Wiibroe Cup

Wiibroe Cup
Espergaerde, Denmark
May 25-27, 1996

The Norwegians done it again! First three places went to Norway in this year's Wiibroe Cup. Best of all in the five race event sailed Birger Jansen and Carine Juliussen, who with an eight place as their discard took the title, 6 pts ahead of Kristoffer Spone and Janett Krefting. Junior sailors Karl Book and Steinar Johannesen just squeezed in ahead of local sailors Frank Eriksen and Erik Ankjaer.

The first day had a light off shore wind that later in the day had to battle with some sort of sea breeze. This meant tip toe sailing and a constant look out for wind. Birger and Carine shock opened the regatta with a 2nd and a 1st. Next came local Danes Morten Ullman and Lene Kiszka with a 3rd and a 6th. The last race of the day had been particularly nasty, with an evil wind hole at the top mark just as the top boats rounded. Five boats escaped unharmed, but after them the fleet compressed and congested with lots of ups and downs on the run and beat to the finish.

The next day had a stronger, steadier wind. Kristoffer and Janett showed how heavy air is sailed and clinched with the leaders with the results 3, 1. After 9, 23 on the first day they were now back in business.

The last day there only one race was scheduled. Five boats could win and ten more could fill any of the places 10 - 15. Staged for some excitement, one might say. Looking out over the sea on the last morning excited no one, however, as it was calm as a frozen Lapland lake in midwinter. Soon something darkish was seen on the surface and a gentle on shore breeze filled in.

After several attempts on a leeward favoured starting line the fleet got away. As the right side of the course paid off, the boats who had started on port on the middle or windward end of the line came out best. Birger and Carine rounded second and as the current stretched out the fleet, they had no problem holding on through the race. On the last beat they overtook the leader and rounded off the regatta in a beautiful way.

                                              1   2   3   4   5

1. Birger Jansen/Carine Juliussen, Norway     2   1   7   8   1
2. Kristoffer Spone/Janett Krefting, Norway   9  23   3   1   4
3. Karl E Book/Steinar Johannesen, Norway     5   5  19   2  10
4. Frank Eriksen/Erik Ankjaer, Denmark        1  13   6   4  12
5. Mattias Alm/Fredrik Hansson, Sweden        6   9  14  10   2
6. Peter Iversen/Niels Nielsen, Denmark      22   3   6   5  15
7. Christian and Helle Thomsen, Denmark      11   4  24  12   3
8. Per and Lars Jorgensen, Denmark           14  12  11   3   6
9. Patrik Jonsson/Emil Svensson, Sweden      23  11  10   9   5
10. Palle Oppelstrup/Thomas Weber, Denmark    8 DNF   4  18   7

--Mattias Alm, SWE 27458
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Alex Pline (pline@en.com)
Steve Keckler (skeckler@ai.mit.edu)