(Kiel, Germany)- Host of the J/80 Worlds 2015 is the Kieler Yacht-Club, which annually conducts the famous Kieler Woche together with three other clubs. Apart from the top-notch infrastructure for large sailing events ashore, KYC is expecting ideal wind and weather conditions in July and will offer a professional race management team and a first-class international jury.
The Olympic Sailing Center Kiel-Schilksee is the base for the fifty-six J/80s from eight countries that are returning to Kiel Fjord. The regatta will take place from the 4th to 10th of July, with racing starting on Monday the 6th and final races on Friday, July 10th.
For German sailing champion Martin Menzner from Stein/Laboe, the J/80 Worlds at his doorstep will be a welcome opportunity to race in a big international fleet, “National events generally draw between 20 and 30 boats, so the J/80 Worlds will be a quite different dimension.“
Menzner is looking forward to the regatta, “I’m sure that Spanish top teams, who have been dominating the scene over the last few years, will not miss out on the worlds,” he says. “Things may go well for us if conditions are right. But to be honest – we’d be more than happy with a top ten finish like in Copenhagen in 2011. The international level is quite demanding and the top teams happen to be that bit quicker in decisive situations and more adaptable to varying conditions.“
In addition to Menzner’s crew on PIKE, twenty-four German teams will be vying for both German and World’s honors. Amongst the top local boats are Bjorn Beilken’s PROCEDES DIVA, Andreas Rose’s TRUE GRIT, Sven Vagt’s BOOTSWERFT WINKLER, and Pit Finis’ DRALION (with ISAF Match Race champion Karol Jablonski from Poland as tactician).
As anticipated, the next largest contingent is from France. Their fleet has been working hard to get everyone up to speed and their performances at recent major events indicate they are ready for sailing in the Kieler Fjord waters, much like their beloved Bay of Biscay. Most of the leading Coupe de France teams will be on the starting line, including Salomon Matthieu’s CHARIOT PLUS- VANNES UTILITAIRES, Eric Brezellec’s COURRIER JUNIOR, Maxime Mesnil’s CO-PILOTES, and Bertrand Martin’s CHARLY.
Though only three Spanish teams are participating in Kiel, all three are champions of one form or another- such as Spanish National Champions or World Champions or European Champions. Those teams include Javier Chacartegui’s HM-HOTELS, Marc de Antonio’s BRIBON-MOVISTAR and Rayco Tabares Alvarez’s HOTEL PRINCESS YAIZA from the Canary Islands.
Similarly, the teams from Great Britain number four, but include tough competitors like Jon Powell’s BETTY and Mike Eames’ JALFREZI.
The Danish fleet has seven teams making the trek from Copenhagen, including Flemming Djernaes’ BLUE WATER SHIPPING and Niels Ferrup’s SUR AQUA.
Sending one or more teams are Italy’s Massimo Rama on JENIALE AKEWUELE; Netherland’s Pip de Vries on LED2LEASE; Sweden’s Mikael Andersson on TEAM VALLAGRUPPEN and Lars Gellerhed’s MK-PRODUKTER. J/80 Worlds Facebook page. For more J/80 World Championship sailing information
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