How it all began

Inspired by the great Tillerman, (see link to Propercourse on the right side) I have written a little story about the beginning of my sailing. I have only realized by now that I am a little late but there are maybe some readers out there, who might enjoy this. Also my THANKS to Tillerman to keep us communicating, especially in this winter time without a boat in soft water or on hard water.

Here it goes:
Coming from a non sailing family I caught the bug by watching sailboats on the river Elbe as a teenager. Sometimes a friend took me in an old steel dinghy. Building paper kites I learned about the wind. Did start only when I was 23 and had earned some money to buy my own boat in 1970/1. A Flying Dutchman. G-500. An old boat. The racers had G-931 and above. A change in shape had taken place and the "expert sailors" laughed at me, when I showed up at Kiel Week.

It was also difficult to find a club without having two bailsmen. Read every book in the trade. Trimmed a lot ashore. Participated in races though the boat was old and outdated. Overhauled it and painted it and sold it and did the same with FD G-1057, my second boat. Having my third brand new FD, G-1308, built by Hein in 1974 and yes, a sistership to the famous G-1288 from the Diesch brothers, who won Gold in Kingston in 1976. I practised with them but only managed to become no. 12 in the long German ranking list at those times. And yes, I remember a phone conversation with Ian Murray (?) who wanted to order a Hein boat and I tried to help with the German/English, uuuhps Aussie language, when Uli Libor (FD Olympic Silver in Accapulco) was not available.... My first win came in autumn 1974 in Berlin. Oh, I love this silver plate, which showed me: I can do it. Today I am not putting any pressure on my 9 year old boy who does not like boats at all, though I would love to see him sailing and to tinker with his boats as I love to do, still today.
_________________
smooth sailing
Manfred
_/) _/)

New kid on the blog...

Having had not much time going into blogland lately, I was pleased to see a comment by Burki in my blog. He seemed to like the idea of blogging so much that he started 3 blogs. One is named "thefridge" , hmm, what does it mean. I thought actually, it is named the "fridge door" and maybe he wants to tell us about his unhappy days on a Laser. One must know that he has turned into a speed windsurfer, though I know that he had been one of the best crews one could find in Germany. Not only on the wire of a 14 footer but also in Keelboats where he sailed with Jochen Schümann (of Alinghi fame) in a couple Match Races. I think that he also won the Champion of Champions Series in a PIRAT (like the Snipe) dinghy some years ago.

Burki has changed into a Speedsurfer and he showed me some interesting devices and computer programms about the way these Speedsurfers are listing and reporting their data on to the Internet. Maybe you find some information on his pages, which I am going to link. The windsurfers are only racing against the clock (should I say GPS?), whilst we sailors are normally sailing against another or other boats. I have the feeling that we can learn from the Speedsters, from what Burki had shown to me. There had not been enough time at his last visit and I do hope that we can spend more time when he is over here, in the North of Germany. Or maybe, as Burki suggested, in spring 2007 at the Cote á Azur. If I am not able to manage the linking today, goto: http://c3-thefridge.blogspot.com/

Winter mode and talks about Foiling

Everyone out here in the North of Germany is now getting into winter mode. Not that it has been cold at present, the point of freezing seemed far away. Interestingly, my little DN (history & race results) booklet tells me that in the past years we have had some nice days sailing the DN at the end of November. Having seriously raced in Germany in the middle of December, which needs safe ice. This will not happen this year. We have to be patient.

Bar talk at the local sailing club at present is about apparent wind sailing and the message has spread that we will have two Bladeriders (Foiler Moth´s) sailing, or should I better say, trying to fly, on the waters of the Schlei next spring. Boats are not produced yet, but delivery has been confirmed by KA sails. Being an eagerly waiting new owner of a Bladerider, I have had a look at the Aussie Moth website and found the discussions about the status of the class, e.g. will the Bladerider ruin the Moth class etc, astounding. My friend and I would never even have suggested to purchase a Moth from what we had seen so far within the class in Germany. The boats being used looked very crude, they normally did not survive one race without going back into the "homeyard". One particular boat, (a Prowler?) looked well sorted and Jens from Ratzeburg was flying it very well. This pulled the trigger and the Bladerunner, exhibited on the Hanseboot show, looked sorted. Looked the business. Also the fact that Rohan did sail it on the River Elbe (my homewater for many Flying Dutchman years), a tidal water with busy traffic of the biggest container ships, right before Hanseboot. This showed us, what is possible. Far, far away from going racing in the class we want to learn about this exiting thing, called foiling, and if it is not for us, I am sure that many people want to jump on the wagon next year and we will be able to easily sell the boats. Of course this is not the objective. Definitely not.

Some people asked about the foil for the windsurfer which I mentioned during Hanseboot conversations and my blog. We showed the crude equipment (MarkII), built by Werner, on the boatshow and people were interested but did not believe, that you can fly with it. There is actually a video, which proves that it is possible to do so and to steer as usual with the mast raked forward or backwards. I wish I would be technically able to put it into You Tube, but have not tried anything like that yet. For my Blogger friends I put a photo down here.

In the middle of this week I have to fly out to Dubai. This time only a couple of days and for "business only" reasons, but I think, that I will spend one or two evenings on the patio of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. Meet me there.

HANSEBOOT, the International Moth and our booth

Hanseboot boatshow started last Saturday and my company is participating since I have found it 22 years ago. This year we had to change the location due to the extensive rebuilt of the whole area. The old halls are being teared down and the Hamburg Messe is building new, really large halls for exhibitions of all kind. The fair ground is most known to seafarers, be it professionals or amateurs for it’s Ship, Machine and Ocean Technology exhibition as well as for the boat show with an in water part in the Hamburg harbour. Boats of all kinds are exhibited and one of the stars of the show had been the new HANSE 63 in a fascinating apricot colour for a client from the US east coast. This thing is really huge. OK, in the water down at the marina they have a SWAN-80-something and other big boats but as an exhibitor myself I do not have time to drive down to the harbour. Also the weather this week is really bad and the temperature is soaring around 0° C since Thursday. Better to stay in inside.

To me the most exciting boat on the show is the Bladerider, exhibited by my sailing friend Christian (onSail) who represents the RS range of products and he struck a deal with Rohan Veal, the former World Champion of the International Moth class, to come and join him on the show and to give a bit of interviews and to promote the „flying Moth“. Their stand is opposite our own one and you can imagine that since Friday evening when we where all rigging our booths, I could not take my eyes of this little craft. After a good night sleep in Hamburg in my Van and a bit of discussions with my colleagues early in the morning, I took the chance to talk to Christian and Rohan at exact one minute after the opening of the show and ordered a Bladerider. Yes, my friends. I will be able to report to you first hand experience about sailing this most exciting sailing boat of the century. Of course you have to wait until the late spring next year. I am getting in to DN iceboat mode first and we DN´ers al hope for cold season with black ice. (see also my entries from Jan 06 and further) Sailing the Moth later next year, I need to do a bit of slimming down, loosing weight and a better fitness, but it is motivating. Not that I can see myself sailing somewhere in the middle fleet in the International Moth´s World Championship to be held in Dubai in 2008, but the plan is set. Practise and have fun as much as possible and to get the license to foil as quick as possible.

It happened that an old windsurfing buddy came along in my office some days before the “hanseboot”. Werner of the famous Wernerfinne had developed a foil for his windsurfer. He even brought to me a video, which shows him riding high on the foil. Of course we did exhibit the foil and we promoted Werner´s marketing phrase “Foilen statt heulen”… So this part of hall 12 became a “Foiler” corner and I am sure that a couple of people caught the bug and will join us next year, or maybe later.

For my blogger friends out there, I was able to convince Rohan to write a short paragraph into my blog. Here it goes, “live from the hanseboot Boatshow:

This is Rohan here writing a quick spot on Manfred´s blog. Not sure what I am supposed to write, but for someone who is nearly twice my age, Manfred seems like he is still living as a teenager! And not only did he buy a boat from us, but he makes frequent visits to our booth to introduce me to a potential moth sailor or helps sell boats to interested customers. Just wondering how long it will be before Manfred will start working for KA and take over my job? Ah well, hopefully I can still take him out on the race course! Maybe not on the DN tho…
Rohan Veal
www.rohanveal.com

Last sailing this season

Germany had a long weekend from September 30th until 3rd of October, the day of celebration of the re-unification. The wall came down on 3rd of October 1989. Many sailors went out for a last cruise and we took “Samantha” our 36db for a cruise into the islands of Denmark were we met friends for a dinner on board and some interesting conversations. Our friends had invited for a „good red one“ a couple from a Swedish boat, a Hallberg Rassy. This couple had already fulfilled the dream of crossing the Atlantic and cruising the Caribbean waters. Oh, we wished we would have time to do the same. The Swedish Gentleman spoke fluent German, as it happened that he worked in Hamburg as an engineer. Other people on board the classic 53´ sloop, that reminds one to the great S & S designs, had been our DN iceboating friends. Of course we also discussed the upcoming season and if we should go to the USA to sail in the World Championship in 2007. Our friends from the Detroit area had spoken out invitations last time around.
As I can only speak for myself, I will not do it again as my last encounter had cost me „an arm and a leg“. Do not worry, this means, I had spent way too much money. I had bought a complete DN to stay in a trailer with four other European iceboats but it turned out to be „not much sailing, but much travelling time“. Not exactly what I wanted. I sold my equipment and bailed out.
Back to report about the last weekend of sailing. Our destination had been Avernakø. It turned out to be a 70° apparent wind reach with our new Code Zero. Lovely weather and we were dressed in T-shirts. What a late autumn day this was. We reached the destination pretty late, as the wind only picked up around noon. Friends with their boats had come from different destinations and the cooking had already begun. We had brought a home baked cake with us, which somehow everybody was longing for. Coffee and cake in the cockpit of "Samantha" with people coming and leaving. Later a walk across the island in the beautiful countryside which wetted our appetite for the evening dinner. We watched a beautiful sunset from a nice vintage point and than back to the small harbour. What a wonderful smell as we came close to the little harbour. Lamb, spiced with garlic and fresh mushrooms were cooked in the pantry of “Katinka”. The photo shows our wide IMS stern and "Katinka" beautiful bow line.
After a nice dinner we started discussing the weather report for the next day, which showed no good. Henning, who had sailed this weekend as a single hander on his X-79 decided for an early departure, before the 25-30kn of predicted wind would have built up substantial waves on the open sea. Kerstin and I thought we could take it easier with our boat and did not want to leave already at 06.00h. Maybe it was a mistake, as after breakfast around 10.00h, when everyone else prepared for a very windy windward leg home, the wind howled in the rigs of the boats. We prepared 2nd reef and jib no. 4 for us. The bigger boats just used their headsails, which are on roller furls. When we left the wind shadow in the lee of the island, we thought that this was the right set up. “Katinka” impressed us much, when they just rolled out their headsail and the beautiful sloop with the classic lines just glided through the waves whilst we started hammering into head waves on our race orientated IMS hull. It turned out to be the toughest windward sailing of the season. Around the half way mark the mainsail broke in parts and our boat just does not like to sail upwind nicely without a piece of main. We had to go lower and of course more distance. As everyone had got the message for a right hand shift coming in the afternoon from weather reports, we sailed mostly for the right side to be able to ease and reach after the shift. What happened: it turned left around 15.00h and we had another beat into our destination at Maasholm. These “wrong decision making” or bad weather predictions do no only cause frustrations and bad placing during regattas but they are disgusting whilst on a cruising tour. You long for the hot shower but instead you find yourself beating into the wind and sea for another extra 1 -2 hour. Finally we made it. The boat was prepared for the haul out and winter storage and this season is finished for us. Hamburg boat show is coming soon, the house hunting is coming to an end, the contracts have to be signed and there is lot’s to think about what we will do next season. Maybe leave “Samantha” in storage for a season and get on with other important matters or share the boat with my brother who is finally “coming home” after having spent many, many years on the ocean and in the south sea. I am full of hope that I can improve my cruising skills, weather and navigation knowledge with his help.

Sailing the Dinghy

This blog shall not be dead, no. Instead of writing, I am househunting. Whoever has done this, know´s what I am talking about. I am on the hunt since 6-8 month and a couple projects have slipped away. Some others were "rip off´s". Now my projects, left in the bag, are getting closer to the water. The Schleifjord which I had shown in a previous thread.

Nevertheless the weekends are devoted to sailing and after doing the Sportsboat thing in Flensburg it was time to change back into the singlehand dinghy for some basics. We had three one-design Seggerling´s on the starting line and a couple of yardstick boats, from IC (International Canoe) to Skiffs. A very good regatta on a nice lake between Rostock and Berlin, roughly speaking. It is one of our favourite lakes for DN iceboating and many championships have been sailed there. Maybe one of the reasons not writing immediately after the weekend had been my "loss to the girl". She beated me and my other sailing mate on the water with better height and better speed. She was really good in moderate to strong wind but unbeatable on the Sunday with medium winds. Maybe we practised too much with her. Besides some rough moments mentally, during the race, of course we cheered her and felt that she deserved it. She shows amazing tacks and an amazing happiness once she is out there on her own boat. I have a photo which proves it all but have to get permission first to put it on here.

On the other side of planning and not sailing, I must say, that I am hooked on the Swift SOLO. I got somehow into their mailer and they keep me informed about things going on. I am trying to convince 3-4 guys here in the office or from the sailing club, that we should purchase kits and start building them during wood/epoxy seminars. This boat not only attracts me from the beauty of the wood work but also the lightness and the way the guys are handling it in the videos. Them who knows have seen it. For the other ones I will put a link in here later. I have to hit the road but did not want to leave you in the dark.

Swift SOLO homepage

Eehm, this is about sailing but just a short one about a film, which I saw the other day. I got the "World´s fastest Indian" from a friend who visited me, coming home to Europe from New Zealand. Really worth looking it. It gave me tears, shivers and happiness. All you want to get from a movie. A great happy end and a lection that "you can do it".

German Open Sportsboat

Die Fachpresse schreibt heute:

>>Bei den German Open der Sportboote verpasste Christof Becker mit seiner "Si!" (Esse 850) den Titel, den sich Jörn Petry mit seiner Melges 24 "Haiopei" sicherte, um einen Punkt. Die Melges hat sich europaweit als Einheitsklasse etabliert, nur in Deutschland tut sich die teuere Rüsselboot-Klasse schwer, so dass die Melges vor Flensburg bei den Sportbooten mitsegelte. "Es ist doch schön, dass so verschiedene Boote gegeneinander antreten. Es sind alle Geschwindigkeitsfreaks, und das verbindet. Es ist schönes Segeln", gewinnt Manfred Schreiber der Mischung Positives ab. Der Schleswiger belegte mit seiner "Bull-y-hoo (Bull 7000) Rang drei, auch wenn er am Abschlusstag "den Wind nicht verstand", so Schreiber. Becker hatte seine Esse 850 auf einem kleinen Foto in einer Fachzeitschrift gesehen und sich sofort verliebt. Dass er das Boot zusammen mit seiner Frau Claudia beherrscht, zeigte er vor Flensburg.<<

Naja, typisch Presse! Das mit den "Geschwindikeitsfreaks" ist nicht aus meinem Munde. Wäre ja auch ein bißchen lächerlich, sich als "Speedfreak" zu outen, bei 6kn Amwind Geschwindigkeit und vielleicht 14kn auf dem tiefen Raumschotkurs. Spass macht die Beherrschung des (Sport) Bootes auch bei viel Wind und der Wettbewerb mit den anderen Bootstypen. Zu sehen, welche Ideen sich durchsetzen, was macht schnell und was ist Marketing. Die Esse850 ist mit Sicherheit ein Boot, mit dem man in der Sportbootklasse gewinnen kann. Es ist auf Grund seiner Länge schnell aus dem Startfeld heraus und segelt zumeist mit freiem Wind. Die Melges ist hier im Norden tatsächlich nicht weit verbreitet, Jörn Petry hat sein Boot auch ohne direkte Konkurrenz schnell gemacht und den Sieg vedient. Mit der Bull (siehe Foto) segel ich auch nur gegen mich selbst und muss in den Einstellungen und mit Hilfe der Segel etwas an Höhe und Speed an der Kreuz zulegen. Die Vormwindgeschwindigkeit wird durch die richtigen Winkel bestimmt und auch da gibt es Nachholbedarf.

Interessant wäre noch gewesen, wie die Brenta 24 der "Berliner Segler" abschneidet. Leider ist sie dem Starkwind am Freitag zum Opfer gefallen. Mastbruch vor Regattastart. Die T750 hatte sich den Kiel kaputt gefahren und die Banner 23 Sport verlor das Ruder. Die Schleswiger Jungs waren aber fix und haben über Nacht ein gebrauchtes Ruderblatt modifiziert und eingesetzt. Die Ergebnisse und einige nette Bilder können unter www.fsc.de eingesehen werden.

We had it all...

Last weekend we have sailed a fantastic regatta in the inner Bay of Kiel, just opposite the big shipyard HDW. The regatta, so called "Inshore Race Meeting" had been well organized by the "Academic Sailing Club" of Kiel and all the students involved did an amazing job. Not only the race-management on two different courses had been excellent but also the catering was outstanding. Exactly as promised to me by my friends, who had attended the regatta last year in it´s first edition. I think, that nobody would have believed that already this year we would have three 18 footer and flying Moths at the starting line. (All not from the north of Germany) Very impressive and already worth the trip to Kiel. I started in the YS group 2 as we were only 3 Seggerlings. With us two J24 but boats from the organizing club. Several dinghies of mixed colour and our friends with the amazingly fast SZ-Skiff. The J24 are nearly unbeatable with their YS number but also, they did a good job sailing the shifting winds in the harbour. I managed 3rd place with Kerstin following in 4th position and the SZ-Skiff in fifth. Klaus, another Seggerling, finished 6th. On the water the three of us had very close racing with positions changing, match racing tactics and lot´s of fun. Though it had not been funny in the first moment to be beaten on the line by a mere 30cm in the first race and coming 3rd in the second race. After swallowing this and getting my smile back it got better with two wins in the afternoon. Partying was great and somehow the students have got the crazy idea that your intake of drinks on the Saturday night would weight your score for Sunday racing. Gladly Sunday racing (independent long distance race from Saturday) had been called due to high winds and the pricegiving was based on the evenings result alone. Here a young women won with an intake of 217g of "who knows" and beat all the boys. Well done is not really what I would like to say.

The pictures shall tell you a bit about the racing and wet your appetite for the 3rd edition of the "Inshore Race Meeting" in Kiel in 2007. From top to bottom.
Pic 1: Flying Moth,
Pic 2: Formula 18 against IACC Yacht
Pic 3: 18 Footer against IACC Yacht before start of separate race.
Pic 4: 14 Footer flying
Pic 5: Sailing Journal´s editor, Tom Körber in the LV style weather mark. Champagne bottel holders missing
Pic 6: Moth against Cruiseship background

24. Schifffahrtsregatta

Die Yacht stellte gleich am Montag den unten abgedruckten Artikel in´s Internet. Das klingt doch ein wenig nach Yacht-Bild. Der sportliche Charakter dieser Regatta wird im Prinzip nicht erwähnt. Dabei ist allein die Teilnahme von 117, zum Teil der besten Yachten auf der deutschen Ostsee, eingeteilt in 4 Starts, IMS und YS, schon eine sportliche Sache. Das bekommen andere Veranstalter so nicht hin. Dazu viele deutsche (ex)-Spitzensegler, die ja nichts verlernt haben, wie z.B. die Zachariassen Brüder, Michael "Schmiddel" Schmidt, Tilmer Hansen, Christopher Opielok, Niels Springer, Mathias Müller v. Blumencron, Harald Baum, Tony Gale und viele andere, die ich hier vergessen habe zu erwähnen.

Die Segelzeit der SWAN 45 “high Yield” von knapp 4 Stunden sagt nicht viel aus. Die großen Schiffe segelten eine Bahn mit Spikursen um als erste im Hafen Aeroskøbing festzumachen. Das wird schlau gemanagt von der Regattaleitung, schließlich sollen die 60´- 100 Fuß Yachten nicht im Päckchen auf den 30´- 40´ Schiffen liegen. Es gibt also jede Menge zu schauen im Hafen. Bei keiner Veranstaltung in unseren Gewässern kommen so geballt die sehenswertesten Yachten zusammen. "Outsider", "Vineta" oder am anderen Ende der Scala: "Heti" der alte Gaffelzwölfer, der in einen wirklich beeindruckenden Zustand restauriert wurde. Ein Blick in die Liste: http://www.svaoe.de/Archiv2006/schiffahrtregatta.html verschafft einen guten Überblick.

Der sportliche Aspekt war gegeben. Leichter Wind um 2 Bft gegenan für unsere Gruppe, die IMS II. Dazu eine Kabbelwelle, die höchste Aufmerksamkeit erforderte. Bei diesen Bedingungen sind Strömungskenntnisse und eine genaue Wetter/Wolkenanalyse wichtig. Im Gegensatz zu manch einer Regattayacht, die in voller Besatzungsstärke mit ihrer Regattacrew antrat, haben die von Peter Gast “gecharterten” Yachten Gäste an Bord. Da kann nicht immer Regatta-optimiert gesegelt werden. Der Spaß muß im Vordergrund stehen, auch wenn einem ein total verpatztes Manöver die Mundwinkel runterrutschen läßt. “Charakter building stuff” sagt der Engländer, was dann bei der Bekanntgabe der Ergebnisse nochmals gefordert ist.

Die Bahn wurde in Skjoeldnaes abgekürzt, obwohl dort noch ein interessanter 7sm Spigang zu segeln wäre. Schade, aber die Veranstalter werden Ihre Gründe gehabt haben. Besonders die wenigen HR-Yachten waren bis dahin schon fast 6 Stunden unterwegs, die wunderschöne Kutteryacht “Kong Bele” bereits 6 Std 51min. Was ein langer Tag auf See ist. Wir hatten spannendes segeln gegen die brandneue “Scalar 40” und gegen die “sailOvation”. Beide konnten wir im Ziel hinter uns lassen, die Scalar findet man allerdings berechnet einen Platz vor uns. Verstehe einer IMS.

Die Rückreise fand bei anfänglich 3-4 Bft. statt und briste im Laufe des Tages zu handigen 5-6 Bft. auf. Zunächst eine lange Kreuz und dann ein hoher Anlieger auf dem wir ordentlich durchgeschüttelt wurden und im Verlauf auch noch das Vorsegel wechseln mussten. Mit den Gästen, die unerklärlicherweise keine Schwimmwesten trugen auf dem stampfenden Vorschiff, (ich muss nächstes mal einfach durchgreifen und auch die Skipperrolle übernehmen) keine leichte Aufgabe das Schiff im Seegang ruhig zu halten. Natürlich legten wir keinen Regatta-Maßstab an. Dann hätten wir das Vorsegel “naß in naß” gewechselt, bei voller Fahrt an der Kreuz. So konnte ich die Sache etwas trockener gestalten und das Schiff mit 2,5kn im Wind halten. Nach diesem Leichtwind Sommer machte mich die ganze Angelegenheit allerdings ein wenig nachdenklich.

Das Foto oben zeigt übrigens einen wichtigen Teil der Schifffahrtsregatta. ca. 1.200 Teilnehmer, gewandet zumeist in dunklen Blazern und Krawatte, ziehen hinter einem Spielmannszug durch den wunderschönen Ort Aeroskøbing. Die Anwohner stehen vor ihren Häusern und winken, die Teilnehmer grüßen zurück. Ein kurzes Schwätzchen hier und da und dann treffen sich alle Teilnehmer in der riesigen Gemeindehalle zu einem anständigen dänischen Essen mit 3 Gängen, richtigem Besteck, Getränken ohne Ende und einer schönen Preisverteilung mit den Preisträgern auf der Bühne und mit launigen Reden. Anschließend wandert man in loser Formation zurück zum Hafen, wo eine Zeltstadt aufgebaut war, in der es wieder kleine Leckereien, eine Diashow der Regatta und Livemusik gab. Wunderschön illuminiert das ganze und alle Teilnehmer, soweit noch aufnahmefähig, in guter Stimmung. Liegt es daran, dass zum ganz großen Teil auf den Yachten übernachtet wird? Daran, dass niemand ausgeschlossen wird vom offiziellen Teil? Alles so stramm durchorganisiert ist und doch Raum lässt für “Schiffe gucken” und gute Gespräche? So etwas ist einmalig und diese absolute Teilnehmerfreundlichkeit der Veranstalter findet man sonst nirgendwo. Wir freuen uns alle auf die 25. Schifffahrtsregatta, an der wir voraussichtlich noch einmal mit “Samantha” teilnehmen werden. Vielleicht auch noch etwas besser vorbereitet.


YACHT-online berichtet

Branchentreff mit Ministerpräsident
Fazit der 24. Schifffahrtsregatta

(28.08.2006/af) Ihrem Ruf, ein Stelldichein mit Kultcharakter für Firmen und Prominenz aus dem Umfeld der maritimen Wirtschaft zu sein, ist die Wettfahrt von Schleimünde nach Æroskøbing auch in diesem Jahr gerecht geworden. 117 Yachten und ihre Crews gingen an den Start, darunter Schleswig-Holsteins Ministerpräsident Peter Harry Carstensen, den Organisator Peter Gast für eine Teilnahme gewinnen konnte.

Der Landesvater hatte eine gemütlich Ausgabe der Regatta für seine Segel-Stippvisite erwischt, denn das Rennen fand bei schwachen Winden statt, sodass die Strecke der traditionell 34 Meilen mit Ziellinie vor dem Hafen auf der dänischen Insel Ærø verkürzt wurde. Carstensen zeigte sich begeistert ("Wir haben gut gearbeitet, uns alle geduzt und waren ein sehr fröhliches Boot") und überzeugte bei den Feierlichkeiten mit einer launigen Ansprache.

First ship home war die Swan 45 "High Yield" in 3:53 Stunden. Doch schon während die Crews die Regatta, die das wohl größte inoffizielle Branchentreff an der Küste ist, ausklingen ließen, waren weniger die Ergebnisse als der Blick nach vorn das Thema: im nächsten Jahr steht die Jubiläumsausgabe an, deren Plätze heiß begehrt sein dürften.

Alle Ergebnisse im internet unter http://www.svaoe.de/Archiv2006/schiffahrtregatta.html

I just love to read this...

The following made my day today: These Guys, Howard Hamlin and John Winning doing so exceptionally well in the physically demanding 18 footer class. They are a fraction younger than me and an inspiration to keep sailing performance dinghies as well as sailing in my keel boats. At the same time I am positive about young ones coming in to beat me or to show me new tricks. For example Jan, he is from the local youth squad. He organized a crew for the wednesday night races in the Bull when I had moved from Hamburg to Schleswig and did like to compete but knew nobody around here. We did so well in the first year. Winning overall. Than the youngsters moved away from Schleswig for jobs and University and now Jan, being a sailmaker at Elvstrøm/Sobstad came back into the boat and we start winning again. Nice feeling. Me getting older and the once "young ones" getting more experienced.

quote from Scuttlebutt:
SKIFFS ON THE BAY
San Francisco -- The 18' Skiff International Regatta wasn't quite a changing of the guard---Howard Hamlin, 53, was the winning skipper for the third time in five years---but if runner-up Samuel (Shark) Kahn, 17, is the wave if the future, that's fine with Howie. "It's great to see Shark doing so well," Hamlin said after wrapping up the title with first and second places Saturday. "Maybe it will draw other young kids into the class." Kahn passed former winner John Winning, 54, for second place on the last day, and the Australian indicated that he, too, would welcome an influx of youth, although he will continue to campaign around the world "if the body's up to it." -- Rich Roberts, On the podium:
1. Pegasus White, Howard Hamlin/ Mike Martin/ Trent Barnabas, 11pts
2. Pegasus Black, Samuel (Shark) Kahn/ Cameron MacDonald/Paul Allen,15pts
3. Yandoo, John Winning/ Andrew Hay/' Geoff Bauchop, 17pts
Event website:http://www.stfyc.com

Hard Times to cope with updates on my blogsite

Though I try to be out on the water nearly every weekend, it is difficult to find the time to write about. I must admit, I spend some time reading other Sailors blogs. And with a lot of interest. The "Commodore", Tillerman of course, sets the pace. Eliboat has got interesting features about boatbuilding. Sailing in the far neighbourhood, the Lübeck area must be watched and Orkun is out there Match racing and reminds to my career as a Match racer. More relaxing stories I read "at five o´clock" and I never miss out on Valencia news because I livesail and are not dead. But I have no favourites, no ranking order. I read normally the sites, which I have linked, mostly late on Sunday nights, when I come home from sailing. Relaxing. As I did also last weekend.

One of the weekends without any regatta-engagement, we just cruised into Denmark. It is only a 20 miles trip to reach one of the islands, where it gets cosy. The harbours are not fully packed and you can have a nice walk through the country side. This time we cruised to Søby on the island of Aerø.The picture shows an old windmill in Søby. A nice spinnaker run, autopilot on and...sunbathing. On the way back we had to do upwind work and we tried to cope with the windshifts as best as we could. (no land sight) I got more familiar with the VMG feature on my older Garmin and the tracking plot, later transfered into my laptop showed only one "wrong" leg when the course became bananashape. You all know this. So difficult to make the right decisions there and than. It had been a good exercise for the upcoming Schiffahrtsregatta this weekend. We will sail nearly the same course to Aerø, but this time with about 100 yachts of size from 36ft up to 100ft and more. We might even have the two Volvo 60´s in the fleet again. ex "Illbruck" and ex "SEB" are located in Rostock in the Baltic Sea and for them it is just a catjump to sail to Schleimünde. The boats are classified into IMS Cruiser/Racers (mostly X-Yachts of the new breed) and Yardstick. "Samantha", the Dehler 36db is classified in IMS II. We are three who know my boat and the crew is filled up with guests, invited by Peter Gast (Organizer) from around the world. This regatta has a tradition of 10 years and there are mostly around 1000 people taking part. Shipowners, shipbrokers and bankers coming together. Why me? I have learned the job as a shipbroker. Have been a junior clerk for 3 years in a shipping company and spend some years in shipping. I do hope to be able to report more about this much admired event even after the regatta. Of course we are "going" for a podium place but it depends also a little on whom we are getting as guests. If mostly fall seasick it will become difficult. Weather forecasts are for strong wind and rain.

A Weekend away from the water, but still water around...

Last weekend I was meeting with a friend and business partner in good ol´ Amsterdam. This way I could avoid a 6 hours trip on the plane into Dubai, instead I invested 5 hours in the car. If you add to the 6 hours flying time the time to get to the airport, all the hazzle with parking and safety control and such, the balance was BIG in my favour. Anyway, Amsterdam was so busy with bicylces and people walking all over the place, that one feels really uncomfortable, driving in a car within the citycenter.

When I was close to my friends home, I called and asked for final directions. "Yes, mmh, he said, there are red flags on the bridge opposite my house". OK, I found the right "Gracht" (waterway I would translate) and saw a bridge with red flags. Must be here. A nice parking lot (rare) convinced me further to leave the car. Took my luggage and after a hundred meters I realized that there were many bridges with red flags. I had to walk seven bridges until I reached my destination.

We did not go boating but we talked much about boating. There are a couple of very interesting projects in the pipeline which we discussed. One of my regular visitors here, Orkun, from: Sailmatchrace had sailed the thirty footers of the particular company in a Match Race. We discussed improving their quality or better say their equality as there were some minor weight issues. More interesting will be the series of 80 footers, of which my friend, the CEO in the company believes, he can show up with the first one during the final AC races in Valencia. I doubt this, but I will do my utmost to help get the ball rolling.

Talking about the AC next year. I have booked for my company a visit during the third race in the final. I hope that I find the time to stay until the last race and the celebrations. My colleagues will have to hit straight home the next day. Lot´s of work in the company, but as an aficionado since Newport 1983, I am following every move of the America´s Cup and hope to be able to stay in Valencia for a couple more days. The photo shows the German entry, GER-89 after stepping the mast in August 2006 in Valencia. We do hope that this boat will be faster than the old one and that Jesper and the boys will take some sculps during the LV Cup. We will not likely see them in the final but they should get their feet wet, as Michael Illbruck once said. I like my hometeam of course but my heart is beating for the Kiwis. The once underdogs, who took the Cup after several attempts. An interesting story about it had been written by Artist Jim Bolland.

Was für ein Segelwochenende...

Vor einigen Wochen rief Günther an, ein alter Bekannter, der hin-und wieder mit mir Segelgespräche, speziell über Boote führt. Wir waren uns nie über den Weg gelaufen, er segelt in der Lübecker Bucht, ich mehr in Kiel/Flensburg. Dazwischen liegen "Welten", (Fehmarn) und meist auf einem Weg stramme 45sm gegenan. So segelt jeder in seinem eigenen Revier. Günther war mir als Eigner einer J130 bekannt, ein großes, komfortables und sehr schnelles Schiff. Damit hatte er schon den Osten bereist, all die Städte, wo ich auch gerne einmal hinsegeln möchte. Diesmal kam der Anruf sehr überraschend. "Du hast noch doch Deine Bull?". "mmmh, ja, wieso?". So kamen wir in´s Gespräch. G. & seine Freunde hatten zwischenzeitlich ihre J130 "Adrenalina" vekauft und sich ein kleineres Schiff angeschafft. Ein so genanntes Sportboot, eine 8mOD. Dieses Ding aus Ungarn. Sieht aus wie ne verkleinerte VO60. Auch mit Toppspinnaker. Schnell. Er berichtete noch von anderen Bekannten, die ebenfalls ein Sportboot (Sportsboat) segeln würden, z.B. Andreas mit der Hunter707, dazu ein T750 aus Kiel "Yellow Drama", und eine POGO. Man wolle sich Anfang August in Haesnes, DK treffen. Zum grillen, schnacken und mal einen Schlag segeln. Tolle Idee. Ich war Feuer und Flamme, führe ich meine Bull doch sonst nur auf Regatten aus. Und diesen Teil Dänemarks hatte ich noch nicht mit dem Boot bereist.

Das besagte WE kam näher, die Vorfreude auf ne nette Tour stieg. Vorher noch schnell mit Regattatrimm, aber mäßigem Erfolg in der Travemünder Woche in der Sportboot Klasse gesegelt und dann das Boot für die Tour umgerüstet: Kocher, Gas, Motor, Sprit, Kojen mit Bettzeug, Kühlbox etc. 3 Abende war ich dabei, kleine Ausbesserungen eingeschlossen.

Donnerstag abend, am 3.8. traf ich mich mit Kerstin in Kühlungsborn. Es war schon dunkel. Im Hintergrund lief das Open Air Strandkino, die nach außen gerichteten Scheinwerfer spendeten uns Licht zum aufriggen. Das klappte prima auf dem Trailer und wir slippten das Boot gegen 23.00h, was ganz einfach ging. Noch schnell an einen netten Liegeplatz verholt in der sehr großzügig angelegten Marina, ein paar Sachen an Bord gebracht und Nachtruhe. Morgens wurden wir von Stimmen geweckt. Man sprach von 6-7 Bft und Gewitterböen. Die am Steg laut palavernden Skipper wollten lieber einen Hafentag einlegen. Das machte unsicher. Erstmal Frühstück an Bord. Gemütlich in der Bull und dann ein Blick nach Norden. Ganz ruhig lag sie da, die Ostsee. Kein Hauch. Kaum Wolken am Himmel. ??? Nachdem Autos und Trailer umgeparkt und auch sonst alles erledigt war, ein erneuter Blick aus höherer Warte und es zeigte sich erster Wind auf der See. 10.30h. Sofort auslaufen. 43sm gegenan, da hätte man wohl noch früher lossegeln müssen. Draussen auf der Ostsee hatten wir einen schönen Wind. Volle Besegelung, aber leider kam der Wind von vorne. Wir nutzten jeden Linksdreher zu einem kleinen Holschlag auf Steuerbordbug, tendenziell drehte es allerdings nach rechts. Nicht ungünstig für uns und am Ende wurde es ein langes Bein, ein Anlieger und wir erreichten um ca. 21.00h, nach etwas Verwirrung durch die vielen, weit draussen liegenden Stellnetze, den Hafen von Haesnes. Günther stand an der Pier mit der Videokamera. Man wollte gerade am Strand die frischen Heringe grillen. Aufklaren und dazugesellen. Alles unbekannte Gesichter, neue Leute. Man beäugte sich erstmal. Wir wußten garnichts, kannten doch niemanden und uns hatte man natürlich schon unter segeln einlaufen sehen. Es war eine sehr nette Clique. Vermissen taten wir natürlich die anderen "Sportboote", Wo waren POGO, T750 und Hunter? Sie hatten es irgendwie nicht geschafft. Von den Wetteraussichten, an denen wieder überhaupt nichts stimmte, abgeschreckt oder einfach zu weit? Wir werden es wohl erst später erfahren. (Wir hatten für eine Stunde ein Reff einlegen müssen, was aber bei nur 2 Leutchen auf der hohen Kante schon früh notwendig ist).

Der Hafen und der Ort stellten sich als urgemütlich dar. Keine Marina im üblichen Sinne, trotzdem ein gut sortierter Fischladen und ein Kaufmann der an 7 Tagen in der Woche geöffnet hat. Ein Ort zum verweilen. Wir hatten noch den Samstag der viel zu schnell verflog. Abends wieder Heringe und Dorsch vom Grill: mmmh, und nicht zu spät in die Koje, denn es sollte um 08.00h gestartet werden. Mit uns die 8mOD und eine ältere "Rubin", nämlich die "Rubin IX" Ein Schiff aus der IOR Ära. Windansage: 5-6 aus Nordnordost. Also günstig. Die anderen Segler aus der Gruppe hatten noch das Glück zu bleiben.

Wie es so ist, die Leinen kamen erst gegen 10.00h los und draußen hatte sich schon eine ordentliche Welle aufgebaut. Hoch am Wind freisegeln von den Stellnetzen. Dabei vertrauten wir den "Ortskenntnissen" von Günther und Frank auf der 8mOD, was aber nicht gut war. Wir schrabbelten über ein flaches Stück mit 2,1m Kartentiefe und fielen erst spät auf Südkurs ab. Beim Gennakersetzen ein kleines Problem mit dem Baum, was noch nie aufgetreten war. Kerstin turnte vorne herum und brachte alles in Ordnung und hoch ging die Pocke. 60qm und rot. Nicht zu übersehen. Die Beschleunigung war grandios. Beinahe dauerhaft 10-11kn im GPS und hin-und wieder 12 und auch mal über 13kn. Wobei ich das bei der inzwischen über 2m hohen Welle ziemlich aufregend fand. Es ist der Speed, bei dem man die Welle überholt und in die nächste hineinsticht. Was auch 2 mal passierte und wir begruben das Deck komplett unter einer Welle. Nach 25sm aufregender Gleitfahrt, sauber navigiert durch die zwei Untiefen am Gedser Rev, liefen wir auf den Großschiffahrts-Zwangsweg auf. Hier querten Frachter, Tanker und eine Fähre nach der anderen. Wir peilten einen riesigen Tanker an, an dessen Heck wir queren wollten. Leider nahm der Wind dramatisch zu und mir verblieb bloß das abfallen mit dem Gennaker, um nicht umzufallen. Jetzt segelten wir parallel zu dem Teil und fast genauso schnell. Sollten wir den Tanker, den "Levithian" aufspießen? Jagen, so wie in dem spannenden Buch "Shipkiller" von Justin Scott? Ich glaube, er hätte uns nicht einmal bemerkt. Der 2m Carbon-Bugsprit wäre einfach abgeknickt, das 7,5m lange Bootchen unter die Bordwand gedrückt und hinten am Heck, im grausigen Schraubenwasser wäre vielleicht noch die Kühlbox aufgetaucht. Also besser nicht. Anluven, Gennaker und Grossegel killen lassen, immer Fahrt im Schiff behalten und abwarten. Nach bangen 3-4 Minuten (immer mit respektvollem Sicherheitsabstand) konnten wir wieder die Schoten anziehen und dann sprangen wir förmlich über die hoch steigenden Heckseen des Tankers, die gegen die Ostseewellen gegenan liefen. Wie eine "Fettblase" blieben wir oben. Und das mit 12kn Fahrt. Ein irres Erlebnis auf einem kleinen Kielboot. Der Wind hatte nicht nachgelassen. Bestimmt 5 1/2 Bft, der Norddeutschte neigt NICHT zur Übertreibung, allerdings kein Windmessgerät. Ne halbe Stunde nach diesem Erlebnis waren wir so fertig, daß wir den Gennaker runter nehmen mussten. Natürlich in Luv und es klappte gut. Endlich Pinkelpause, essen und trinken. Das war vorher einfach nicht möglich bei den Wellenritten. Immerhin hatten wir einige Boote überholt, die entweder nur ein gerefftes Vorsegel oder nur mit verkleinertem Groß auf unserem Kurs gen MacPom Küste liefen. Hoffentlich hat uns jemand fotografiert. Wir hatten keine Zeit gehabt dafür. Erst jetzt und da machte ich den Schnappschuß von Kerstin an der Pinne. Leider bekam ich keine dieser richtig hohen Wellen auf das Bild. Kerstin die Jollenseglerin surfte ständig diese Wellen runter und die Berge verschwanden einfach.Nur mit Groß und Fock liefen wir auf Kühlungsborn zu, wo man vor lauter hoch auflaufenden Wellen (auflandig) kaum die Hafeneinfahrt sah. Ich war etwas nervös. Keine Ansteuerungs-tonne. Die Brandung brüllte. Eine Halse war noch notwendig. Hierbei neigt die Bull zum "broachen", wenn man nicht in Fahrt bleibt. Also auf eine Welle drauf gesetzt, gehalst und mit 9kn in die schmale Hafeneinfahrt rein gerast. Zum Glück hatte uns eine unter Motor schwer rollende Segelyacht das Vorrecht beim einlaufen gelassen. Danke schön! Jede Menge Zuschauer im Hafen. Bei dem Wind wurde ja auch etwas geboten. Wir segelten nach einem Bogen im Hafen einen eleganten Aufschießer, genau an die gut gepolsterte Tankstellenanlage in Luv, Segel runter und anbinden und die Seefahrt war beendet. Leider stoppten wir jetzt nicht die Zeit. Wir legten gleich den Mast, slippten das Boot und schauten erst um viertel nach fünf auf die Uhr. Ein unglaublich schönes und auch aufregendes Wochenende als Trailer-Sailor war erfolgreich zu Ende gegangen. Neue Leute, neue Orte, neue Erfahrungen. Segeln kann auch ohne Regatta schön sein.

Starboat WC in Neustadt, Germany

Some of my friends are sailing Starboats and their BIG event takes place this week in Neustadt, Germany. A bay in the Baltic Sea. They had their first race yesterday and of course I am interested in the results. I also had the pleasure to help out the US Sailor John Dane, USA 8268 hauling out his boat at the end of Travemünde week. If this would not be enough, my opinion is that the fleet is "star studded" deep into the middle fleet. Have a look yourself on the events website: Rolex-Baltic-Week

But it is not only the results list which is of interest. The organisers have hired a sailing journalist who does understand the racing and who has written a fine report with interviews. A MUST read for racing sailors. Well done Andreas Kling! The report is also on the Rolex-Baltic-Week website under: Rolex-Baltic-Week-daily report. Have a nice week and for the Star sailors: smooth sailing!

Where do you sail??

I must apologize for not contributing more regular. Since I have my new Lappie, which should give me more options to write and send reports from "underway", I have more and more pressure from the job and the reporting about the sailing adventures is pushed into the background.

We have done Travemünde Week last weekend in the "Bull7000", sailing in the Sportsboat class with mixed success. I was not able to get the boat going in very light air and little chop out on the sea. It needs more race practise and definetely fuller sails. Both items are on my agenda but there is not much chance to change within this season. Have to go more for the "fun of racing", "fun of travelling to places" and of course: "fun of meeting sailing buddies". This had been the case in Travemünde and there had been good friendship and talks with people whom I do not see so often. Schleswig is a little bit remote....

This brings me to the theme today. I read in Tillerman´s Blog about: "where do you sail?" Interesting question and I had not used Google earth before. So I looked for my homewaters in Schleswig which I like to present to you. Amazing what this programm can do. As a trailerboat sailor I am also on the move and maybe it is a good idea to check in Google before starting or afterwards to present the places to you. Anyway, the water in my hometown, Schleswig, the Schlei Fjord, is connected to the Baltic Sea. It is about 4 hours to sail and than you are coming into the open Baltic. Nevertheless, our beer-can-races (wednesday-night-races) take place on the waters which you can see in the picture. The marina, where I keep "Bull-y-hoo", is on the left side. The water has some shallow areas and with a draft of 1,70m it is tricky to find the quickest way if you have the wind from the east. (right hand side of the pic) Than we have to beat up until you reach a mark close to the narrow passage on the right side. Here we usually have an up-down-up and than straight for the barn, the finish, close to the island on the middle/left side. The water at the bottom, which is called the Haddebyer Noor is actually the place where one of the first Viking towns had been installed. A place of great tradition. A place which is mentioned in most Viking books. Thanks again Tillerman, for pushing me.

Just a quick one!

Back from Holiday, I should have reported about my wonderful sailing holiday up North into the Kattegatt. There we had a 3 day stop at the island of Anholt. Water temperatur 22.6°C. Nice for swimming in the sea. We had to cross 3 bridges on the way and I´ll promise, I will put some photos and a report together later. At present I have to work through the piles on my desk and to organise the crew for the racing in Travemünder Woche in the Sportsboat Class from Friday 28th. Smooth sailing everyone out here.

Die 2-Hand Regatta 2006, dt/engl.

Der neue Termin, Ende Juni, am 27/28.6 für die Double-Hand-Challenge, eine 24 Stunden Regatta, gestartet abends von Flensburg aus, war hervorragend mit Rasmus abgestimmt. Leichter Wind am Start, der während der Nacht auf 15kn aufbriste brachte den Teilnehmern bestes Segelwetter. Leider gab es wieder einen Halbwindstart, wir waren zwar zeitlich gut an der Linie, aber die Fahrt reichte nicht aus, um sich nach vorne abzusetzen. “Samantha”, mit dem kleinen, 110% Vorsegel und einem Steuermann, der für diese Starts nicht genug geübt hat, wurde gerollt. Die “Einheimischen” starteten sehr weit in Luv unter Land, was anfänglich nicht gut aussah, sie arbeiteten sich aber im Laufe des ersten langen Anliegerkurses, raus zur Schwiegermutter (Fahrwassertonne) gut nach vorne. Ein paar kleine Kreuzschläge brachten uns mit einigen direkten Gegnern aus unserer Gruppe in Kontakt und bis Holnis konnten wir ne X-332 und die Bavaria 35 Match gut unter Kontrolle halten. Dann trennte sich die Spreu vom Weizen. Es wurde dunkler, wir kreuzten unter dem deutschen Ufer auf und verloren Sichtkontakt zum vorderen Feld. Ne schöne Kreuz, einige Winddreher richtig genommen und im Morgengrauen gegen 03.00h lagen wir Schleimünde an. Wenig Schiffe in unserer Nähe. Ein voller Anlieger in Richtung Åro, dann ein langer Spikurs in Richtung Sonderburg und auf dem nächsten vollen Anliegerkurs in Richtung Leuchtturm Kalkgrund holten wir endlich ein paar Schiffe aus unserem Feld ein. Selbst eine große Bianca konnte überholt werden. Frühstück um 06.00h mit Tee und wunderbaren Brötchen und wir waren für den langen Weg in die Flensburger Förde, zum Ziel vor der Marina Sonwik, gut gerüstet. Mit dem “Whomper”, dem 0,5oz Spi ging es bei dem abflauenden Wind auch gut voran, selbst der Zwölfer “Thea” konnte uns nicht merklich einholen. Er segelte allerdings nicht im Rennen mit sondern mit Gästen, wie wir später sahen. Hatte allerdings einen beachtlich großen Spinnaker gesetzt. Es folgten ein paar Manöver, da wir die grünen Tonnen nun an Backbord lassen mußten, am Ende gab es noch einen zunächst spitzen Gang mit Spi der zum Ziel hin voll wurde und 100m vor dem Ziel dann kam der Wind fast von vorne. Unglaublich. Ein wenig mehr lokale Kenntnisse würden bestimmt helfen.

Gegen 13.30h liefen wir ein. Die Wettfahrtleitung hatte ein Frühstück auf der Pier vorbereitet und für die unentspannten gab es sogar eine Massage unter freiem Himmel. Abends dann im Beach Club ein tolles Buffet und die Preisverteilung. Wir ersegelten einen 4. Platz in unserer Gruppe, mit dem wir sehr zufrieden sind. Haben wir doch einige Fehler gemacht, wie im nachhinein zu analysieren war. Speziell die Strömungsverhältnisse am Ausgang der Flensburger Förde wurden von mir nicht richtig eingeschätzt. Etwas mehr Kenntnisse der Instrumente, vielleicht eine Stromkarte könnten schon leicht eine halbe Stunde bringen. Das war die Differenz, die uns zum dritten, der “Sinjale” fehlte. Per Verlosung gewann “Samantha” dann noch einen Liegeplatzvertrag für ein Jahr in der Marina Sonwik. Mal sehen, was wir damit machen. Der Abend klang wunderbar im Beach Club aus und am nächsten Tag wurde das Boot für den Urlaubstörn umgebaut. Mehr davon später.


The Double-Hand-Challenge
This was the race we had been waiting for. Last year we blew the mainsail after 20minutes, this time we really wanted to finish this overnighter. “Sam” was put into racemode on Friday noontime, which means, changing the sails, mainsail and jib, cleaning around the “waist” and most important, unloading all the unnecessary cruising stuff. The start had to be postphonned due to the Football Game: Germany:Argentine. After a long game with a penalty shoot out at the end the starting time was set at 20.45h. The line in front of the Marina Sonwik gave us a reaching start, which definitely is not my favourite way of starting a boat race. We were right at the line but got rolled from quicker boats on our windward side. It really took a while until we got some air to breathe and we kept our course on the windward side. The locals took the shoreside which has lots of trees and a higher shore but somehow they kept creeping away from us. The front group, consisting of some new X-35´s, two X-40 and some other boats around 40 foot, had a lead of about a mile after 10mls of sailing in light wind. Around two corners we reached into the more open Baltic Sea and the wind increased to abt. 12-15kn. Very close to putting a reef in, as it got dark by now. We lost control of the boats around us, as a “white light” is a “white light”. A long beat up to the Schleimünde mark left us thinking about our position within our group of 15 boats which were sailing under ORC Club. Not many competitors around. On the Spinnaker run we were able to catch up with some boats, we passed another two on the 2-sail reach in the morning. One of sailing buddy´s on a J-109 got rolled by us at breakfast time at 06.00h. He had a poor sail setting, sheets very tight whilst we were already barberhauling our jib and lot´s of twist in the main. Around the next mark, back into the “Flensburger Förde”, we were abel to hoist the spinnaker and we opted for our “Whomper”, the 0,5oz which is very fast up to 3 Bft. Than you have to take it down carefully. We left the “J” miles behind as they had trouble getting their asymetric chute flying on this downwind run. A very shy reach followed were we had to drop the kite due to increased wind and a shy angle and the long stretch home saw us with the regular 0,75 oz Spinnaker flying.

A nice breakfast awaited us after the finish and tidying up the boat and after taking a short nap we met at the Beach-Club for the Regatta-Dinner and pricegiving. We came fourth in our group which surprised us a little bit as the competition was out of sight. We went away from this competition with a smile and we had learned a lot which hopefully will be put into action next time when Kerstin and myself will sail a double-hand-competition.

We stayed in Flensburg Sonwik until Monday morning to deliver our racing sails for some minor repairs to the local sailmaker and after that sailed out to Denmark, where we have spend out first “real” holiday night on anchor in the Alsensund. More from our cruising whilst we are under way. This report has been written and send off from the beautiful island of Tunø, Denmark.n

Double-Hand-Challenge and Kiel Week Finals

Mmmh, I wanted to write about my "non" preparation for the Double-Hand-Challenge, starting this weekend. But so much to do in my last week before the holiday and except of avoiding coffee and cakes, I am not able to contribute much. Neither for the boat and navigation preparation, nor for my sailing blog. Anyone interested in the competitors list of the race should visit:
http://www.double-hand-challenge.de/meldeliste.php
The race is an overnighter and will last about 20hours. The course will be set 2 hours before the start. Last year I survived the race only for 20 minutes, than my Kevlar mainsail exploded in a gust where a nearby brand new X-37 broke it´s mast. Only 50% of the competitors survived the very strong winds last year but the ones who did, looked well oiled and set.

Reading through Scuttlebutt this morning, the following letter caught my interest. I hope that Magnus L. is OK with me printing it here on my blog. It is an important letter which is in stark contrast to the press releases everyone has read about the final medal races in the Kieler Woche. He is so right. I have participated in numerous Kiel Week races and often wondered about: "where does the information, out from the racecourse, come about?" Answer: Mostly written in the sheltered press center. Also the course inside the bay is definitely not ideal for medal races. Many unpredictable shifts due to the high shores on the left. The massive concrete buildings for the 1972´s Olympic races further contributing to disturbed air. And nothing has changed since the fierce Soling match race battles, between Jesper Bank, Jochen Schümann and others in the same area. Fantastic racing, but spectators: nearly none. We had always packed our Cruiser/Racer with fellow sailors and stayed till the end but there were no more than 2-3 other boats out there. Sailing will never be a real spectator sport with spectators on the water. Desk or couch spectating has a big future and I do not want to miss the America´s Cup Radio with Andy Green and colleagues. Great reporting! But for now let Magnus talk:

quote
* From Magnus Liljedahl (edited to our 250-word limit): I feel obligated to comment on the new format of finishing a grade 1 event. I witnessed the Star finals during the recent Kiel regatta and my opinion it was very different from what went out in the event’s press release. It stated that it "offered perfect conditions" and that it was "successfully launched". In my view it was a very sad ending to a super nice event. The racing, up until the finals, was challenging and the leaders were deserving of podium finishes, as usually is the case. The problems in the medal race were three-fold. The course was much to short. Anyone who took a penalty was out of contention. The course location was absurd. There weren’t many spectators at all.

Finally and arguably the most serious problem was the officiating. For years sailing has been self-policed, and it still is. The judges need to understand what impact their calls have on the outcome of the race, especially a short one. The first and second place teams were both called for fouls during the run and at least one of them was totally uncalled for. The other one was questionable and that's why it should not have been called. The referees are under a big scrutiny and some will never return to "show time" events. I would agree that the sailing judges is not all a bad thing, but don't go out there and screw up and think that you deserve applause.
unquote.

Follow up on BMW Sailing Cup

Follow up:
The third day of the BMW Sailing Cup did not went according to the plan...at least for us. The wind did not cooperate in the morning, very light, very fluky and turning around the clock. This was good in one way as the saturday of the Kieler Woche is always the day of the big Squarerigger parade. And what a parade it had been this time. I think that nearly every squarerigger from this site of the pond was participating. "Gorch Fock" leading the parade with "Sedov", "Khersone" and many, many other ship following. Spectator boats by the hundreds and thousands of people lined up ashore to watch and wave the parade slowly sailing (motoring actually) out of the Kieler Förde. All these boats and ships would definitely stolen our wind if there would have been any. At 13.00h the wind slowly kicked in. Not stable in direction but sailable. We had to sit out two "races of hope", for the not qualified and the first half final. Our toughest competitor (as to my personell thinking) sailed a first and a fourth which brought him into our halffinal group of 3 boats. To make it short, we messed it up. Leading at the weather mark, we did not sail the boat well on the run, got passed by Oliver though he had sailed out 2 penalties. Helmsman and crew never found together as we should. Difficult for me not to steer this nervous boat and seeing our skipper moving so much around with the tiller. Handbreak on most of the time. Me being nervous as I did see some chances to qualify for the final, also not being able to give my very best as crew. If you are sailing with a gennaker or spinnaker in very light air it is necessary to have the best communication and cooperation between trimmer and helmsman. We were just damn slow and this had cost us first place and direct qualification into the final.

There was still hope as the organisers had put a "runner up" race into place. 4 boats and the first one to qualify for the final of 3 boats. A nice shedule by the way as it kept 12 crews in the competition nearly until the end. The wind had kicked in from the west, direct from the shore which was high with a wood and therefore some nasty windshadows on the weather mark. The course area bwing restricted by the marked deep water, which has many ferries coming and going into Norway, Sweden and Finland. A big shift to the left at about 3 minutes into the starting procedure saw us timing for a portstart at the pin end. It did not go well, we had to duck the other two boats and found us in the lee of the competitors on a tight reach to the weather mark. All boats squezzed together at the weather mark but we could not get inside and on the run with the gennaker we were slow again. There were still chances at the downwind gate mark which we rounded nicely and a new wind brought us back into the race. We should have tried to get inside the other two boats but as we stayed outside, we did not have many options on the last run. We were even past by the fourth boat and the mood was low. No place in the final against Oliver and friends.

The only good thing with this result had been our chance to watch the football (soccer for you guys) game, Germany vs. Sweden from the beginning. One eye pinned on the TVscreen and the other eye trying to watch the final race where also Sigrid (my former Bull crew) was sailing in a team of youngsters. Would they be able to run down Oliver in two final races? No chance for the other teams. Oliver, Marcus and Jan won the first race easily and they pulled a trick in the last race when they were under pressure. They sailed very low on the run, mainsail out on one side and the gennaker out on the other side, assisted by a long arm. This put them inside on the rounding and they had god speed on the beat, with Jan sitting inside the boat, low on the keel and only two working in the cockpit. Two first places! Well done Oliver. You and your team deserve the final in Berlin and I press thumbs for you to qualify for Valencia! The BMW Oracle Team is waiting to show you around.

The picture above shows the view from the clubhouse in Kiel-Möltenort out to the race area and the beginning of the "parade of sails" in the "Sailing City Kiel".

Kieler Woche 2006 (dt. & engl.)

Nachdem ich die letzten zwei Jahre nicht mehr aktiv an der Kieler Woche teilgenommen hatte, ergab sich für mich diese Woche eine gute Gelegenheit mal wieder zu starten. BMW hatte zum BMW Sailing Cup eingeladen. Eine Einladungsveranstaltung, die über regionale BMW Händler lief und die in der Kieler Innenförde auf Skippy 650 ausgetragen wird. Genau: ausgetragen wird, denn die Veranstaltung ist noch nicht abgeschlossen. Morgen kommen die Finalläufe. Mich hatte ein Freund und ehemaliger Mitsegler angemeldet, mit ihm und einer weiteren Crew im Sailing Cup zu starten. Ich sollte steuern, Markus und Sigrid an den Schoten. Sigrid mit viel Gennakererfahrung und viel Gefühl für dieses Segel. Leider kam es anders. Die 36 eingeladenen Segler wurden willkürlich und ohne für mich erkennbares Muster einander zugelost. Ich wurde Skipper Willi und Crew Walter als Crew zugelost. Willi segelte früher Finn Dinghy und hat jetzt mit ner X-99 ein sportliches Dickschiff, Walter hat mal mitgesegelt. Regatta sei eigentlich nicht so sein Ding. Gestern bekamen wir bei Starkwind (für die kleine Skippy sind 6 Bft schon Sturm) erstmal ne Packung. Wir führten an der Luvtonne und brachen auf der zweiten Kreuz ein und wurden dann im Ziel dritte. Von jeweils drei gestarteten Booten. Weitere Läufe gab es nicht. Heute kamen wir in den Hoffnungslauf und konnten uns mit zwei ersten Plätzen makellos direkt für das Halbfinale qualifizieren. Leider segelte der Kieler Lokalmatador Oliver mit einem ersten und einem vierten direkt in unsere Gruppe und das bedeutet morgen einen harten Kampf um einen Finalplatz.

PS: Wer wissen möchte, was sonst noch so los war auf der Kieler Woche, sollte den Link unten rechts nutzen: Segeln-erfrischend anders oder http://blog.ln-online.de/index.php/segeln.

Cruising last weekend
My foreign friends here are missing last weekends report. Not much to report as the cruising with „Samantha“ went smooth. We sailed to Denmark, a picturesque little place called Høruphav. Sunday on the way home in wind which ranged from 2-4 Bft, it happened that we passed a bigger boat, abt. 2 miles out from the harbour and that this manoeuvre seemed to disturb the skipper of the other boat very much. He trimmed in and started to race us. About 20 miles against the wind, into the mouth of the Schlei Fjord. There were no presents given on the way and we did tack on every 5-8 degree wind shift, as did the other skipper. When the breeze picked up he got a slight edge on us, when the breeze was around 2Bft it seemed that we could cope well with height and speed with his bigger boat which carried a tall and thin 3 spreader rig. It was good that he only carried his Nos. 3 (about 110%) which is about what we are carrying. „Samantha“ has wide, swept back spreaders, where a No 3 Jib is he maximum fitting into this rig. More or less like a Farr 40. But with running back stays. After all this sailing, which we enjoyed very much, both boats entered Schleimünde on an even level. Greetings and well wished were exchanged, as the couple on the other boat seemed to have enjoyed it as much as we did. A great race on a cruising Sunday.

Later on after having had a shower the lady from the other recognized K´s red hair and chatted us up. I went to see the boat and the skipper and he had been an old customer of mine, now retired from boatbuilding. His cruising boat definitely a „sheep in sheeps clothes“. Cold moulded in Wood Epoxy with a towering rig from one of the last „RUBIN´s“. Germany’s most known tally of racing yachts in the old IOR days. Lot’s to talk and a late night made us stay on the boat and drive to work early on Monday morning.

Racing in the „Kieler Woche“
This week the famous „Kiel Week“ is under way. I have the pleasure to race in it in the BMW Sailing Cup, an invitational race. We have managed to qualify for the half final tomorrow and I will report later on how it went. So far I can say, that yesterday we did not sail smart and came last. The second chance races today brought us back into the race as we were the only ones to score two firsts. If we keep our pace a place in the final is not out of reach.

Follow up:
The third day of the BMW Sailing Cup did not went according to the plan...at least for us. The wind did not cooperate in the morning, very light, very fluky and turning around the clock. This was good in one way as the saturday of the Kieler Woche is always the day of the big Squarerigger parade. And what a parade it had been this time. I think that nearly every squarerigger from this site of the pond was participating. "Gorch Fock" leading the parade with "Sedov", "Khersone" and many, many other ship following. Spectator boats by the hundreds and thousands of people lined up ashore to watch and wave the parade slowly sailing (motoring actually) out of the Kieler Förde. All these boats and ships would definitely stolen our wind if there would have been any. At 13.00h the wind slowly kicked in. Not stable in direction but sailable. We had to sit out two "races of hope", for the not qualified and the first half final. Our toughest competitor (as to my personell thinking) sailed a first and a fourth which brought him into our halffinal group of 3 boats. To make it short, we messed it up. Leading at the weather mark, we did not sail the boat well on the run, got passed by Oliver though he had sailed out 2 penalties. Helmsman and crew never found together as we should. Difficult for me not to steer this nervous boat and seeing our skipper moving so much around with the tiller. Handbreak on most of the time. Me being nervous as I did see some chances, also not being able to give my very best as crew. If you are sailing with a gennaker or spinnaker in very light air it is necessary to have the best communication and cooperation between trimmer and helmsman.

A lovely Summer Weekend in the North of Germany

This was to be a summer weekend without sailing. Not the best idea at all but due to commitments to my "mentor" Jack, who wanted to visit me during the weekend, it was something, I accepted easily. Jack wanted to observe how far we have proceeded with the "Flying Postman", a lightweight, hardchine dinghy, which he had built during the last two years. The boat is about 6,90m long, features double trapeze, a carbonmast and a gennaker on a 1.5m bowsprit. Can´t really wait until it hits the water but putting fittings into the right place, a new (yellow) paintjob, etc., takes time. I have delegated the jobs (boat prep) and the sailing of this "new boat in the family" to Daniel, who does a good and thorough job, preparing it. Will keep you posted also with a photo later.

As Jack and his friend Claus are early birds, we had done all the boat talk already at Saturday noon. Both guys, being in their early 70´s and fit like a "sportshoe", had brought their bikes to take a ride in this nice area. I wanted to show them around and got my bike out of the shed. Tyres had almost lost most of it´s air. Not being used for long. Anyway, I decided to ride around the "Schlei", the homewaters, where we usually go sailing if not being out in the Baltic Sea. The Schlei is a Fjord, connected to the sea and therefore we would be able to challenge for the America´s Cup with our homeclub...

The ride took us a couple of hours, through landscape which I had only seen from the water. (I have moved into this area seven years ago and besides working and going sailing I have only seen, what I knew already before). So beautiful. No wonder it is a holiday area. We had to use one chain-ferry, to cross the water, otherwise we would not be home before midnight. At the place where I took the photo, I was watching the Dinghy regatta for a while as my backside needed a break. There were 8 "Seggerling" dinghies out on the water, (the one, which I usually sail) but due to the banning of my mylar/kevlar sail, I am not allowed to participate anyway. Not going to purchase a white one! "Rubberdacron" one sailmaker friend called it the other day. As the dinghy has a big roach mainsail, (see photos on an article before) a white sail does not last very long on this powerful rig. (The Solo mentioned on one of the fellow bloggers site reminds me very much to the Seggerling... and I do not want to comment these great articles on "propercourse" and else "about taking your kids sailing". It would open a tin of worms.

Riding back via the castle kept my friends happy. You can also visit it: Google and Schloß Gottorf. In the Schloß Gottorf, they are keeping one of he oldest boats, the Nydam-Schiff, built 320 after Christus. You can go direct to learn about this early piece of craftmanship: Sorry my links did not work. Try Google and follow the path to the Nydam Schiff.

Sunday was another lovely day and I decided, late in the afternoon after all the family duties had been fulfilled, to take the old DIV II board (22cm high, 65cm wide, 390 cm long) for a ride. Still have one "Olympic sail" from one of our hopefuls, the fully battened Lechner type with 7,5qm. What a ride I had! Full hiking in the trapeze at max 3-3,5 Bft. Planing to windward. As the water was smooth the downwind ride was easy and I played it for 2 hours. Cannot be without sailing and promised to myself to take the board out more often.

Die Aalregatta findet zu Pfingsten statt

German/English
Die Aalregatta, ausgerichtet vom Segelclub Eckernförde ( http://www.segelclub-eckernfoerde.de/aalregatta/ ) war eine sehr gute Veranstaltung bei allerbestem Segelwetter und toller Beteiligung. Nach einer ruhigen Überführung von Maasholm nach Kiel (siehe Foto) briste es dann am Samstag und Sonntag ordentlich auf und die Rücküberführung fand wieder bei leichtem Wind und bestem Frühsommerwetter statt. Mehr hätte man auch auf Wunsch nicht bestellen können. Auf dem Wasser habe ich viel Spaß gehabt (ha ha, mit der Baumniederholerleine versucht ein Reff einzudrehen....) und auch an Land. Nette Leute. DN Eissegelfreunde getroffen, gute Party.

Nachdem sich die ORC Double-Hand-Gruppe am Samstag mit 3 Booten als uninteressant für uns herausgestellt hatte (Der Sieg wurde uns zu leicht gemacht) meldeten wir uns bei den sehr freundlichen Veranstaltern für Sonntag in der YS-Gruppe (32´bis 38´) ohne Spi an. 2 Freunde segelten dort auch 2-Hand mit ihrer Comfortina 35, der Rest allerdings mit voller Crew. Man gab uns die 2 Punkte Vergütung für ohne-Spi-segeln und dann gab es in dieser Gruppe mit 25 Teilnehmern richtigen Sport. Wobei ich in der zweiten Wettfahrt mit dem obigen Manöver eindeutig nicht zur Verbesserung des Ergebnisses beigetragen habe. Die "alte" 36db "Samantha" zeigte aber wieder einmal mehr, was für ein gutes Schiff sie doch ist und ein dritter Gesamtrang nach den beiden spannenden Wettfahrten war ein achtbares Ergebnis. Kerstin räumte dann noch ne große Silberplatte für die beste Steuerfrau ab (ist doch logisch, bei 2-Hand muß jeder mal steuern) und die schmucken Gläser vervollständigen die Sammlung.

Yes, we did race on the weekend but I had catched a cold straight on Tuesday after the long weekend and have not been in the mood to write a report since than. But promises are promises and here is what happened in a typical German yachtrace in the Baltic Sea. The so called "Aalregatta" (you get a smoked Eel after you finish the race) was always famous for the big boats within Kieler Woche. The opening race for a week of triangle, up-and-down and long distance races; earlier on for the national KR formula, than for the IOR and now for IMS. Things are changing fast in our world and due to sponsor commitment the race from the inner waters of the city of Kiel to Eckernförde (Ecktown) which has abt. 40sm depending on the course, had been cancelled by the Kieler Yacht Club. Many protests and the Sailing Club Eckernförde decided to have a separate series from the Kieler Woche still to be called "Aalregatta". A smart move, which had been underlined by 140 participating boats. The rating choosen had been ORC Club and Yardstick. This should allow for the "not so keen racers" without IMS certificates. It worked.

I had signed up in the double-hand-division together with ex-dinghy sailorette Kerstin. With my valid IMS certificate they put us in a group with 3 boats only, but did not inform beforehand. As usual with my 36ft boat we started under burgee nos. 2, second start. K, doing navigation thought that we had a -dinghy style- five minute starting interval, which I believed without check proving and off we went without a gun and other competitors. A good start but nobody followed. Hmmm, it took a while to register but than we turned around and had an even better start. 10 sec before the gun we turned close behind the mark, building speed and off we went. Abt. 40 boats of sizes up to 42feet with us. It was a shy reach, not the best of courses for a 110% jib but pulling like hell on the barberhaulers helped setting the jib and we defended our first position for a couple of miles. We dropped back before rounding the third mark due to loosing height against the boats closer to the shore but with some good calls we gained back position after position on the long beat up the Eckernförde Bay. The boat was rockin, the new tiller bearings worth their money. It has been the first time that I did read the winds/current in bay pretty well. Or had some pure luck. Changing the side in the middle part and getting the gusts from the right shore in a right hander paid. Our finish was excellent. First place in our small group with one hour ahead on corrected time. In the evening we met our DN iceboat friends from "Wilde Fünf", who lured us into their Yardstick group with abt. 31 participants. They were sailing with two people in their 35 footer, and finished 8th in the distance race. Not bad against the fully crewed boats. There was no compensation for sailing with two only but the competition was good. So we decided immediately to change into this group. The race organisers accepted our switch without hesitation.

Strong winds on Sunday and two races over a navigational course of abt. 14 sm. A good start in the first race and some nice shifts let us round the weathermark in first position, just... as I had to shoot the mark, we lost momentum and were rolled by two 42 footers. I tried to ride some sternwaves of bigger boats to catch up some valuable time but did not really succeed. This is something I definitely have to improve. Not being shy and really hang in there. Absolutely close to the lee transom of bigger boats wins you the minutes which are so easily lost in the traffic later on upwind. Shaking out the reef made me puzzle over the boat speed, which dropped from 6,40 (GPS) to 6,20 but we kept going as both being very exhausted from the tacking. We finished third in our new group. Some people could not cope with the starting sequence and had to be DSQ´d.

We started the second race without a reef but the strong wind gave us problems right from the beginning. We got lost in the traffic at the windward mark and tried hard on the first downwind run to gain an inside overlap. We did not succeed. We tried again on the next long reach and caught up two boats. Our friends were not far behind us. Coming round the leeward mark I decided to put in a reef. I grapped the wrong line and pulled with the help of the winch on the kickerrope, which did not help K. to steer high on the wind. After realizing my mistake (I sail this boat since 15 years!) and feeling so stupid about it, we had lost three boats. It took me a while to catch my breath after the exhausting manouvers and we could not gain a position. Luckily we did not loose another one. Our friends in the Comfortina 35 were falling back again. We scored a seventh place which brought us a third overall. A good result. Resumeé: I need to built up strength and condition. Both do we need to work on our navigational skills. Together we were a good team and had some fun during this racing weekend.

Bootsvorbereitung (Boat Prep) für die Double-Hand

Es gab diese Woche wirklich keine Zeit zum bloggen oder an die Vorbereitung zur Aalregatta (Double-Hand-Wertung in IMS2) zu denken. Jetzt ordne ich noch schnell meinen Schreibtisch und dann morgen früh zum Schiff. Der Wetterbericht ist nicht schlecht, morgen wird noch einen halben Tag geschraubt und die Regattasegel (D4 und UK) müssen an Bord geschleppt und dekoriert werden. Bei 5,20m Unterliekslänge und dem langen Spargel von "Samantha" immer ein Job. Besonders bei Wind. Catch you later. Frohe Pfingsten.

Off to prepare the boat for a double-hand-race on Saturday from Kiel to Eckernförde and some up-and downs on the Sunday on "Samantha", the Dehler 36db. It is the first time out this year and I am looking forward. Hope we can eliminate the mistakes and get the boat going. She deserves it. Such a nice boat. Monday is free and I do hope to report something exciting next week. Stay tuned.

Two-Boat testing im Fehmarnsund

For my English readers, please go to the bottom of this article but please note, it is not a translation, just different thoughts about my sailing.

Ganz schlechte Wetteraussichten im Norden für 4 freie Tage über Himmelfahrt. Für die Jahreszeit viel zu kalt. 10-12°C und sehr starker Wind waren angesagt. Dann sah ich ein Plakat an der Strasse: Surffestival auf Fehmarn und erinnerte mich an die Werbezeile: 300 Tage Sonne auf Fehmarn. Das war´s. Entscheidung gefallen. Relativ kurze Anreise. All Options? Nein, Fahrräder zu Hause lassen, dafür die Inliner einpacken (sowieso immer dabei) und das DIV II Surfboard. Die Jolle, den Turbo-Segger, hinten dran gehängt und ab ging es noch in der Mittwochnacht. Kerstin reiste mit ihrem Turbo-Segger aus Berlin an und war das erste Mal auf Fehmarn. Also gab es viel zu zeigen. Meine eigene Fehmarnzeit liegt weit zurück. Als Windsurfer habe ich dort so ziemlich jeden Spot gesurft und bin mit den Freunden vom KAFC (LINK) häufig dort gewesen.

Leider kann man mit den kleinen Jollen, zumal bei dem starken Wind, dem Seegang und dem Spray, keine Kamera mitnehmen. Man hat ja beide Hände voll zu tun, das Boot sauber durch die Wellen zu steuern und nicht zu kentern. Und ob man diese herrlichen Momente -Kerstin mit dem Turbo-Segger bis zum Schwert aus dem Wasser- überhaupt mit der Kamera treffen würde, zweifel ich an. So kann ich denn auch nur ein Hafenbild aus Burg liefern.

Donnerstag bei ordentlich Wind und Sonne einmal durch die Fehmarnsundbrücke und Samstag bei leichterer Brise immer zur Ansteuerungstonne gekreuzt und VormWind mit der Welle zurück. "Sailing by the lee" oder "apparent wind sailing" - es hielt sich meistens die Waage. Im Laufe des Nachmittags zeigten sich bei mir Konzentrationsschwächen, jedenfalls steckte ich das Böotchen mehrfach so sehr in die Welle, daß ich nur mit aufmachen und tief anfahren wieder in Gang kam. Das kostete Meter und K. segelte mehrfach tief auf mich runter, rief mir aufmunternde Worte zu und kam dann auch als erste, oben in Luv an. Echtes zwei Boot Training.

Last weekend, with Thursday being a national holiday in Germany, we had spent 4 wonderful days at the sea. Kerstin and I did some 2-boat testing from the island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea. You can see our boats (Turbo-Segger) lined up in the sheltered Marina, ready to go. It was a pleasure sailing in the open water for the first time this year and I do hope that it will help for the upcoming adventures. Explaining to my fellow readers this onedesign boat is giving me some grief, as we are currently banned from the regatta circuit. Though the class is really new and small, about 10-15 regulars during weekend races in various locations, the set-up of these 2 boats, carrying a kevlar sail, had been banned from classboat racing. Our sails are well within the dimension spec and at the time of ordering, there had been restrictions about the cloth. Nevertheless, the designer and class president, Jüs Segger, was keen to test new materials and with my bad experience of dacroncloth in windsurfers and high roach mainsails on boats, it was the obvious choice for me to go for a modern "cloth". I have not regretted it since, as with this 3 year old sail my boat handles well, not changing the rudder pressure as the wind increases. I haven´t been any faster than the current leader, shown in the picture, but my sail is lasting longer. I do go out in a strong breeze whenever work allows me. (The picture here is showing my toughest competitor, Thorsten GER-200, in a breeze)
With my first aluminium mast in the boat, sailing it according to the set up of other "Seggerling" boats without spreaders, the mast crooked at the first outing and only careful stretching and bending put it back in place. I immediately changed to a self-built carbonspar incl. spreaders and have no problems since than. Spreaders are banned from this season on and this is the reason we call our boats: "Turbo-Seggers". I am definitely not missing the race action in the class when I go 2-boat testing. This is a thrill in itself and a very enjoyable thing to do. We are always doing upwind and downwind between marks which normally are regular shipping marks. On the Thursday our goal was for a 8 sm upwind leg, around the big Fehmarnsund bridge pier and back. Lot´s of current under the bridge against us. The downwind leg home was a thrill ride in the 4,70m long dinghy. Now it is off into the workshop for some small repairs.

Sad News for us armchair sailors, following the VOR

A lot has been written and said about the tragic death of Hans Horrevoets, a crew member of the "ABN AMRO II" Team. The thoughts are with his family and friends.

Later on, we got to know that this same boat and crew had to take on the crew of "Movistar", who abandoned ship in the Atlantic, abt. 300sm from land. Unthinkable to me how everybody coped with this situation. With the whole situation. These Oceanracers have a very strong bond between them and they all know each other as friends. I have my utmost respect for the Volvo Ocean Race Team at the office. The way they handle this on their homepage is very respectful.

With reference to the sinking of “Movistar”, there was one comment today from one of the best skiff sailors of all time, Chris Nicholson, who sailed last time around on "Amer Sports I". Chris Nicholson, this time sailing on “Movistar” referred to the boat: „trying to get away from us throughout the race and it has now done it. . ." It tells me, they were lucky. But is it only luck, when you survive the oceans?

Blogbuch, Schiffstaufe und Dinghy segeln

Ein Blogbuch zu führen über die eigenen Segelaktivitäten fällt mir irgendwie schwer. Sagte mir neulich ein Bekannter: "Du willst doch nur Deine eigenen Erfolge rausstellen". Ich war richtig verärgert darüber. Das war nicht die Absicht, die hinter diesem Blog steht und das ist überhaupt nicht der Witz am bloggen. So eine aburteilende Bemerkung fand ich irgendwie typisch deutsch. Man sollte nur mal die "verlinkten" Blogs lesen, die Kommentare, die Erfahrungen und die Tipps und Tricks, die einige Segelblogger aus Freude an der Sache abgeben und man wird vielleicht ein anderes Urteil fällen. Natürlich muss man etwas von sich selbst berichten. Das ist ja der Witz an dieser Art der Kommunikation. Mit einer kleinen Geschichte teile ich allen Interessierten auf einen Schlag mit, was anliegt. In Seglersprache: Welcher Kurs anlag. Also, jetzt am vergangenen Wochenende, Kurs: Nord-Ost.

Das Wochenende stand ganz im Zeichen einer Schiffstaufe in der am östlichsten gelegenen Bootswerft Deutschlands. Bei der Bootswerft Stöcker wurde eine 41ft SY, ein sogenannter Cruiser/Racer getauft. Ein wirklich tolles Schiff, zufriedene Eigner, eine großartige Taufzeremonie und eine gute Party. Nur zufriedene Gesichter. Ich hatte mich in Ueckermünde mit Kerstin verabredet. Sie war noch nie bei einer Schiffstaufe und hat dort tolle Fotos geschossen. Die Besichtigung der "Simply Red" lässt natürlich Wünsche aufkommen. Hochglanz lackierte Flächen im Salon. Alles sehr geschmackvoll und nach dem Motto: "less is more" eingerichtet. Da könnte man in´s Träumen kommen, aber ein Blick auf das Ersparte läßt so einen perfekten Einzelbau ("OneOff") noch in weite Ferne rücken. Maybe one day.

Es war nur eine von diversen Taufen schöner Einzelbauten in diesem Frühjahr, wo ein geschäftlicher Termin (wir liefern das Material für Rumpf und Deck) anlag. Das "Ueckermünde" Los fiel auf mich und ich hatte mich sehr darauf gefreut. Um das Wochenende auch ein bisschen sportlich anzugehen, hatte ich mich entschlossen, die Jolle mitzunehmen. Am Samstag, nach der Tauffeier, hackte es ordentlich und gegen späten Nachmittag liefen wir aus der Lagunenstadt aus. Ein langer Schlauch durch hohe Bäume, indem man nur durch kräftiges wriggen und schaukeln (oaching and rocking?) vorwärts kam. Draußen dann 5-6 Bft, ne kurze hackige Welle aber das segeln machte Spaß. Schnell peilten wir 2 Fahrwassertonnen in Luv/Lee Richtung an und segelten ein paar Rennen. Erstaunlicherweise ausgeglichene Ergebnisse. Gegenüber dem Gardasee Training ist entweder Kerstin schneller geworden oder ich langsamer. Ich glaube ersteres trifft zu. Also muß man noch einen Zahn zulegen. Aber woher den Speed nehmen? Sonntag konnten wir nichts probieren. Es wehte bestimmt mit 7 Bft, in den Böen noch etwas mehr. Kein Tag also für Tillerman´s Statistik. (Tillerman= www.propercourse.blogspot.com)

Sensationell: Dave Dellenbaugh im dt. AC Team

This will be of interest to Tillerman, OG and all my other blogger friends and fans of the America´s Cup. I think this will be a boost for the German Team. Very exciting! Well done UITG! Let your comments flow here and I will write a little report how and when I met Dave and about his "Speeds and Smarts" which I had subscribed from the very first issue. How can they have a photo already with Dave in the UITG colours? Tillerman, how can this happen? Funny incidents or is the sailing world really that small?

Pressemitteilung vom United Internet Team Germany «Feuerwehrmann» David Dellenbaugh

United Internet Team Germany hat einen zweiten Skipper

Die Segelmannschaft des United Internet Team Germany ist um ein weiteres Mitglied reicher: David Dellenbaugh aus den USA verstärkt die Afterguard des deutschen Herausforderers zum 32. America's Cup. Der 53-jährige ist ein erfahrener America's Cup-Segler und hat an mehreren Kampagnen seines Heimatlandes teilgenommen. Das United Internet Team Germany unterstützt er als Taktiker und zweiter Skipper. Er wird die deutsche Yacht steuern, falls Jesper Bank einmal ausfallen sollte.

"David ist für unsere Arbeit ein wichtiger Mann. Bei unseren taktischen Planungen findet er Dinge, die wir weniger beachtet haben und bringt uns mit seinen Anregungen dazu, unsere Pläne noch einmal zu hinterfragen", sagt Skipper Jesper Bank über das neue Teammitglied. Neben seiner beratenden Funktion für die taktischen Planungen der Afterguard und seiner Rolle als Ersatz-Skipper wird Dellenbaugh auch Trainings-Steuermann sein. Sobald die neue Yacht, "Germany I" in Valencia ist, wird mit beiden Yachten trainiert, und Dellenbaugh wird dann am Steuer der Trainingsyacht, "GER-72" stehen.
You can read an interview with Dave Dellenbaugh on:

Valencia Blog