September 2021 News
STARTLING FINALE AT THE 2021 STAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2021 Star World Champions who won the event yesterday at the end of Race 5, Diego Negri (ITA) and Frithjof Kleen, have sailed a flawless series and topped everyone else in the 83-boat fleet. They opted for not racing today and left the field free to the teams fighting for the Star Worlds podium. And it proved to be quite a battle, first of all with their nerves.
18 boats were spotted over the starting line early in the second general recall of race six with a black flag hoisted, and for this they were disqualified. A heavy burden for a few, already discarding a high result in their scorecard. They all presented a request for redress, but the jury rejected all but one. Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada were granted redress by the International Jury but due to their first UFD, it didn’t help much in their hunt for a place in the spotlight.
On the water, the fight for the medals was decided between the Austrians Johann Spitzauer and Hans-Christian Nehammer (AUT) and Olympic silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic with Tudor Bilic (CRO). The 2017 Star World Champion Eivind Melleby (NOR) with Guy Thomas Avellon (USA) and Denmark's Jörgen Schönherr, who had three-time European Champion Markus Koy (GER) onbord, were also still in the game.
DIEGO NEGRI AND FRITHJOF KLEEN ARE THE 2021 STAR WORLD CHAMPIONS
“It is unbelievable, a dream come true", commented a very emotional Diego Negri, who has been a three-time runner-up at the Star Worlds. "And today was a tough day with rain and clouds around. Towards the end the wind dropped a lot so I was really, really afraid that it would be cancelled and it would have been too much to take in, but luckily we made it to the finish line”.
“It’s been a long way to come to this finish line. All my sailing history is coming together here, today. I think it was a tough championship, with some waiting in the beginning, and then two long races per day, trying to keep the focus at all times. But it’s great, and it came in a good moment in my sailing career. I don't know what I could have done better this week, I knew that we had to do something special to beat the other guys, Mateusz and Bruno, Xavier and the others, and I think Frithjof and I really did something special. We’ve prepared hard for this, with Werner Fritz helping us, coming out so many times with us on Lake Garda, always trusting us, and then thanks to Folli who gave me this amazing beautiful girl, I love her!! I named her ‘21’ because she arrived after the pandemic in 2021, and she is a winner like in blackjack, where 21 is the winning number. So she will now be my baby forever. Special thanks go to my family, of course, especially my wife, without her, there would be no chance I could have done any of this. Thanks to everyone!”
Two bullets for Diego Negri and Frithjof Kleen on day four of the 2021 Star World Championship
It was a lovely summer day in Kiel this morning, and some great conditions awaited the 83 teams on the racecourse for some fantastic racing with 8 to 15 knots of steady easterly breeze. The splendid weather was letting everyone forget about how tough the competition is at the Star World Championship, but with the first starting procedures and a few notable black flags the attention level was right back up.
Reigning World and European champions, respectively Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) with Bruno Prada (BRA) and Enrico Chieffi with Nando Colaninno (ITA), were caught over the line early and with the U flag in place they were only advised at the top mark. Same fate for yesterday's winners Hans Spitzauer and Christian Nehammer (AUT). So there goes their throw-out – when five races are reached – and they’ll have to sail more conservatively from now on.
Finally a race in Kiel at the 2021 Star World Championship. Austrian Hans Spitzauer and Christian Nehammer win in very light and difficult conditions
Day three of the 2021 Star World Championship in Kiel, Germany, started in a very similar way as the previous two. A very long wait ashore with the dreaded AP flag hanging low and lifeless on the notice pole until about 1pm, when it was lowered and a voice on the VHFs unbelievably called the 83 teams on the racecourse. Joy exploded on the dock and in no-time everyone was on their way to join the Race Committee, about an hour away from the harbor.
The scenario they met wasn’t exciting, the clouds were still blocking the east wind from filling in. Only at 15.30, the same voice announced the starting procedures of race one would begin in 20 minutes. The 2021 Star World Championship was then finally on with the first race underway.
Day two and still no racing in Kiel at the 99th Star World Championship
The high pressure system over Europe is sadly affecting the 2021 Star World Championship in Kiel, Germany. It’s almost ironic if you think the 83 teams are all so keen to get on the water after missing the Worlds last year for the pandemic.
No wind, no race on the opening day of the Star World Championship
The morning of the first day of sailing of the 2021 Star World Championship in Kiel, Germany, didn’t look promising. The usual chilly breeze blowing at the 1972 German Olympic venue didn’t welcome the 83 teams on their way to the boats. Soon the postponement flag was hoisted and it stayed hanging on the notice pole until 2:00 pm, when also the A flag was hoisted, calling it off for the day. No race could be sailed on the opening of the regatta.
"The wind is really not good," Race Officer Mandus Freese told the crews at the online skippers’ briefing in the morning. "Two to three knots at the lighthouse – 20 meter high”. Unfortunately, that is how it stayed throughout the day.