You are here: okdia.org > reports & results > sweden results > nationals 09

Sweden, Nationals 2009

Kalmar

18 - 19 July

by Robert Deaves

After 2 days of varying conditions Greg Wilcox (NZL) has won the Swedish Championships for the OK Dinghy, followed by the Danish legend Jorgen Lindhardtsen and fours times World Champion Bo Staffan Andersson. Andersson is yet another World class sailor making a comeback to the class, albeit with a sixteen year gap.

The Championship took place at Kalmar, over the weekend of 18/19 July, on the east coast of Sweden, and is acting as the pre-Worlds for the event which starts on Saturday 25th July.

The first days racing took place in 20 - 25 knots and big waves while the second day was much lighter and shiftier.

The current World Champion Karl Purdie (NZL) lead after day one, following a fourth and a first, but Wilcox came back strongly in the lighter conditions on the second day with a first and two thirds to take the title. Purdie ended up 5th after struggling in the lighter conditions.

This success follows up wins for Wilcox in Kiel week and Warnemünde Week

Both Kiwi sailors are using New Zealand made Icebreaker Boats, C-Tech masts and Quantum sails from Wilcox's loft in Potsdam. The other New Zealander in the fleet, Julian Bishop from Worser Bay is chartering a Swedish boat.

The rest of the fleet for the Worlds are due to arrive over the next few days for what promises to be a very interesting World Championship. The large fleet of 78 boats also contains six former World Champions.