Like last year, the OBK Finn was combined with the Benelux championships in Scharendijke, a top location. The outlook was fine, nice weather, a brisk breeze and 32 entries, a new record. Everyone was clearly looking forward to it!
On Thursday, there was a solid 5 beaufort, but also nice sunshine and warm water; champagne conditions in other words. We sailed two long races; everyone was exhausted. Kit Kattenberg and Cees Scheurwater each grabbed once the first place, and Sebbe became second twice. One downside was that the judges gave very enthusiastically pumping penalties while there was a huge pump flag on the starting ship.... This was elegantly resolved by the race management by awarding redress to those impacted.
Friday, the wind was a bit less; there was still a nice 3 beaufort but it was very variable and it became a lottery at times. We sailed 3 shorter races, and Stefan Marechal, Tobias de Haer and Gwyn Haegenaers each grabbed a first position.
Saturday there was barely enough wind to sail, but the wind never became steady enough. After an hour and a half of bobbing, we were sent back to shore.
Sunday was a super day with a very solid 4 beaufort, reasonably stable wind and nice weather. Sebbe knew that JW Kok was the only one who could keep him from the title. We sailed 3 nice races, this time on a trapezoidal course. The first race ended with a surprise: the leading group including JW forgot to round the last buoy so they had to go back to finish there just after Sebbe. That must be sour! Sigurd sailed rock-solid on Sunday, allowing him to jump over Stefan Marechal and Cees Scheurwater to 3rd place (with 1 point difference!). Sebbe thus deservedly became the Belgian champion, with JW Kok in second place. Tony Delava came first GMM.
Everyone agreed that this was a top edition: a very welcoming club, beautiful weather, a super location and a long weekend of rock hard sailing at the cutting edge. According to Belgian tradition, the food was the second most important topic: BBQ on Thursday, mussels/fries a volonte on Saturday and a luxurious breakfast on Sunday.
Worth repeating, with even more sailors (and certainly more Belgians).
Results: 1. Sebbe Godefroid (16) 2. JW Kok (31) 3. Sigurd Vergauwe (38)
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