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Uncle Al's Worlds Diary

Wed 22 July: uneventful flight to Copenhagen via Frankfurt (see Marc with Frankfurt-type refreshment below) where we had a brief look at some sights during a 6-hour stopover - met by Jesper Friis - fine dinner from Aida highlighted by napkins showing a chart of the area around Rantzausminde where we would be cruising the next couple of days - talked Wayfarers, Worlds, etc. ‘til 0200 

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Thurs 23 July: off to Rantzausminde on south end of Fyn near Svendborg (see maps 2 & 3 above) via the new bridge that connects Copenhagen’s island, Sjælland to the island of Fyn (see top map) – toll nearly as much as on the ferry but bridge much faster and no reservations required - arrived early afternoon under cool, threatening skies – informed by Arne Stahlfest that yes, Denmark did have a summer: a Sunday in May – huge field of Wayfarer tents
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with sailors from Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, the U.K., Ireland, the U.S. and now, Canada. Of course, we hadn’t thought to bring a flag (photo below) – even Danish Olympian, Mogens Just, was there relaxing with his family
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- as promised, the Ammentorps had brought us tent and sleeping gear, and when it looked like it might rain, Rene, Pi and Gry had even put the tent up for us

- met Ralph Roberts who invited us to sail his Wayfarer World that he and Cedric Clarke had sailed from Southwold in Suffolk via Den Helder in Holland to Esbjerg in Denmark – after all those days of sitting in his Wayfarer World, Ralph said that his derrière was so sore, he never wanted to sit in it again and that Marc and I were most welcome to try her out – which we did: in the moderate winds, it felt much the same as any other Wayfarer. The asymmetrical spi was fun but gives the same problem as a genoa: it won’t fill if you’re too far off the wind. One problem with the World: there seems to be no place to safely wedge an open beer bottle – tsk! tsk! – see photo below of Ralph's "baby" on display at the Worlds

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When we returned, the place was abuzz as Bob and Clare Harland had sailed in from Kiel (map below on which Rantzausminde would be not too far north of the island of Ærø) to complete a little jaunt that had started with Ralph Roberts in Southwold! 
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After a brief nap after checking in (see bill below) to test out the tent and remedy jet lag, we were awake in time to watch a number of Wayfarers paddling in from an extended daysail to the island of Ærø. Poul Ammentorp was among them but fortunately the paddling had not exhausted Poul too much to barbecue a fine dinner for us since he had two good strong paddlers, our ‘Coach’, Jesper Graves Petersen and the Irishman with the flu, Desmond. The Desmond-disease eventually made its way around our group and we were coughing and sniffling throughout much of the Worlds. After a great dinner at Poul’s campsite, complete with wine and coffee with "cream" (= scotch), we moseyed on over to the beach where a bonfire was in full swing and we talked and sang until about 0230
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Upon arrival, each boat and crew are issued with a mooring stake that has to be driven into the sand/mud bottom.
It makes for a crowded scene - but since they're Wayfarers, it's a beautiful scene.
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It was after 7 p.m. when Poul, Desmond and the Coach (Jesper Graves Petersen) finally got Woodie paddled back from their 'sail'.
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Desmond brings the gear ashore from Woodie.
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Chef, Poul Ammentorp, prepares our dinner - he and Irene were kind enough to invite Marc and me to dinner - both nights we were there.
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Fri 24 July: planned cruise to Svendborg Castle nixed due to high winds – one UK boat went out with main reefed below the spreaders!!! – breakfast chez Poul where Irene was proudly wearing her new UKWA Wayfarer jacket that had been presented to her and Poul in thanks for all the years of work they have put into Rantzausminde and making sure everyone has a great time! 
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– met Abby (photo above), Wayfarer sailor from New York State, also Dick Harrington who was on his way out to circumnavigate the island of Tåsinge with a rather novice UK crew, much to the dismay of their wives who feared for them in the high winds – last we heard, they had phoned from a safe harbour on the far side of the island where they were taking shelter 

We went by car to see the tall ships in Svendborg (less than 10 km. away) - see photos below:

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Walking through Svendborg gives you lots to admire.
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The motorcycle fanciers in our "tour group" were drawn to these babies - the only Danish made motorcycles ever produced.
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In every Danish harbour, you'll find a variety of boats with graceful lines.
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Even the not all that tall ships were interesting to study!
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How'd you like to have to pay for the replacement rigging on one of these???!!
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– after numerous attempts at using the phone in the camp shop called Rottenhullet (= the rat hole), I finally made contact with home and had a shower before going for a big steak dinner, etc. etc. at the Ammentorps’ – coffee with "cream", bonfire, songs and 0230 bedtime as usual

Sat 25 July: our last morning at Rantzausminde – some laughter as Poul kept looking for a "hook" or trailer hitch as we say in North America, but the word kept coming out "hooker" and the Coach ended up volunteering to trail "our" boat to Egå since our tiny rented car had no ‘hook’ of course – left Rantzausminde near noon and drove via Assens on the south shore of Fyn where Al had sailed the ’96 DM (Danish Nats)

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– got to use my Danish in an out-of-the-way restaurant to discover that the waiter spoke no ‘engelsk’ but had some ‘tysk’, so I ordered our lunch in German – after getting lost trying to find the road Jesper had taken in ’94 along the beach, we arrived at Egå around supper time – met Regatta Chairman, Torben, at the office where he checked us in, complete with ID tag for the grounds (see image below)
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Torben was surprised at our early arrival. He had good news and bad news: we would be staying on his fine boat but there was someone already staying there for Saturday night only… Did we know anyone named Seraphinoff? Did we know Nick & Mary!!!! A happy reunion soon followed, made even happier when the Coach arrived to deliver our boat!
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And it wasn't just Wayfarers at Rantzausminde!! Wayfarer sailor, Jon Kjartansson, (I believe) built this Inuit kayak himself! No need to reef this baby!!!
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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- 2