In a couple of days, the SAP 505 World Championship 2014 are held in Kiel, Germany. About 174 boats from more than fifteen nations are registered and about to compete against each other from 16th until the 22nd of august. The races are held on the famous Kieler Woche race area.
Great races can be expected, since several widely known athletes will participate: The five-time World Champion, Wolfgang Hunger is again the favorite for the title. Kiel is his home shore but Hunger and his bowman Julien Kleiner haven’t been able to spend much time on the water in the lead up to the worlds. Hunger says ”As the defending champions, Claas Lehmann and Leon Oehme will be the ones to beat.”
There will also be strong competition from overseas from the American sailor, Mike Holt, who in 2011 had a close battle with Hunger/Kleiner for the title. The boats were neck and neck up until the last upwind leg where the Germans were able to edge Holt out and claim the title. Holt will certainly be looking to make up for this loss in Kiel this summer. His compatriot, Howard Hamlin, has competed in the 5O5 class for over four decades and will be looking to add in 2014 another title to his championship win in 1999.
