Feature Image: Helge and Christian Sach set a new record with their 22nd victory at the Travemünde Week. Photo: segel-bilder.de
The Travemünde Week ended its 135th edition with an outstanding balance of completed races. On the final day, three classes put on another full programme. Sea sailors, Formula 18 athletes and the junior sailors in the teeny set the final points behind the total of 240 races that were sailed over the nine days in 21 competitions. At the final award ceremonies, the two 14-year-olds Lotte-Marie Kirchesch/Mina Tratar from Berlin were crowned the youngest champions of the TW. They won the title at the German Teen Championships. At the same time, the brothers Helge and Christian Sach, 67 and 65 years old, increased their record series at the Travemünde Week. The pair from Zarnekau claimed their 22nd victory at the regatta week and had the Formula 18 competition safely under control. In addition, the winners of the Lübecker Nachrichten middle distance were honoured in the late afternoon.
The past nine regatta days in the Bay of Lübeck offered a colourful mix of conditions on the eight courses off the Brodten shore and along the Mecklenburg coast. From strong winds to balmy summer breezes, everything was there. This meant that the all-rounders in particular prevailed in the 21 competitions. Although two days were characterised by very light winds, the evening breezes meant that a regatta programme could be offered to the athletes on the water every day. This made it possible to sail 240 races of the 278 originally planned – a top score for a regatta week.
Another championship title was awarded in the Teeny category at the end of the TW. Photo: segel-bilder.de
A total of over 1300 sailors from 27 nations competed in the 800 boats of the World, European and German Championships as well as the ranking list regattas. There were participants from all over Europe, from North, Central and South America, as well as from Asia and Australia. The podiums of the championships were particularly colourful. Athletes from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ukraine and Germany were among the winners.
The finale of the 135th Travemünde Week ended with a fantastic sailing day with plenty of sunshine, short showers, medium winds and finally a new record: three years ago, the brothers Helge and Christian Sach from Zarnekau claimed their 21st victory at their home regatta. Now they have added triumph number 22. On the last day of the Formula 18 regatta, however, they had to grit their teeth and ultimately saved themselves a start in the last race. The victory was no longer in jeopardy at this point and caused great joy among the former world champions. “We are very happy and very proud of our sailing performance. It was a clear victory, but we had to struggle on the last day,” reported Helge Sach. The reason: foreskipper Christian had injured his upper arm in a tack the day before. A medical examination has been scheduled for Monday. The Sach team was thus able to receive the 22nd Travemünde Week trophy.
A new record at the end of the 135th TW
The last award ceremony of Travemünde Week 2024 was held for the sea sailors. They opened the round of regattas nine days ago and also closed the event with the Lübecker Nachrichten middle distance. Race director Jan Fischer was able to offer his crews another great day on the water. He had laid out a zig-zag course with cross and spinnaker passages in the Bay of Lübeck. Over 28 nautical miles, the Lübecker Nachrichten middle course led from Travemünde first out into the Baltic Sea, then to Pelzerhaken and then back to the mouth of the Trave with the finish line directly in front of the Nordermole. “The conditions were great – but with a surprising wind hole off Pelzerhaken. And it was a bit gusty close to shore. But everyone got through safely,” reported Fischer.
At the end of the TW, the sea sailors were once again offered fantastic conditions at the Lübecker Nachrichten Mittelstrecke. Photo: segel-bilder.de
Frank Haßler was able to confirm this assessment. The skipper from Heiligenhafen and his crew on the “Fru Hansen” took overall victory in the ORC class with a fifth place on Saturday and a second on Sunday. “It really was a dream. A big compliment to the race officer crew for the good judgement they showed. We started late on Saturday with the announcement and still had a great race,” said Haßler. “Today was great, even if it was trickier off Pelzerhaken than we had expected.” He was well aware of the fact that he took victory ahead of Jürgen Klinghardt’s (Lübeck) “Patent 4”, which was spoilt for success: “We had a bit of luck on Saturday when the fleet in front of us parked up in the doldrums and we still managed to catch up. But today we performed under our own steam.”
Third place in the ORC classification went to Lars Schöppener (Wismar) with the “X-Wärts”. The Yardstick classification was won by Frank Bode (Hamburg) with the “Bodenaturkost” ahead of Hennes Peetz (Wismar) with the “Test” and the one-tonner from Berlin, Christian Masilge’s “Krabauter”. Victory in the two-man crews (double-handed) went to the “Sola” with Jan Philipp Simon/Ulli Neumann (Lübeck/Neustadt).
Teeny: IDJM title confidently defended
The teens completed nine races at their IDJM as part of the 135th Travemünde Week. The defending champions Lotte-Marie Kirchesch and Mina Tratar (Berlin) took the lead in the second race and were not to be denied their leading position.
The two 14-year-olds won by a clear margin and were delighted to stand at the top of the podium once again – just as they had in 2023 at the IDJM in Berlin. In the very last race of the championship, there was still a change in second and third place. It remained exciting right to the end. In the end, Moritz Klein and Leo Wisnitzka took second place ahead of Lukas Balzereit and Tim Bauknecht in bronze. This made the Teeny IDJM an all-Berlin podium.
Lotte-Marie Kirchesch and Mina Tratar successfully defended their German youth title in the Teeny at the Travemünde Week. Photo: segel-bilder.de
“The championship didn’t start so well for us on the first day with eighth place because there was little wind, for which we are now too heavy. That’s why we were glad that no races were sailed on Saturday in the light wind. Today the conditions were good with a lot of wind in places. As we didn’t have a high stringer, not much could happen. And our friends did a great job of cheering us on,” said the two winners, looking back on the IDJM. As happy as the two teenagers from Berlin were that they were able to defend their title, there was still some sadness, as it was their last IDJM in the Teeny class. “I could sail another year in Teeny, but Lotte will be 15 next season and therefore too old for the class. And I won’t sail without Lotte,” said Mina Tratar, hugging her sailing partner Lotte-Marie Kirchesch. The pair are already sailing together for the sixth season and there is no end in sight. “We’ll be sailing Pirate from next year, but we’ll definitely miss the Teeny class,” they revealed. The family atmosphere in the class would be great.
The teeny-family feeling is exactly what characterises the class, said sports manager Detlef Hillers. “What characterises the class is the fact that we promote talented sailors, but also keep an eye on the midfield. That’s why, for example, we award the special prize ‘The Hero of the Midfield’, a challenge cup. There is also an additional prize for the youngest participant. The teenagers are one big family,” he explained. Oskar Kühne was honoured as the youngest active participant. “The hero of the midfield” is Claas Drews, who competed with his co-skipper Malte Aeukens.
Not only the winners, but also the representatives of the Teeny class were satisfied with how the IDJM went. “This is the third time we’ve been in Travemünde with the teens, we’re totally satisfied with the IDJM and have absolutely no complaints. The kids were in a great mood, and apart from the calm day, the weather conditions were good. We used the calm to take the kids on a guided tour of the ‘Passat’,” said Matthias Dachs, Technical Chairman of the Teeny class.
The prize money from the Teeny’s Trave Race went into the class fund and was immediately spent on an evening out with everyone involved in the IDJM. The teens had 70 pizzas delivered to the Mövenstein Travemünde Week area for a meal with the class, from where the teens set off for their races during the competitions.
The Teeny class is characterised by a high level of class cohesion and good sport on the course. Photo: segel-bilder.de
