Maarten Jamin crowned Yngling World Champion for the second time!
Only three points separated the first three boats at the end of a magnificent regatta on Sydney Harbour to decide the 2012 World Championship for the International Yngling one-design keelboat class, with victory going to defending champion, Maarten Jamin, Gill Race Team member from The Netherlands.
Jamin, a dual world champion in the three-crew keelboat, finished with 40 points, two points clear of fellow countryman Tom Otte on 42 points, with one point to third placegetter, Australian champion Michael Nash on 43 points. Nash had led the series going into the final race.
The demanding regatta comprised ten close and intensive races over four days in conditions that ranged from light and flukey easterly breezes to a full on north-easterly sea breeze on the final day.
Jamin and Nash went into the final day of competition equal on 30 points. In race nine, a second place to Nash and a fifth to Jamin put the Australian three points ahead going into the 10th and final race this afternoon.But Nash and his crew of Mel Nathan and Greg Hartnett crashed to 11th in the decider, costing them the World Championship. With only one discard race, Nash already had a 13th place and was forced to carry the 11th.
In contrast, Jamin, with Jaap Smolders and Menno Berens as crew, maintained his consistency with another 5th place in the final race, sufficient to give them the 2012 World Championship by two points.
