Two gold, three silver, two bronze and no fewer than 24 boats in the top ten were the result of the German sailors at the end of Kiel Week for the Olympic boat classes. In addition, there was a second and tenth place in the 2.4 mR and eighth place in the women's match race. Such statistics are normally only served up by the overpowering British. But they were only sporadically represented in Kiel, as were many other foreign superstars. You can't blame the local sailors, they were at the start and gave their best. "It was a serious field in which you first have to win," commented laser sailor Simon Grotelüschen, who can also win against the assembled world elite and did win.
Local hero Grotelüschen (actually from Lübeck) had to "really stretch" to fend off his team-mate Philipp Buhl, who was charging from behind in the medal race, and thus complete the five-pack: victory in the medal race, victory in the Laser class, victory at the Kieler Woche in front of his own audience, extending his lead in the Olympic qualification and second place in the Isaf World Cup. You could feel sorry for Buhl. He was already good in Weymouth and now also in Kiel, but Grotelüschen has simply been that little bit better so far. Buhl's consolation: the final judgement will be made after the World Championships in Perth. And then everyone will really be there.
The victory of Tobias Schadewaldt and Johannes Baumann in the 49er was surprising, but no less pleasing, as they won the medal race and also the overall ranking, thereby increasing their lead in the Olympic qualification. In the women's 470, Tina Lutz/Susann Beucke secured second place with a fourth place in the medal race and were thus able to forget the pain of narrowly missing out on the medal race in Weymouth. Kathrin Kadelbach/Friederike Belcher finished the regatta in third place and lead in the Olympic qualification, but the last word will also be spoken here in Australia. Also pleasing: Annika Bochmann/Anika Lorenz, who won the medal race, beating the class and World Cup winners Maxwell/Farrar from the USA.
In the windsurfing category, Toni Wilhelm remained the lone runner-up and thus probably punched his ticket to the Olympics. This should also apply to Moana Delle, who dropped back to third place, however, because world champion Blanca Manchón from Spain also secured second place in the overall standings with a second place in the medal race through the tiebreak. In the Paralympic 2.4 mR, Heiko Kröger was able to make up ground on the leading Brit Megan Pascoe in the two races on the final day, but in the end had to make do with second place, which will not hinder him on his way to the 2012 Games.
The other classes: In the Star, Robert Stanjek/Friothjof Kleen remained in 4th place, making them the best of Sailing Team Germany. More might have been possible, as they led the medal race on the last leg of the course, but only finished in 5th place. Nevertheless, they came out on top in the Olympic qualification. Franziska Goltz booked her second top ten place after Weymouth in Kiel with a fourth place finish in the Laser Radial and is therefore still on course for the Olympics. Anke Helbig ensured the fourth victory for a German boat in yesterday's medal race. In the Finn there was a sixth place for Matthias Miller and an eighth place for Jan Kurfeld.
Officials praised the athletes: "The conditions were difficult this week, very physically demanding," said Thorsten Haverland, Vice President of the German Sailing Association. "We are thrilled with the medal races, really cool pictures. We are very confident that we will be able to compete in all disciplines at the Olympics."
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