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the '98 Worlds: race by race

We were lucky enough to get access to the mark rounding records kept by the RC and, being the statistics nut that I am, I have made a chart for each race that includes the top 5 around the windward mark, the Danes whom many of you know, and the North Americans (plus any other interesting items!). (race reports copied from the August 1998 Whiffle)
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The ample facilities of the Egå Sejlklub welcome the returning fleet after race #1.
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Race #1: The U.K.W.A. Trophy (Tuesday 28 July, 20ºC, mostly sunny): At 1115, the fleet got off in about 5 knots of ESE (115º) breeze which had remained fairly steady in the half-hour prior to the start but which RC readings showed had veered 30º since 0930 when the reading was 085. 

Denmark’s light-air ace, Joel Bøgh, was quick to note a port-end bias to the very long start line and was one of two boats to port-tack the fleet, crossing about 100’ in front of Uncle Al. Unaware that the wind was in fact in the process of veering by another 30º, Al and Marc were going middle left where the nearer land mass of Helgenæs appeared to be funnelling a stronger wind around the point. Also playing the middle left was Mike Mac, so we felt we were in safe company. Meanwhile, Joel was in "his" winds and looked good for the overall lead, until the wind began to veer seriously and young Mike Harrison of the UK came rolling in from the far right with a 200-yard lead. It was a tribute to Joel’s speed that he able to round 2nd before Gavin Waldron (UK) continued a seemingly endless parade of leaders coming in from the right side. Rounding out the top 5 at the windward mark were Anders Friis and Martin Collen. Other favourites fared less well: Danish Olympian, Mogens Just, rounded 10th, Ian Porter 12th, and Mike Mac 25th! 

Among the North Americans, Nick Seraphinoff was the first to appear at the windward mark in 33rd, two ahead of Uncle Al, while George Blanchard (43rd), Geoff Edwards (49th) and Mark Taylor (52nd) were fighting a rearguard action. Of the North American borrowed boat users, Mark had the best excuse as his YELLOW SUBMARINE was literally sinking as she ploughed around the course. Poul Ammentorp and Søren Jensen, our Danish friends whom you may remember from the ’95 Worlds, rounded 16th and 17th respectively.

As you will see from the chart below, Neil and Joel held 1-2 throughout the race despite a 10º back in the wind as the race wound down. Anders fell to 5th at the gybe mark before recovering to take 3rd ahead of Martin with Neil Fletcher moving from 7th after one beat to take 5th. After rounding 12th, Ian Porter took 5 boats on the first reach before settling for a 6th, while Mike Mac recovered from 25th to finish 13th just ahead of Poul Ammentorp . Among the North Americans, Uncle Al (below) took 14 boats on the 2 reaches by sailing the

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rhumbline and crossed 19th, just edging out Søren Jensen. Nick Seraphinoff gained on the spinnaker legs to end up 30th while George Blanchard took 41st. Mark Taylor, in his slowly submerging submarine placed 51st and Geoff Edwards got off to a slow start with a 54th.
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W
HELM
Beat 1
Gybe
Lee. 
Beat 2
Lee. 
Finish
197
 Neil Harrison
1
1
1
1
1
1
2006
 Joel Bøgh
2
2
2
2
2
2
1540
 Gavin Waldron
3
3
3
5
6
9
9733
 Anders Friis
4
5
4
3
3
3
88
 Martin Collen
5
4
5
4
4
4
4645
 Mogens Just
10
12
12
11
11
11
7588
 Ian Porter
12
7
7
6
5
6
239
 Poul Ammentorp
16
14
14
13
13
15>14*
9355
 Søren Jensen
17
16
15
14
16
20>19*
8868
 Mike McNamara
25
18
17
16
15
13
864
 Nick Seraphinoff
33
32
30
34
34
31>30*
4123
 Al Schönborn
35
27
21
21
21
19>18*
80
 George Blanchard
43
44
45
43
41
42>41*
9483
 Geoff Edwards
49
48
53
54
54
55>54*
7673
 Mark Taylor
52
53
54
50
50
52>51*
* W8888 crossed 14th but was DSQ
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1998 Worlds report
1998 Worlds results
Race 1 report
Race 2 report
Race 3 report
Race 4 report
Race 5 report
Race 6 report
Race 7 report
A U.K. View of the 98 Worlds
Uncle Al's 98 Worlds Diary