Wolfgang Hunger and Julien Kleiner (Kiel) were unable to repeat their victories from the previous day at the SAP 505 European Championship on the second day, but defended their lead with a consistent series in the day's three races.
Although the brothers Jørgen and Jacob Bojsen-Møller from Denmark, who came second in the SAP 505 European Championship, were able to reduce their lead slightly, they have little chance of winning the title. They had to cancel Friday's race for personal reasons. As a result, the focus is now on the teams in next place. The 2007 world champions, Jan Saugmann and Morten Ramsbæk, are lurking in third place, directly behind them is Meike Schomäker, who has been sailing together with Hunger's ex-skipper Holger Jess since Whitsun. And Jens Findel/Johannes Tellen (Kiel) are also back in medal contention after two wins on the day.
However, title favourite Hunger is worried about the weather forecast. The team is less favoured by strong winds, especially as the high-wind sail is slightly damaged: "We have to keep an eye on the eye in the clew, which is in danger of blowing out," says Hunger. A wrong decision at the start of the second race on Thursday also gave him a strike result with eleventh place. Nevertheless, Hunger/Kleiner are not happy to have one less strong competitor today. "We would have liked to have sailed against Bojsen-Møller all the way. And if we had lost, that would have been okay too. But there are still enough strong people at the start," said Kleiner.
This also includes the best woman in the field, Meike Schomäker. "We had a very good day today. I benefit greatly from having a skipper with such technical understanding," said the 2007 European Championship bronze medallist. Holger Jess, meanwhile, was delighted with the good speed on the spinnaker gears: "We are doing very well there and have made up quite a few places."
The defending champions also had a brighter face. Jens Findel and Johannes Tellen (Kiel) took two victories on the day and moved up to fifth place. "We controlled the field in the first two races after good starts," said Findel, who is hoping to win another medal after this day.
In the other 13 classes, the German sailors mostly have to resign themselves to the role of runner-up. However, the catamaran sailors are at the top. In the F-18 class, Andreas John from Hamburg and Sten Höpfner have the lead. However, he benefited from a double capsize of the top favourites, Helge and Christian Sach from Zarnekau, in the first race. In the Hobie 16, the crew Detlef Mohr/Karen Wichardt achieved a double victory. They lead ahead of the newly crowned German champions Knud Jansen/Merle Siebrecht. The German leaders are also Harald Wefers in the H-boats, Peer Kock in the J24 and Oliver Gronholz in the OK dinghy.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
