1998 World Championship – Portoroz, Slovania
September 10-19, 1998
The following results are from the Star Logs. Starting with 1977 frequently only yacht numbers were given. The last time both yacht numbers and yacht names were given was 1989. In later years sometimes, fleet designations were omitted. In these cases some of the more obvious fleet designations were supplied. Also from time to time only last names were supplied. First names, where known, were added.
Results
Place No. Skipper Crew Fleet Daily Places Pts. 1 7828 Colin Beashel David Giles SY 5 2 8 3 4 dnf 22 2 7875 Torben S. Grael Marcelo Ferreira Gua 11 3 18 5 1 3 23 3 7919 Alexander Hagen Thorsten Helmert Glu 8 5 6 12 15 47 46 4 7855 Mats Johansson Leif Möller Vin 12 4 7 17 33 6 46 5 7779 Vincent Hoesch Florian Fendt CBM 4 15 1 19 46 rdg 56 6 7851 J. van der PloegJavier Hermida Barc ocs 11 12 18 5 11 57 7 7849 Frank Butzman Jens Peters BF 16 9 30 25 3 8 61 8 7583 Reinhard SchmidtJochen Wolfram Moh 2 30 45 14 14 2 62 9 7876 Ross MacDonald Kai Bjorn EB 1 ocs 2 4 8 49 64 10 7927 Peter Vessella Mike Dorgan BH 38 7 15 6 2 61 68 11 7879 Pietro D'Ali Roberto Sinibaldi IC ocs 35 22 10 12 1 80 12 7806 Mark Neelman Jos Schrier Med 10 ocs 24 1 34 12 81 13 7840 Silvio Santoni Fernando Colaninno NG 15 27 5 9 50 27 83 14 7563 Olle Johansson Martin Abenius Vin 6 10 26 29 21 dsq 92 15 7836 Vincent Brun Rodrigo Meirleles SDB 20 6 19 26 24 dnf 95 16 7834 Peter Bromby Lee White ISOL 32 rdg 25 11 37 7 97 17 7494 Luca Modena Guiseppe Devoti 17 18 41 15 9 dsq 100 18 7916 Glyn Charles Mark Covell SO 22 22 20 8 30 37 102 19 7801 Hubert RaudaschlGerd Matuschek SMA 3 36 23 21 57 21 104 20 7862 J.A. MacCauslandPhil Trinter CR ocs 31 14 20 6 35 106 21 7931 Howard Shiebler Rick Peters LB 21 1 11 41 55 33 107 22 7488 Roberto BenamatiLuca Maffezzoli Gar 44 24 21 7 16 39 107 23 7590 John King Guilharme Almeida Cop 27 28 33 24 63 9 121 24 7829 Mark Reynolds Magnus Liljedahl SDB 13 ocs 4 2 45 63 127 25 7317 Rob Douze Vincent Geysen LO 36 20 10 39 60 23 128 26 7663 Stuart Hudson Chris Gowers SO 9 19 52 30 48 24 130 27 7641 C. Scheinecker Robert Steinkogler Att 30 33 13 43 40 19 135 28 7860 Markus Reger Marcus Becker B 14 38 53 33 64 10 148 29 7926 Mitja Kosmina Evgenij Komianec Slo 49 45 dnf 23 10 22 149 30 7925 Urs Hunkeler Jurg Schneider LUV 42 13 29 72 52 18 154 31 7908 Thomas Jungblut Gerrit Bartel H 46 21 59 34 25 28 154 32 7885 Ric. Simoneschi Corrado Cristaldini FdiG 60 65 16 27 41 13 157 33 7938 Cuyler Morris Doug Brophy CasB 56 8 28 48 17 dnf 157 34 7934 Eric Doyle Brian Terhaar SDB ocs 25 9 16 81 30 161 35 7560 Daniel StegmeierBeat Stegmeier LUV 58 14 47 44 13 51 169 36 7872 E. Cepurnieks Aleksey Rostchin Lat 19 56 37 61 79 17 190 37 7438 Marin Lovrovic Marin Lovrovic Sr Cro 43 47 66 70 11 25 192 38 7576 Sergey KhoretskiHorst Seitz Blr 34 44 50 49 66 20 197 39 7820 Josef Urban Christian Nehammer TR 35 55 58 56 19 32 197 40 7911 James A. FreemanChris Rogers Ith 50 12 56 55 42 38 197 41 7754 Giulio Gatti Ermes Costa 25 75 61 50 22 40 198 42 7914 Mathias Dahlman Claus Gerkman Fin 23 68 43 60 23 55 204 43 7338 Jason Krook Thomas Jansson AR 33 43 65 40 28 60 204 44 7909 R. Roellenbleg Mario Salani Sta ocs 64 39 53 7 46 209 45 7891 Jurg Ryffel Roland Kniel Rap 7 63 44 71 39 56 209 46 7928 Giampiero Poggi Manuele La Porta Rom 39 34 62 28 58 52 211 47 7541 Peter van Veen Ab Ekels LO 45 ocs 32 52 80 4 213 48 7606 G. Kershbaumer Helmuth Mosheimer 24 62 84 68 44 16 214 49 7484 Vince Graciotti Igor Kaptourovitch NG 18 73 40 32 53 dnf 216 50 7797 Hubt Merkelbach Dirk Meissner UB ocs 50 38 51 72 5 216 51 7867 Glenn Tucker Mike Hughes 31 ocs 17 36 71 62 217 52 7595 Carlo Loos Thomas Chromecek CBM 29 46 82 35 62 50 222 53 7647 Carl Schroeder Peter Ebel 41 17 57 58 54 dnf 227 54 7387 Luca Simeone Mauro Riccieri LdB ocs 41 35 31 65 59 231 55 7802 Volker BernickenSebastian Dentler UB 51 26 67 dnf 59 31 234 56 7443 Roeland WentholtJoost Houweling Hol 59 61 36 62 18 dnf 236 57 7913 Leif Carlsson Nilkas Olsson RS 28 23 64 dnf 27 dns 240 58 7910 Marc Pickel Thomas Auracher Brm ocs ocs 3 22 26 dnf 247 59 7799 Tibor Tenke Jozsef Bendicsek Ore ocs 69 27 59 89 14 258 60 7924 Benny Andersen Karsten Svenningsen DF ocs 16 34 37 74 dnf 259 61 7736 Alberto Zanetti Juan P. Engelhardt OL ocs ocs 31 38 51 42 260 62 7730 Juan Percossi Oscar Gabriel Meyer BA 40 76 51 73 67 29 260 63 7942 Kim Fletcher Scott Zimmer SDB 64 54 68 67 43 36 264 64 7680 Anton Tamburini Renzo Ricci Mu 67 51 71 46 91 34 269 65 7752 Chris Gautschi Kurt Freuis Bod 74 42 54 54 84 45 269 66 7859 Regi Schlubach John Schlubach COL rdg 57 49 80 29 dnf 278 67 7287 Manuel Modena Giorgio Montresor 61 77 75 47 47 48 278 68 7749 Andrea Veggetti Franco Coppo FdAL ocs 32 42 42 68 dns 282 69 7939 Larry Whipple Barry van Leeuwen PS ocs 29 48 13 dnf dns 286 70 7940 Carlo Falcone Shannon Falcone Antigua 63 70 78 76 20 58 287 71 7912 Martin Ingold Erika Ingold O 73 53 87 82 31 53 292 72 7481 Albert Sturm Peter Moeckl Att 57 ocs 46 65 32 dns 298 73 7921 Andreas Hermann Nils Hollweg 37 49 60 64 dnf dnf 308 74 7848 Sune Carlsson Benny Nilsson 54 72 73 75 36 dns 310 75 7457 Gerhard Meyer Ronald Seifert 55 87 83 74 78 26 316 76 7699 Donald McLean John Gleed CAY 77 80 72 dnf 49 41 319 77 7941 Davide DegennaroSergio Lambertenghi 47 37 55 dsq 86 dns 323 78 7691 Phil Battaglia David Lajoux 26 83 63 83 70 dns 325 79 7610 Tomas Lyckaasen Tomas Johansson ocs 40 81 69 38 dns 326 80 7761 Rob Niemczewski Michael Umlauft 48 48 dns dns 35 dns 327 81 7923 Renato Irrera Alessandro Caldarella ocs 81 86 45 76 43 331 82 7901 Hans Otto Engel Andreas Engel 52 39 70 dns 75 dns 334 83 7213 Mariano Lucca Sergio Bonelli ocs 86 76 dns 61 15 336 84 7645 Daniel Wyss Jurg Walter 66 71 77 78 85 44 336 85 7807 Mario Caprile Federico Medolago Lar 72 52 90 81 83 54 342 86 7733 Hermann Weiler Klaus Breitlow 76 58 85 77 82 57 350 87 7444 Harry W. Walker Cicio Canali BisB 53 85 74 63 87 dns 362 88 7204 Serg Shevchenko Olexandr Maslo 69 82 94 dnf 56 64 365 89 7717 Pelle Petterson Peter Erzberger Kat 71 ocs 69 57 73 dns 368 90 7608 Hans H. Geim E. G. Oeser 65 60 89 79 88 dns 381 91 7643 Albert Sporer Heinz P. Nersinger 70 66 88 84 77 dns 385 92 7932 Ed Sprague Jr Kyle Henehan SDB 75 59 91 dns 69 dns 392 93 7922 Josef SteinmayerDieter Ertl ZU ocs 67 79 66 92 dns 402 94 7858 Felice Bortoli Ivano Petoletti 62 74 80 dns 90 dns 404 95 7833 Claude Bonanni Arthur Anosov TaB 68 79 dns dns dns dns 441 96 7789 Franco Dazzi Muzio Scacciati ocs 78 92 dns dnc dnc 464 97 7066 Igor Sterba Jiri Tancer ocs 84 93 dns dns dns 471
Regatta Report
1998 World Championship
by Harry Walker
Ninety seven boats were present at the 1998 Star Worlds in Portoroz, Slovenia, September 10-19. Seldom has a championship been held at a more attractive venue, i.e. club with good facilities--hoist, moorings, food, measurement facilities, communication, reasonably priced hotels nearby, and friendly people.
Seldom have the winds been less cooperative. It was too little, too much, too shifty, or simply nonexis tent. A half mile long line often had different winds at each end, causing massive jams at the favored end, and general recall after recall. Then we saw black flags, boats sent home and much competitor unhappiness, both with the Race Committee and the courses.
The Annual Meeting was very well attended. About 130 members were on hand and over 775 boats were represented by fleet members or by proxy. It was shocking, however, to see how many fleets were not represented in any way.
President Simoneschi handled the meeting smoothly. Reports were made by all of the elected officers, and IGC Chairman Rickard read the resolutions and gave the IGC opinions.
Only the weight issue brought out statements from the floor, with Hagen, Shiebler, Dorgan, Reynolds, among others, speaking to both sides of the issue. Unlike a couple of other meetings, all the comments were well made and without rancor.
Opening ceremonies were held indoors and featured young Slovenian girls carrying the flags of the 31 nations represented. The young people did many dances, acrobatic drills, and were fine ambassadors of their country. President Simoneschi made a short speech and introduced ISAF President, Paul Henderson, who had flown in for the opening. He presented the Harry Nye Trophy, our class' highest non sailing award.
A big cocktail party and much food followed. For those who did not attend, try to picture a large airplane hanger with a stage on part of one side, sturdy tables and benches. Before the regatta, part of the hanger was used for mast and auxiliary measurements. Another part was used for registration and regatta offices. After the regatta got going, 95% of the space was used for parties.
Every night, starting with Monday, there was a supper party in that hanger. Attersee Night, Italian Night. Slovenian Night--a great way to build friendships and to keep most of the group together. Sausages, sauerkraut, pastas, wine, beer---and music. President Simoneschi remarked that it seemed like Oktoberfest in September.
Following is a "diary" of each day in Portoroz:
Day 1: Boats went out and drifted on calm seas. No wind. Postponed. No race.
Day 2: Set up as a double-header. In the morning there were heavy rains so the races were postponed on shore. At noon, we got out and with the wind from the NE, two starts were tried-unsuccessfully. The wind went north 6-8mph and after four more tries, the race was on. Those who went right, towards the shore, did well on the first beat. The wind continued to clock to the right and, as by the last beat we were sailing 180° off of the first beat! Ross MacDonald and Biorn Kai, of Canada, took first place in this very difficult race.
Day 3: Again a double header was scheduled. However, due to difficult conditions caused by wind shifts, and seven unsuccessful start attempts, there were no races.
Day 4: Two races were run. Both were finished. In Race 2 there were two general recalls before the successful third try. Winds were medium with a 20° shift from start to finish. Howard Shiebler and Rick Peters, from the United States, won this race. In Race 3, the wind was up a little, and continued to shift. First place was earned by Vincent Hoesch Florian Fendt, of Germany.
Day 5: Double header again! Storm clouds were all over the sky and a NE wind called a “bora," which blows very hard, was predicted. No sooner than the boats set out for the dark skies to the west, than the wind started gusting and lightning flashing. Most of the boats sought refuge in the tiny, overcrowded harbor of Piran. Finally, the bora subsided and a 4:40 p.in. start was called. The winners, Mark Neeleman and Jos Schrier, from the Netherlands, finished at 7:22 p.m.
Day 6: What else? Another two race day--no air early and after 2 postponements we got away on the third try and Race 5 was started at 2:30. p.m. Winds were 6-10mph with a 20° shift to the left during the race. Torben Grael and Marcelo Ferreira of Brazil, won first place.
This evening the banquet, a 5 course affair, was held in the elegant ballroom of the Grand Metropole Hotel. We did not know who would was win the Gold Star, as 3 boats had a good chance on Day 7. All of the daily prizes were awarded.
Day 7: The final race of the series was scheduled for 11:00 a.m., and actually got off at 11:10 a.m.! Air was medium, direction 060, 77 boats started--course "0."
During the course of the race, the wind shifted 60% to due North, hurting many big names, including Reynolds and Macdonald.
Only 2 previous worlds have had more entries. No previous worlds, at least known to this writer, have had more curious and shifting winds.
Final results saw a deserving new champion. Colin Beashel and his long-time crew, David Giles of the Sydney Harbor Fleet. While the competitors were very frustrated, everyone cooperated and had a good time.
More importantly, we a have new and worthy championship team.
