Karol Jablonski and his crew
The duel of giants between the two most successful participants in the championship championship has been decided. For the 25th championship of the German sailing elite on the Outer Alster, match race ace Karol Jablonski and his team not only won the anniversary edition, but with a total of six wins they also took the top position in the all-time best list of the cult event.
"I still feel as normal as before, but sailing was a lot of fun," said Jablonski after his sovereign 2-0 win over the team of surprise finalist and Dyas helmsman Christian Kellner (Hechendrof).
The second placed Christian Kellner
Former match race world champion Jablonski was in a class of his own this weekend on the Outer Alster and replaces defending champion Carsten Kemmling (Hamburg), who defeated his friend and rival Andreas Willim (Goltoft) 0: 1 in the battle for third and fourth place had to give. Jablonski, with a German and Polish passport, took part in the championship for the first time in five years. "In the meantime I've made a big leap internationally," said Jablonski, "but I'm still happy to come because I like Hamburg and also want to show the people here that I don't suddenly have my nose up." Jablonski didn't lose a single match.
Before the championship, there was a tie between Wolfgang Hunger and Karol Jablonski after victories. Both were able to win the regatt five times. But Jablonski showed Hunger the tail in both direct clashes and threw him out of the race in the quarter-finals. "He was just better," the 505 European champion had to admit.
Decision about third place between Willim and Kemmling
35 teams and a total of 105 top German sailors started the anniversary event on Saturday. Despite the gray cloudy sky over the Alster, the best sailing conditions prevailed on both days with three to five wind strengths. Thanks to the favorable wind directions, the fleet races on Saturday and the match races on Sunday could be held right in front of the jetties of the hosting Hamburg sailing club. Several hundred spectators experienced thrilling duels almost up close, especially on the final day.
OVERALL RESULT 1. Team Karol Jablonski (Poland / 2-0 final victory)2. Team Christian Kellner (Hechendorf)3. Team Andreas Willim (Goltoft / 1-0 victory)4. Carsten Kemmling (Hamburg)5. Marcus Baur (Kiel) 6. Lutz Stengel (Rostock)7. Dr. Wolfgang Hunger (Strande)8. Christoph Nielsen (Berlin
all results…
The award ceremony took place on Sunday after the match race finale in the action center at hanseboot, which has been promoting the cult event for years. There, Thomas Margold, head of the BMW branch in Hamburg, presented Karol Jablonski's team with the hanseboot trophy.