Sailors are battling a range of conditions at the Para Worlds in Kiel.
After light conditions on Day 1, a storm moved through on Day 2. The wind picked up, before dying away to nothing, meaning the Hansa 303 fleets did not get a race in on the second day of competition.
Whatever wind was lacking on Thursday certainly wasn’t on Friday, as the breeze turned up several notches, pushing sailors into “survival” mode.
A strong 16 – 17 knot westerly breeze, gusting 28, swept across northern Germany and created some challenging conditions for sailors.
Whilst the 2.4 fleet got two races in today, the conditions proved too much for the Men’s and Women’s Hansa 303, One Person Keelboats, who could only complete one of their three scheduled races.
In the Men’s division, it was Rio 2016 Paralympian Piotr Cichocki (POL) who clinched the win. Jens Kroker (GER), a three-time Paralympic medallist, came home in second while South Korea’s Chang Hoon Lee completed the top three.
Host nation favourite Kroker, summed up the day afterwards, “Today we had some interesting conditions. We had gusts up to, I would say, 22 knots and some choppy waves, so we were getting towards the limitations of this equipment but still, it was raceable conditions.”
Violeta del Reino (ESP) continues to impress in the Women’s Hansa 303, as she won the solitary race on day three. Ana Paula Gonçalves (BRA) took second, which sees her finish the day in second overall. Paralympic Development Program sailor, Cherrie Pinpin (PHI), took third.
Del Reino leads the fleet overall holding a narrow margin over Magali Moraines (FRA) due to countback. In the bronze medal position sits, Brazilian, Gonçalves.
Racing resumes on Saturday 24 June at 11:00 local time, all fleets with three races scheduled. Racing concludes on Sunday 25 June where three 2017 Para World Sailing Champions will be crowned.
International Hansa Class Association 