Ilca World Cup: Schweckendiek counters curious course of the World Cup - "Just don't get annoyed"

This was not how the 107 Ilca 7 and 99 Ilca 6 competitors had imagined their world championship in Chinese waters off Qingdao: For four days, nothing worked in the 2008 Olympic area. Here, where the Peckolt brothers won their bronze medal in the 49er 17 years ago, not a single race could be completed in the first two thirds of the series.

Redemption on day five of the Ilca World Cup

Very light and shifty winds, hot air temperatures, complicated current conditions and hazy visibility in various combinations meant that the race committee had to repeatedly abandon or completely cancel the races despite several attempts. Patience became the most important virtue at these world championships in the most internationally competitive Olympic disciplines, Ilca 7 (men) and Ilca 6 (women).

It takes at least four races to make the World Championships valid. All participants and observers have long since realised this in this unusual course of events. On day five, two races for the men and three for the women were finally completed. The 20-year-old Ole Schweckendiek catapulted himself to the top of the world rankings with 3rd and 2nd place.

After the first two world championship races, the young sailor from the German Sailing Team in Kiel is tied on points with the British leader Finley Dickinson in second place. Behind the helmsman from the Kiel Yacht Club are Ilca heavyweights such as the 15-year-old, two-time Olympic silver medallist Pavlos Kontides (Cyprus) and the ten-year-old Brit Michael Beckett, runner-up at the 2023 World Championships.

Ole Schweckendiek: just don't get annoyed

Ole Schweckendiek's formidable position is so far "only" the result of a single day of World Championship sailing, but it counts almost as much as half a World Championship series. And it shows once again the quality of the young North German, who has long been regarded as a top talent in the Olympic dinghy and is now suddenly right at the front ahead of the decision on 17 May.

Ole Schweckendiek said in Qingdao: "Today was the fifth day of the World Championships, basically the first. And we finally managed a few races. We had little to medium wind, quite a lot of current from behind and choppy waves, which made it quite complicated. But I actually really enjoyed it. The conditions were good."

The man with sail number GER 211416 knew exactly what was important on this day: "We had to stay focussed. The key today was not to be annoyed by all the postponements in the last few days. This morning we also had to get up at 6am for a start scheduled for 9am. We then had another two and a half hour start delay. You couldn't let that get on your nerves."

The main thing is to race!" Ole Schweckendiek

Ole Schweckendiek managed this very well over the course of the two races. "Of course, it was important to get a good start - and then get away. I was able to sail the spins quite well. On the downwind, it was important not to get nervous. And to always know which direction the current was coming from. I think those were the key points today. Let's see how it will be tomorrow. I think it will be a bit windier. But it'll be fine. The main thing is to race!"

Ilca World Cup decision: anything is possible

Team-mate Julian Hoffmann (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee/Segelclub Alpsee-Immenstadt) was also able to shine this Friday with a second place and showed good nerves. After 21st place in the second race, the Youth America's Cup helmsman from last year was initially also in 21st place in the intermediate classification.

That was an okay day. I'm ready for tomorrow with hopefully strong winds." Julian Hoffmann

Click here for the intermediate results of the Ilca 7 sailors.After three races, the experienced Pole Agata Barwinska has taken the lead in the women's race. Julia Büsselberg was the best German Ilca-6 helmswoman in 15th place for the time being after finishing 14th, 19th and 2nd, with an upward trend. How the Ilca-6 sailors are doing, shows the classification here.

The World Championship for Ilca 6 and Ilca 7 ends on Saturday. This one day remains to finalise the unusual title fights with at least four races. The men are still missing at least two races, the women at least one. The 17th of May in Qingdao will make dreams come true - or shatter them. But the sailing has to be done first.

Power players in demand: the wind comes to the finale

"Three races are scheduled tomorrow in what is expected to be an offshore 320 wind direction and pressure in the twenties. That could be pretty exciting. And the stringer comes into play. It's tight in the points. There's a lot to fight for tomorrow," said Charlie Baillie Strong, Ilca 7 coach for the national sailors in Qingdao.

Anyone who wants to follow live how the Ilca World Championship in Qingdao will end and what might be possible for the German sailors there: Click here for the live broadcastwhich begins at 3 a.m. on 17 May.

REPLAY! Click here for the live broadcast of the fifth World Championship day in Qingdao - the first day on which races could be held: