In a three-day series, you're in a good position if you're in a good mood right from the start. Just like the crew from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club at the second of three Champions League qualifying regattas. The VSaW crew had already positioned themselves in third place after two days, before the last races on the final day fell victim to unusual "December weather in May". A depression had brought rain and winds of around 25 knots to the participants. With their podium finish, helmsman Tim Elsner, Elias Rothe, Max Salzwedel and Carl Naumann progressed confidently to the final.
Off Porto Cervo, 24 European clubs fought for their place in the final in round two. The Norddeutscher Regatta Verein had already qualified for the final at the end of the season in St. Moritz at the beginning of May in the first qualifying round off Palma de Mallorca. The series in Sardinian waters was won by the Italian club Circolo della Vela Bari with top helmsman Simone Ferrarese, who is preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan in the 49er, and his crew ahead of the Swiss Regattaclub Bodensee with helmsman Massimo Soriano, Tobias Rüdlinger, René Ott and Stephan Zurfluh. No other German clubs took part in this qualification.
The teams from 16 European countries were guests at the renowned Yacht Club Costa Smeralda this weekend. They enjoyed a wide variety of sailing conditions and engaged in thrilling and close battles. The seven best club teams in this competition will sail for the European club sailing crown in late summer. Before that, the third qualifier will take place in St. Petersburg from 4 to 7 July.
Here to see the results.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
