It took until the last race for the Danes to get used to the Ammersee conditions. They took the first three places in the final race. But by then the podium places in the overall standings had already gone to the German local heroes.
First and foremost Vincent Hoesch (CYC), who sailed together for the first time with the successful Laser Masters sailor Willi Gerlinger (BYC) and Michael Lipp (HSC).
With 28 points (five points ahead), the crew secured the Bavarian Lion - the prize awarded by Minister President Edmund Stoiber. Hoesch also won the centenary Gold Cup as the best of the year in the H-boat class.
After winning the Dragon World Championship off Hobart/Tasmania, this victory was the second World Championship success for the 45-year-old frequent sailor, who has now won seven World Championships, six Gold Cups and eight European Championships in addition to numerous national titles. He has also won five runner-up World Championship and European Championship titles in the Star, Dragon, H-Boat, Asso 99, Joker and Tempest classes as helmsman or coxswain.
Vincent Hoesch is self-employed with his company Yacht Racing Services & Consulting. In 2000, he took over the exclusive representation of the Petticrows boatyard for Germany, one of the leading brands in kites. He also advises the company Fritz Segel GmbH and develops sails for the Dragon, Star and H-Boat classes. He also works as a private sailing coach ( www.vincent-hoesch.de ).
Dirk Stadler from Feldafingen with Patrick Purin (YCB) and Markus Funke (MRSV) finished as runners-up at Ammersee. Behind the two Bavarian teams, Wolfgang Döring (ABC) with Thomas Kausen (BYC) and Norbert Kausen (NKC) took bronze.
Last week, the Ammersee presented itself with the usual wind gaps and choppy conditions. But the title win of one of the favourites shows that the six races could not have been a pure game of chance. The series 1/(31)/7/3/1/16 is evidence of astonishing consistency in the 66-boat field from eight nations.
But there were also victims. Defending champion Stefan Frauscher from Austria won one race, but had to settle for 25th place after an early start and a 61st place in the last race. The crew led by Micki Liebl (MYC) after the first three races fell to 11th place.
The Augsburg Sailing Club (ASC) organised the H-Boat World Championship on the occasion of its 100th birthday.
