Wind from the west provided a pleasant breeze on the courses on the fifth regatta day of the Travemünde Week. However, with an oscillating direction off the Mecklenburg coast and under the steep coast of Brodten, tactical finesse was required from the crews in order to get round the course cleanly. Although the huge Opti fleet in particular was difficult to tame, all six classes eventually managed three races each.
Matthias Riffeler/Justus Rüthing (GER 407) are currently the best Germans in the Flying Junior. Photo: segel-bilder.de
The conditions on the course under the cliffs were not easy, especially for the IC Canoe. The tippy skiffs are particularly sensitive to wind shifts. In order to get a full day in the books after the difficult start to the World Championships, the skiffs took to the course early in the morning and started their first race at 9.30 am.Three races were completed for the World Championship classification.In these, the Brits once again showed why they are among the top sailors in this class.
Michael Costello from the USA is currently the first pursuer of leader Glen Truswell. Photo: segel-bilder.de
Glen Truswell sailed the series 2, 1, 1, thus consolidating his leading position. However, no preliminary decision has yet been made in the world championship race. His closest rival, the US American Michael Costello, is hot on his heels with one win and two second places. Behind him, two more Brits are lurking for their chance. Mike Fenwick and Dan Skinner have moved ahead of the best German, Ole Junge from Preetz.
The IC Canoe will have a rest day on Thursday. For the best sailors, however, the action does not rest. For them, it’s all about the New York Canoe Club Challenge Trophy. The second oldest trophy in the sailing world is a competition between nations. The British will compete against the Germans in defence of the cup. Three sailors will compete in each race. Only the winner scores a point for their country. And with the second point win, the trophy is decided.
In addition to the IC Canoe, the Taifun sailors also competed on the Golf course. Claudius Junge from Preetz had a flawless series on the day. With three wins in a row, he leapt past Felix Mosebach (Neuruppin) and Johannes Meyer (Bremen) to take first place in the German Open rankings.
In the second World Championship class of the Travemünde Week, the leading team put itself under pressure. Hylke Sasse/Doete Vogelaar from the Netherlands started the day with an early start disqualification. This means that they cannot afford to make any mistakes in the next two days. And the pressure situation also had an effect in the two following races. Twice they only crossed the finish line in third place. Martijn and Anna Aarts took the opportunity to catch up. They are now within three points of the leaders. A further two points back is the German team of Matthias Riffeler/Justus Rüthing.
Excitement is guaranteed at the top of the Javelin for the remaining days of the Euro Cup. Photo: segel-bilder.de
There was even a change of leadership in the Javelin Euro Cup. Christian Wirts/Thorsten Fischer (Hanover) capitalised on the slight weakness of Eddy and Neil Reid (Great Britain) and moved into first place in the overall standings with the series 1, 2, 2. Another German team, Jens and Robin Schlittenhard (Steinhude), took a podium place. And the top three have now clearly pulled away from the chasing pack.
The Travemünde Week began on Wednesday for the Kielzugvogel class. And Wolfgang Emrich/Klaus Ebbinghaus got off to a brilliant start. Three starts, three wins – that was the result of the first day for the team from Wörthsee.
The Optis put three more races in the books. Photo: segel-bilder.de
Among the youngest sailors in the Optimist class, the picture at the top of the International German Youth Championship is solidifying – and a Ukrainian is firmly established there ahead of the final day of the preliminary round. Olha Lubianska had a perfect series in the shifting winds. With three victories, she took the clear lead ahead of Lasse Kliewe from Hamburg and Paul Fiete Hickstein from Dümmer. After three more races on Thursday, the fleet of 240 starters will be divided into the gold, silver and bronze groups. Only the top 80 after tomorrow will then sail for the title.
The Travemünde Week picks up speed again on Thursday for the second half of the regatta week. Five more classes on the dinghy courses will start their regattas, and with the start of the Rund Fehmarn regatta, the yachts will go on a long tour through the night from 6 pm.
