A slightly too exciting World Championship

Flemming Fjord, who retains his fighting spirit, says, "That 30th place was awful. Everything went wrong, and all we could do was try not to make things worse. Our problem is that we do not have as many chances down here as we normally have."

Team VELUX had hours of waiting in terribly bright sunshine and dead calm before the day's second race could take place - hours of speculating whether this year's World Championship would be completed at all and whether they would sail enough races not to have to include their 30th place in their overall result. (According to the rules, four races must be sailed for a valid World Championship. If there are five or more races, the poorest place can be deducted.)

The fourth race of the World Championship was completed. It started in a light breeze, and Team VELUX were first round the top mark. Then the wind increased to hurricane force, around 15 m/sec. That is the kind of wind that suits Team VELUX. They kept the lead for the rest of the way and finished well ahead of the field.

The third race of the day had to be cancelled - black clouds gathered over the lake and the yellow warning lamps went on. The yachtsmen were sent back to harbour at 5 in the afternoon.

Team VELUX now lie in overall fourth place in this year's World Championship, which will thus be completed. They reckon that a third or fourth place tomorrow should ensure them victory.

"This chancy weather is not our cup of tea," says Flemming. “We would rather have regular wind and preferably lots of it. However, we shall fight to the end."

This World Championship is not the first time that Team VELUX is glad about the rule allowing a poor placing to be deducted. That was how they won last year's World Championship. We cross our fingers that history will repeat itself this time.

VELUX A/S

Lone Ellersgaard, Communications Manager

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