Stellan Berlin is World Champion
Stellan Berlin (SWE) had a solid basis ahead of the last day of the World Championship. And he didn`t give the challengers much chance.
Published: 19.08.2011
Photo: Stellan Berlin (SWE 379) on his way for the Championship
The race committee intended to conduct three races in order to get all the eleven races completed.
In the first race today, Berlin was number nine, but his top challengers Rikard Bjurstrøm (FIN) and Marko Dahlberg (FIN) got respectively number 17 and 27, and Berlins lead increased. The race was won by John Ruf (USA), being number ten after day 3.
In the second race of today, Berlin´s competitors didn´t have a chance, and when he won this race, his sixth win in this WC, he had in fact won the Championship.
Before todays- and the WC`s- last race, it was still competition to get the silver and bronze medals. Lennart Heselius and Bjørnar Erikstad could also, in addition to Bjurstrøm, Dahlberg and Ruf, fight to get the medals. They were depending on Bjurstrøm and Dahlberg getting modest positions in the last race.
All competitors mentioned, were top ten at the first mark, so Dahlberg and Bjurstrøm were defending their positions.
During the next round, Bjørnar Erikstad advanced and rounded first after the last downwind, with Lennart Heselius half a boat lenght behind.
It was a close duel between these two up to the finish line. Heselius was sentenced a few centimetres ahead in the finish.
Marko Dahlberg completed fourth and got a silver medal overall. Bjurstrøm got number 9 and kept the third place overall.
The race committee intended to conduct three races in order to get all the eleven races completed.
In the first race today, Berlin was number nine, but his top challengers Rikard Bjurstrøm (FIN) and Marko Dahlberg (FIN) got respectively number 17 and 27, and Berlins lead increased. The race was won by John Ruf (USA), being number ten after day 3.
In the second race of today, Berlin´s competitors didn´t have a chance, and when he won this race, his sixth win in this WC, he had in fact won the Championship.
Before todays- and the WC`s- last race, it was still competition to get the silver and bronze medals. Lennart Heselius and Bjørnar Erikstad could also, in addition to Bjurstrøm, Dahlberg and Ruf, fight to get the medals. They were depending on Bjurstrøm and Dahlberg getting modest positions in the last race.
All competitors mentioned, were top ten at the first mark, so Dahlberg and Bjurstrøm were defending their positions.
During the next round, Bjørnar Erikstad advanced and rounded first after the last downwind, with Lennart Heselius half a boat lenght behind.
It was a close duel between these two up to the finish line. Heselius was sentenced a few centimetres ahead in the finish.
Marko Dahlberg completed fourth and got a silver medal overall. Bjurstrøm got number 9 and kept the third place overall.
Of a total of 11 races, 10 are conducted in perfect conditions, with perfectly made courses and starting lines.The first race was the only one with very light wind, making challenges for the race committee.
Results and photos, see the right column
