The German Olympic sailors will have to fight on the final day of the 124th Kieler Woche if they don't want to come away empty-handed when the titles are awarded. On the eve of the ten medal races in eight Olympic disciplines and the two ambitious Paralympic classes 2.4mR and the Hansa 303, two British teams and other starters from eight different countries are leading the rankings. However, the German sailors have positioned themselves in a lurking position. Philipp Buhl starts the final at 10.05 am in second place overall, three points behind the British leader Elliot Hansen. Just a fortnight ago at the World Cup final off Marseille, the 28-year-old runner-up proved how well he can lead decisive duels when he sailed to gold after a weak start.
Buhl criticises the race management
But first Buhl vented his anger at the race committee on the Laser course at a press conference at Kiel Week on Saturday evening. The Sonthofen native's displeasure was directed at the decisions made on the course of his Olympic class. Buhl commented on a series of cancelled races on Friday and Saturday with the words: "That was the worst I have ever experienced in regatta sport." In his criticism, Buhl also included what he saw as exaggerated weather forecasts, which had led to "race cancellations in premium conditions". His discipline had to lament three cancelled races within two days, which he blamed on wrong decisions by the race committee. The Allgäu native, who is known as a fair player, had praised the race committee on Thursday for allowing the Laser sailors to sail until late in the evening in order to maximise the number of races. Now, however, Buhl is "disappointed" and refused to comment on his convincing sporting performance on Saturday: "I don't want to water down my criticism."
Kieler Woche organisation manager Dirk Ramhorst, who exceptionally could not attend the press conference, reacted immediately and calmly to Buhl's accusations: "The safety of the participants and the further sailing programme also play a role in the decisions of the race committee. We have already arranged a meeting with Philipp on Sunday. We are interested in further developing the high quality of Kiel Week."
The medal races start on Sunday at 10.05 am
A total of seven German boats have qualified for the finals starting at 10.05 am. In the Laser Standard (1), Laser Radial (1), 49erFX (1), 470 Women (3) and 470 Men (1), athletes from the German national sailing team are represented in the finals of the top ten crews in their respective disciplines. The 49erFX European champions Tina Lutz and Susann Beucke would like to add a third title to the two they have already won. The duo from the Chiemsee Yacht Club and the Hanover Yacht Club, like Buhl, are in second place and have 4.5 points to make up on the leading New Zealanders - a difficult but not impossible task.
For the three successful 470 women's crews - Nadine Böhm/Ann-Christin Goliaß (4th), the defending champions Frederike Loewe/Anna Markfort (5th) and Fabienne Oster/Anastasiya Winkel (6th) - the podium places also remain the goal after a good series of regattas. Laser Radial helmswoman Svenja Weger earned her ticket to the final in ninth place, as did Simon Diesch and Philipp Autenrieth in eighth place in the outstanding field of the 470 men. The 2.4mR sailors (from 12.10 hrs) with Heiko Kröger (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein) and the Hansa 303 helmsmen (from 10.05 hrs) with Jens Kroker (Yachtclub Berlin-Grünau) are also in contention. Both top German sailors are on course for medals and are fighting for the comeback of sailing at the 2024 Paralympic Games with their disciplines.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
