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| 1. Jean-Michel Lautier (NED) 2. Reiner Brockerhoff (FRA), 3. Johan Koppernaes (CAN) Foto: Pepe Hartmann |
Jean-Michel Lautier became J/22 World Champion
Tuesday, 09.07.2019: Warm-Up for the J/22 World Championship
In fantastic conditions, the J/22 sailed today a practice race, in preparation for the World Cup (10.7 to 13.7.). Of the 31 reported crews, 25 were on the regatta course. "Today we had the famous Warnemünde wave. It was just a great race! ", Holger Schmitt, Chairman of the German class association and participant of the World Cup, was more than satisfied. Race Officer Lorenz Buchler would have preferred to be on one of the J/22 instead. "We were really jealous today. 15 to 20 knots of wind, blue sky. In short: It was awesome sailing weather! ", he summarized the sailing day. Things looked quite different last Sunday when the second day of the Pre-Worlds had to be canceled due to too much wind .Favorites for the World Cup title are the Duisburg-based Reiner Brockerhoff (FRA 1444), who sails under the French flag, and Jean-Michel Lautier (NED 1273). Lautier already became Vice World Champion in 2015 and 2017. In addition, Martin Menzner from Kiel, who is otherwise in the class J / 80 at home, has the stuff to sail at the front. Menzner finished fourth at the J/22 World Championship 2015 in Travemünde.
Wednesday, 10.07.2019: Favorites live up to their roles
On Wednesday, the J / 22 World Championship started as part of the 82nd Warnemünde Week (6-14 July). Four races were sailed, which Jean-Michel Lautier won all. On the first day of the J/22 World Championship, European champion Jean-Michel Lautier sent a clear message to his competitors. Four wins in four races make it clear that it will be hard to beat them. The gap to runner-up Reiner Brockerhoff is already ten points. Brockerhoff, who is also one of the favorites, has made a solid start to the World Cup with fourth, second, third and fifth places. In third place, four points behind Reiner Brockerhoff, is Johan Koppernaes from Canada. Fourth-placed Dirk Jan Verdoorn from the Netherlands is one point behind Dirk Jan Verdoorn. For the Dutchman it is already the fourth J/22 World Championship, after two World Cups in Scheveningen and one in Travemünde. The area off Warnemünde is new to Dirk Jan Verdoorn: "It is the first time sailing in Warnemünde. I especially like the beautiful Baltic wave, as we have here, "says Dirk Jan Verdoorn. The Kiel-based yacht designer Martin Menzner is currently in sixth place, making him the best German-flagged participant. He is otherwise in the class J/80 home and very successful there. "I think the J/22 is great. I used to sail it a lot, but that was a long time ago. I have not yet grooved fully to the J/22 yet. Yesterday I fell off the boat almost a couple of times, by the wave. That can only get better, "said Martin Menzner laughing this morning before the start. Race officer Lorenz Buchler was very satisfied with the first day of the World Cup on the evening after the races: "Today we had a great wind between 14 and 20 knots again.
Over the whole day, the wind only changed about 15 degrees. "In the second race today four boats were too early over the starting line. One of them was Holger Schmitt. "Despite the early start, it was fun today. We got four tight races through. Nevertheless, I do not think we can repeat that tomorrow. "
Thursday, 11.07.2019: J/22-WM: Jean-MichelLautier remains in the lead, Martin Menzner moves up
The second day of the J/22 World Cup did not bring too big surprises. Jean-Michel Lautier continues to lead the overall standings, ahead of Reiner Brockerhoff and Johan Koppermaes. Day two of the J/22 World Championship started with bright sunshine and a light breeze that rarely exceeded the six-knot level required for a World Championship. Therefore, Lorenz Buchler and his team decided to postpone the race start. The weather forecast had left open the chance in the morning that a light sea breeze could build up around noon if the country would warm up enough due to the sun. Moreover, indeed, the wind went up at 1 pm and it became sailable eight to ten knots. Overall, during the day three races were sailed. The first race was completed quickly. After that, there were slight delays. The start of the second race dragged on for almost an hour due to changing wind directions. Repeatedly the start line had to be reset. "That was a bit exhausting, but otherwise it was a good sailing day again today", race officer Lorenz Buchler summarized in the evening. In the first three places, there was no change today. Jean-Michel Lautier was able to maintain a lead on the second World Championship day. In the first race of the day, he sailed a runaway as a striker with a shared sixth place, but could then continue with two first places his series. According to status, he leads with six wins in seven runs. The run the Jean-Michel Lautier did not win for himself won the Duisburg Reiner Brockerhoff, who continues to be in second place. Johan Koppernaes from Canada remains in third place. The Kiel-based Martin Menzner, who drove a second, third and eleventh place today, has recently moved up into the top five. Dirk Jan Verdoorn has slipped back one place to the fifth.
Friday, 11.07.2019 and Saturday 12.07.2019: No races due to low wind
The new World Champion in the J/22 class is Jean-Michel Lautier, who started under the Dutch flag. He already became Vice World Champion in Travemünde in 2015 and Vice World Champion in Scheveningen in 2017. This year saw his crowning with the World Championship title in Warnemünde.
The winning boat of the world champion is already 22 years old. In many classes, this would be considered outdated. The J/22 are different: “We call our boat ‘the old lady’. Nevertheless, she is still quite competitive”, said the new world champion Jean-Michel Lautier. "That's what makes the class so exciting. The boats are very robust and simple. Here it doesn't matter who has the latest material." Overall, Jean-Michel Lautier and his fellow sailors were very satisfied with the event. "It was wonderful here in Warnemünde. We had great weather, not always the best wind, but we still managed seven races.
J/22 World Championship final top 10 results:
1. Jean-Michel Lautier (WVB) - NED 1273: 1, 1, 1, 1, (6.5), 1, 1, 1
2. Reiner Brockerhoff (DUYC) - FRA 1444: 4, 2, 3, (5), 1, 2, 3,
3. Johan Koppernaes (NSC) - CAN 1644: 2, 4, (9), 3, 4, 4, 4
4. Martin Menzner (KYC) - GER 1327: 6, 5, 2, (14), 2, 3, 11
5. Dirk Jan Verdoorn (WVL) - NED 1295: 7, 8, 5, 6, 11, 10, (12)
6. Mike Farrington (CISC) – CAY 390: 7, 8, 5, 6, 11, 10, (12)
7. Mathias Rieck (NRV) - GER 1450: 10.5, 3, 13, 7.5, 3, 11, (21)
8. Bram Verwijs (RSZV) - NED 1223: 9, 7, 6, 2, 9, (17.5), 17
9. Daniel Lötzbeyer (SCPS) - GER 1497: (19), 11, 12, 12, 6.5, 6, 9
10. Rudi Mayr (UYCWg) - AUT 1680: 14, 9, (16), 16, 8, 5, 6
