Lysander Winter and Constantin Bötsch stood on the top step of the podium in the German triple success in the 420 on Tuesday afternoon. Last year at the IDM off Schilksee, the duo saved third place in the final sprint. Now they have finally made the area on the Kiel Outer Fjord their own: the young crew from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein won the first race on the Kiel Fjord, donned the yellow jersey on the second day and defended the colour of the leaders on the last day after a total of six races without having to take to the water again.
The speed was from another world" (Lysander Winter)
When the flag signal was given to abandon all further races, the duo clapped their hands in relief: "Great, Digger!" For Lysander Winter and Constantin Bötsch, the victory was an important step in their plans for the rest of the season. The team wants to secure the only German ticket to the World Sailing Youth Worlds in Brazil in December. Kiel Week marked the first of two qualifying regattas.
"It finally worked out here in Kiel. We had prepared well and got our new boat for this regatta. The speed was out of this world and our starts were mega," commented helmsman Lysander Winter on the successful series with the results 1, 1, (21), 3, 4, 1. "Nevertheless, it was close. The top teams sail stably even in these tricky conditions." All three medals in the 420 remained in Germany. Amelie Wehrle/Riccardo Honold (Lake Constance) came second ahead of last year's German youth champions, Johann Emmer and Jannis Liebig (Berlin).
Gold for Italy, bronze for 2.4 mR dominator Heiko Kröger
In the 2.4mR, for once it was not dominator Heiko Kröger who ended up on the top step of the podium this year. The Paralympics winner had to be satisfied with bronze. After intensive training this spring, the Italian Antonio Squizzato from Lake Garda rewarded himself with overall victory in the 2.4mR. The helmsman from the Canottieri Garda Salò club started the final day in the pink shirt of the third-placed boat. With an almost perfect final effort (1, 2, 1), he catapulted himself to the top.
"My club and the association have organised some great training over the past few weeks. I've worked a lot on my trim and I'm happy to bring home this win," said the 49-year-old, delighted with his success with just eight points on his Kieler Woche account after six races in light winds. Second place went to the Belgian Ben van Cauwenbergh. Heiko Kröger briefly and succinctly recognised the unusual ranking for him: "The two of them were simply better than me this time."
It was wonderful and I will definitely be back" (Michal Strumnik)
In the OKs, Sönke Behrens from Hamburg fought hard for third place behind Michal Strumnik from Poland and Thomas Gabs from Denmark in the three races on the final day. Michal Strumnik's success came on his Kiel Week debut. The helmsman from the Przygoda club said: "I always wanted to come here. It was wonderful and I'll definitely be back." Strumnik had decided not to compete in the World Championships in order to take part in Kiel Week. "Unfortunately, I don't have the time for that. I'm planning for the European Championships on Lake Garda in autumn." The 40-year-old is one of the youngsters in the traditional class, but is still very new to the OK dinghy. "But it felt very good straight away," said Strumnik in Kiel.
Second-placed Thomas Gabs from Denmark sailed his second Kiel Week in the OK dinghy. Two years ago, he finished 21st in his first attempt. Now he has made a big leap forward. "I am very happy. It wasn't easy conditions with shifty winds and choppy waves off the steep coast. The Pole was just too fast." With third place in the final race, Sönke Behrens from Hamburg managed to make it onto the Kieler Woche podium, as all the other contenders for bronze had allowed themselves to drop out.
