21st International Canoe World Championships at Lübecker Yacht Club - Day 4

After another long day of delays the result of the New York Challenge Cup remains in the balance. The match was a tense affair the Germans were fielding a team of light air specialists so the minimal 5-6 knots on the course possibly had them as a slight favourite.

In race 1 the start would prove controversial as Hampe (GBR) luffed Ullmann (GER) who stalled his tack under pressure. Stopped on port there was a question of if he impeded the rapid approaching starboard tack of Dan Skinner (GBR). After this Ullmann would extend away to a huge lead but Hampe with his Turner built t-foil rudder working in overdrive and banging in big angles would close rapidy on the final downwind to engage a gybing duel into the bottom mark.

One slip and Hampe's inside line was lost and Peter Ullmann would extend away for the win.

The second race saw the Brits soon dispense Ullmann to the back only for Ole Junge of Germany to break into a lead. Downwind Hampe engaged again and had a slight lead at the bottom mark. In a rare event for canoe sailing the two boats engaged in a tacking dual with the advantages swinging between the two boats.

While the German Junge would take the initial advantage the dual was enough to allow the chasing British boats to close up and the final beat to the finish it was Alistair Warren who would apply the pressure and pass Junge just before the finish.

As the boats returned downwind back to the starting area the wind died away and the racing was abandoned for the day. On the water it's a score draw, but the protest overhangs the result. If a third race is needed the race officer will schedule this ahead of the three championship races scheduled for Friday with a potential 09:30 start.