Hankø Race Week 2016 - NOR600, Baghdad, with Kristoffer Spone Victorious
June 28, 2016 – Hankø, Norway - The yearly regatta, Hankø Race Week in Norway is over for this year, and the four days of sailing, 23rd -26th of June, brought plenty of interesting competition. NOR600, Baghdad, with Kristoffer Spone was crowned winner of the Hanko Race Week among 12 teams.
Thursday kicked off with skippers briefing followed by three races in medium winds. 12 Melges 24s were spotted on the starting line, competing alongside with Albin Expresses and 11mods. NOR600, Baghdad, with Kristoffer Spoone was quick to take the lead from day one, with reigning Norwegian Champion, NOR751, Storm Capital Sail Racing with Peder Jahre following close behind.
Day 2 started out with light and shifting winds. However, the regatta committee was effectively able to arrange three great races this day as well. Kristoffer Spone was able to build a solid lead with two bullets, and the gap between NOR600 and NOR751 increased.
Day 3 brought yet another light wind day with plenty of sun. Three races were sailed, and things were getting less exciting in the top end of the list, but more exciting further down. Spoone was still dominating, but Herman Horn Johannesen on NOR732, Rett Rund Hjørnet, was closing to Jahre. Also, four boats following behind were having a close fight with Peder Nergaard on NOR787, Henrik Larsen on NOR418, Carl-Erik Kullmann on NOR402 and Jon Aksel Mortensen on NOR283, respectively.
Nothing was decided until the last day where there were predicted 11 m/s wind. It started out light, and with two races planned, one could only hope that they would last long enough for the predicted winds to appear. The wind picked up and turned almost 180 degrees towards the end of the last race, making it an interesting finish. The teams who had studied the forecast knew that the wind would turn, and when the dark clouds and waves appeared, they positioned themselves thereafter.
Baghdad 600 NOR400 with Kristoffer Spone
This concluded the end result for all the teams, and Spoone took a clear first place followed by Jahre and Johannessen. What is also exciting to see is that NOR402 with Kullmann, who took a fourth place, is finally up there fighting for the top positions with the four teams who have been dominating the Norwegian fleet for many years.
On the social front, there was the traditional cocktail party, arranged by Kristian and Peder Neergaard, with some help from Melges Norway, which was also fun. There was also After Sail at Hankø Yacht Club every day after racing. On Friday there was the yearly dinner at HYC, and on Saturday a concert with the famous Norwegian band, DeLillos.
All in all, the regatta committee did an excellent job, as did the people on shore.
