnell/Darling who now also came up in the lead and fought for the first place. During these races it blew more than it has done before, which benefited above all the English but also the Swedes. Schönherr/Kaempe went best in light winds but also hanged on somewhat in the slightly fresher breeze.

Exciting along to the final race

Before the sixth and final race, the excitement was at its peak. No less than four boats had the opportunity to win. Would the victory go to one of the Swedish crews Bergström/Hallberg and Nilsson/Bach or would the Englishmen Pinnell/Darling or the Danes Schönherr/Kaempe win the medal? How it would all end was still uncertain on the last beat and made the whole thing extremely exciting. At this point, it was a battle between Bergström/Hallberg and Pinnell/Darling. If the English won, the Swedes could not get worse than third to win overall. Pinnell/Darling was first while Krister and P-A were fifth for a long time. Many were the nails that were nervously bitten off at sea this day! Eventually, the Swedes managed to sail up to the second place that they retained in the finish, even though the English did everything to hold back the Swedes, so that the third and fourth would have time to driving them by. The gold was secured for Sweden.

Cajun party

On Sunday evening (the 4th), "social event managers" had arranged a nice party at Strandverket. It was Cajun themed and jambalaya, ribs and crayfish were served. Afterwards they drank Hurricane. A band played Cajun inspired music that invited to long dances around Strandverket. During the evening, various competitions were held which were part of a pentathlon where each country was allowed to have a team.

Then came the wind

The reserve day did not need to be used. The award ceremony and closing party were therefore held on Wednesday (August 7). Thursday was instead used to try to restore Marstrand to what it was before the five-oh-five sailors with officials took over and controlled the island for two weeks. When I left Marstrand it started to get cloudy. The next day I woke up to the noise of the trees. Wind with gale force was on its way and it was the wind that the 505 sailors had been waiting in vain for two weeks!


Kalle Nilsson and Frank Bach, GKSS. Photo: Dan Ljungsvik
Kalle, a real veteran in the 505 class, and Frank had a chance to the gold before the last race.

Terry Kyrwood and Charles Spence passing Ebbe Rosén and Olle Wenrup. Photo: Dan Ljungsvik

Fighting faces on Krister Bergström and P-A Hallberg, world champions this year in the 505 class.
Krister's fourth (!) World Cup gold. Photo: Dan Ljungsvik
 

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