Stellan Berlin (SWE) Takes Title

Yesterday’s two races saw reigning world champion, Heiko Kroeger (GER), fall back to 4th place overall with Stellan Berlin (SWE) moving into pole position and claiming the Championship title with a race to spare.

Before the last day of racing in Miami for the 2.4mR world championships, Stellan Berlin, Sweden, had a comfortable lead with 13 points. A group of 4 sailors with 40-43 points, together with a handful other competitors, were fighting for the other medals. Among these were Martin Holmgren, Sweden who was second and former world champions Heiko Kröger, Germany, and Marko Dahlberg, Finland and two Americans.

When it was time for the first start the wind were very light and everyone could guess that the race would be very difficult. Shifts on 15-20 degrees and very local changes in wind strength made it difficult to guess who would be first to the windward mark. It proved to be right to go on the sides of the course. First to the windward mark was Hans Meyer, USA, followed by Jussi Viitala. Stellan Berlin was around tenth and even further down was Martin Holmgren and Heiko Kröger. Even if the second windward leg seemed to be as risky as the first the positions was more or less unchanged.

Many sailors in the top had got high points and with one race to go Stellan Berlin was already champion. Hans Meyer had with his win positioned him self on the second position ahead of Heiko Kröger and Marko Dahlberg. Martin Holmgren had gone from a second to a fifth position, a position that he shared with Thomas Brown only six points after Hans Meyer in second position.

In the third start of the last race the fleet managed to get away. This race was also sailed in very light air, but with slightly more stable conditions. Stellan Berlin managed to sail well in the middle of the course but the sailors on the left hand side of the course got a small advantage and managed to get into the lead. In the group from the left side you could notice Thomas Brown and Hans Meyer, but also from further down the result list Bo Hedensjö, Sweden. No big changes happened during the last part of the race and Hans Meyer managed to secure the silver. Who is holding the bronze is not clear at the moment due to problems with the finishing list. The current list says that Thomas Brown is in third position followed by Heiko Kröger.

Check the 2.4mR Worlds Website for the official results.
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