Paasch dominates the Danish Nationals, with 6 bullets.
They sailed from far and wide to compete in the Danish Nationals, as Peter Boldsen reports;
This year's Open Danish A-Cat Nationals where held last weekend in the fashionable Rungsted. At the same time, there was a nationwide event “Crazy about Water”, which attracted some extra people to the harbor.
As it was an Open Nationals, it was also with the participation of our friendly neighbors from Sweden and Germany.
Saturday's first race was in a light breeze and was won convincingly by light air specialist Pontus Johnsson, who had sailed from Sweden to Rungsted in the morning, to attend the nationals!
In the remaining 3 races of the saturday, the wind was light and shifty, but there were also short periods with just enough wind, for some of the boats to start foiling. At the end of the day Thomas Paasch was in front, at equal points with German Guido Schulte, and Tom Bøjland just one point behind. Saturdays last race was bothered by lots of seaweed that was located in the middle of the starting line. An excellent start strategy was to lay completely still on the starting line or put the boat in reverse and subsequent sailing detours to avoid the seaweed.
Sunday started with sun and 12 to 15 knots from the southerly directions. The waves were allowed to roll freely through the Sound, and as the current moved in the same direction, the waves became relatively soft. It meant speeds of more than 20 knots for the flying A-cat's.
The first 4 races of the day were almost a copy of each course. On the first upwind Thomas Paasch, Peter Boldsen, Tom Bøjland, Steffen Bay and Christian Nygaard separated from the pack. After the top mark and during the first downwind, Thomas Paasch and Peter Boldsen advanced further. Thomas won all of Sunday's 5 races. After the 8th race, the wind turned 90 degrees and increased to 20-25 knots and maybe gusting more.
We had to wait for the wind direction to stabilize and the course to be adjusted accordingly. It was quite hard conditions lie and wait in, so most boats sailed back into the harbor. Subsequently, the wind decreased and the 3 remaining boats on the water where rewarded with a single race in a shifty breeze. Thomas won the race, followed by Peter Boldsen. Thomas had already secured the title before this race, but it's fun to sail A-cat ;-)
The Swedish sailor Pontus Johnsson didn’t reach the finish. Unfortunately he broke a shroud which meant the mast went over the side just before the finish. It was a blessing in disguise for Pontus. Before this race he had considered sailing home to Sweden, but decided to sail this last race as he could not really see any other boats on the sound heading for the Swedish coast.
After borrowing some useful spare parts and getting mast up again, Pontus headed for Sweden again !! Cool guy.
The German sailor Guido Schulte finished just outside of top 3, he was really fast on the first day in the light breeze and even won a race. In the 5th place we had Christian Nygaard, who sailed a stable series, but lost a top position in the 8th race when he capsized just before the finish. Then another German sailor and then Steffen Bay, who sailed really well on Sundays and would had been higher on the rankings if hadn’t carried 2 DNCs from Saturdays racing.
Next Danish A-Cat event is “Foil & Cat Cup” in Kaløvig at the 1st-2nd July and then in August we head for the Worlds in Poland.
The Danish Nationals podium:
1. Thomas Paasch DEN 1
2. Peter Boldsen DEN 20
3. Tom Bøjland DEN 77
Full results can be found here:
http://a-cat.dk/sites/default/files/OpenDanishResults2017.jpg
